Pensions, Benefits & ERISA Litigation Associate Attorney

Location(s): Austin, Denver, Irvine, Los Angeles, New York, Phoenix, Sacramento, San Diego, San Francisco, Seattle, Tucson, Washington

About the Role
Direct Counsel is partnering with a leading national law firm to recruit a Pensions, Benefits & ERISA Litigation Associate Attorney with 3–5 years of experience. This attorney will join the firm’s Pensions, Benefits & Investments practice group and may sit in any of the firm’s offices nationwide, offering a collaborative hybrid work environment.

This role provides the opportunity to work on sophisticated and often cutting-edge disputes involving fiduciary duties, multi-billion-dollar public and private pension plans, constitutional and public agency law compliance, ERISA litigation, employee and disability retirement benefits, as well as various complex commercial litigation matters such as IP disputes, insurance coverage issues, real estate and lease disputes, and breach of contract claims.

Key Responsibilities

• Litigate a broad range of pension, benefits, fiduciary, ERISA, and related matters in state and federal courts.

• Handle written discovery; draft and respond to discovery requests.

• Prepare pleadings, briefs, motions, and other litigation documents.

• Participate in eDiscovery and support deposition preparation; deposition experience preferred.

• Manage multiple litigation projects efficiently in a fast-paced environment.

• Collaborate closely with partners and team members, taking ownership of significant assignments.

• Contribute to disputes involving IP, insurance coverage, real estate, and commercial issues as needed.

Qualifications

• 3–5 years of litigation experience.

• Admission to the State Bar of California is required.

• Strong legal research, writing, analytical, and strategic thinking skills.

• Experience drafting discovery, pleadings, and motions in state and federal courts.

• Ability to manage competing priorities and deadlines while maintaining attention to detail.

• eDiscovery experience and some deposition experience preferred.

• Team-oriented mindset with the ability to independently drive matters forward.

Compensation & Structure

• Salary range: $185,000–$215,000, dependent on experience.

• Eligible for annual bonuses, including a 15% bonus for meeting the 1,850 billable hour expectation (up to 100 hours of approved pro bono included).

• Hybrid work model with strong opportunities for professional development and advancement.