Public Law Litigation Associate – California

This is an excellent opportunity for a civil litigator interested in handling complex and high-profile public law disputes involving land use, municipal finance, government ethics and transparency, constitutional issues, inverse condemnation, governance, and local control.

Location: California – Firmwide

Mainly Remote - Must reside in California!

Responsibilities

• Represent cities, counties, special districts, and other public agencies in complex civil litigation.
• Handle matters involving:
  • Land use
  • Municipal finance
  • Government governance
  • Ethics and transparency
  • Inverse condemnation
  • Constitutional issues
  • Local government authority and control
• Support partners and senior attorneys throughout all phases of litigation.
• Conduct case assessments and develop litigation strategies.
• Manage written discovery and complex discovery issues.
• Research and draft motions, briefs, legal memoranda, and other substantive filings.
• Assist with and participate in oral arguments, mediations, and trial preparation.
• Manage deadlines and ensure compliance with court procedures and filing requirements.
• Communicate directly with public agency clients and assist with strategic legal advice.

Qualifications

• 3–6 years of civil litigation experience.
• Active membership in good standing with the California State Bar.
• Excellent legal research, writing, and analytical skills.
• Experience handling multiple phases of civil litigation, including discovery and motion practice.
• Strong case-management and organizational skills.
• Ability to effectively support complex litigation matters and work closely with senior attorneys.
• Ability to thrive in a collaborative, fast-paced environment.
• Strong interest in public law and public agency representation.

Preferred Experience

• Public law or municipal litigation.
• Representation of cities, counties, special districts, or other government entities.
• Writ of mandate proceedings.
• Appellate matters.
• Land use or constitutional litigation.
• Inverse condemnation matters.

Compensation & Benefits

• Base Salary: $158,000–$205,000, depending on experience and qualifications.
• Annual performance-based bonuses.
• Discretionary and billable-hours bonus opportunities.
• Reasonable billable-hours requirement.
• Mainly remote work arrangement for California-based attorneys.
• Competitive health insurance benefits.
• 401(k) with partial employer match.
• Strong mentorship and opportunities for professional development and advancement.
• Early responsibility and direct client interaction.

Why This Opportunity

This role provides the opportunity to work on sophisticated, high-profile litigation involving significant California public law and constitutional issues. Associates receive meaningful responsibility, direct exposure to public agency clients, and experience across all stages of litigation while working alongside seasoned public law practitioners.

Direct Counsel is committed to connecting exceptional legal talent with premier legal employers and fostering inclusive hiring practices.