Labor & Employment Attorney

Step into a key advisory role with an established practice where you will be a trusted partner to employers on the full spectrum of labor and employment matters. This is a direct-hire opportunity for an attorney who wants to blend strategic counseling, hands-on compliance work, and active litigation in a dynamic employer-focused environment.

About the Role:

You will serve as primary counsel to employer clients on day-to-day and high-impact labor and employment issues, helping them manage legal risk while supporting business objectives. Working closely with HR and leadership teams, you will handle everything from complex advisory matters and policy development to investigations and defense of claims. Your work will directly shape how clients structure their workforces, respond to disputes, and maintain compliant, well-managed workplaces.

Key Responsibilities:

• Provide proactive counsel on hiring, termination, performance management, and workforce reductions, including reductions in force and reorganizations.
• Draft, review, and negotiate employment, severance, confidentiality, non-compete, and non-solicitation agreements.
• Develop, update, and refine employee handbooks, policies, and workplace procedures to align with current federal and state employment laws.
• Advise on employee classification issues, including independent contractor status and exempt/non-exempt determinations.
• Conduct and oversee internal investigations into workplace complaints and issues, and advise on appropriate remedial actions.
• Counsel employers on compliance with FMLA, ADA, FLSA, and other complex federal and state employment statutes and regulations.
• Design and deliver on-site training programs for managers and supervisors on employment law compliance and handling employee complaints.
• Represent and defend employers in employment-related litigation in state and federal courts and before administrative agencies such as the EEOC and the Illinois Department of Human Rights (IDHR).

Key Requirements:

• Demonstrated experience in labor and employment law with a focus on employer-side representation.
• Strong background in counseling employers on day-to-day employment issues, including discipline, termination, and workforce changes.
• Proven experience drafting and negotiating employment-related agreements and workplace policies.
• Hands-on experience conducting or overseeing workplace investigations and advising on outcomes.
• Solid working knowledge of key employment laws, including FMLA, ADA, FLSA, and related state statutes and regulations.
• Experience representing employers in litigation and administrative proceedings involving discrimination, harassment, retaliation, and wage-and-hour claims.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to present complex legal concepts clearly to non-lawyers.
• Strong client management skills and the ability to handle multiple matters and deadlines in a fast-paced practice.

Desirable Skills:

• Prior experience providing on-site or virtual training to managers and HR professionals on employment law topics.
• Familiarity with Illinois-specific employment and human rights laws and procedures.
• Experience advising on non-compete, non-solicitation, and trade secret protection strategies.
• Background working with a diverse range of industries and employer sizes, from small businesses to large organizations.
• Comfort with preventive counseling approaches aimed at reducing litigation risk and improving workplace practices.

Qualifications:

• Juris Doctor (J.D.) from an accredited law school.
• Admission to practice law and good standing with the relevant state bar; eligibility for admission in Illinois preferred where applicable.
• Several years of focused experience in labor and employment law, preferably in a law firm or employer-side practice.
• Additional certifications or training in employment law, labor relations, or workplace investigations are a plus.

If you are a labor and employment attorney who enjoys being a strategic partner to employers and wants to handle both counseling and litigation, you are encouraged to apply.