Labor & Employment Associate Senior (5+ Years), Seattle

Labor & Employment Associate Senior (5+ Years), Seattle

Practice Area : Labor & Employment

Level : Senior Associate (Lateral)

Location : Seattle, WA

Compensation (Seattle) : $275,000 - $315,000 , based on experience; lower-hours track available with proportional salary adjustment.

Overview

A national full-service law firm is seeking a Senior Labor & Employment Associate with 5+ years of experience to join its Seattle office. This is a highly client-facing role supporting a fast-moving, collaborative L&E practice with strong ties to teams in California. Prior California employment experience is a significant plus.

The role offers meaningful responsibility, immediate client contact, and exposure to a broad range of employment counseling and litigation matters across multiple jurisdictions. The environment is non-hierarchical, team-driven, and ideal for someone who enjoys being a trusted first point of contact for long-standing clients.

Core Responsibilities

Provide sophisticated, practical employment counseling on a wide range of issues nationwide.

Manage single-plaintiff matters and play a key role in complex litigation , including class actions.

Collaborate with partners on case strategy, risk assessment, and client communication.

Handle brief writing , pleadings, motions, and legal research.

Conduct witness interviews and prepare factual summaries.

Draft and respond to discovery; manage litigation workflow and deadlines.

Take and defend depositions .

Participate in trial work as required.

Coordinate multi-jurisdictional issues, including termination guidance, non-competes, wage / hour matters, and M&A-related employment needs.

Maintain proactive workload ownership and consistent client responsiveness.

Participate in special projects and team initiatives.

Candidate Requirements

Licensed in Washington (including federal courts) and California (state courts at minimum).

5+ years of labor & employment experience (counseling + litigation).

Strong written and verbal communication skills; high responsiveness.

Demonstrated commitment to client service and ability to build long-term relationships.

Collaborative mindset; ability to work closely with partners and peers.

Strong attention to detail, organization, and follow-through.

Proficiency in MS Office (Word, Outlook, PowerPoint; Excel a plus).

Interest in professional development, diversity initiatives, and continuous improvement.

Compensation & Benefits

Salary (Seattle) : $275,000 - $315,000 depending on experience.

Option to elect a reduced-hour track with proportional salary adjustment.

Eligibility for associate bonuses (subject to firm policy).

Extensive benefits package including :

Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision

Infertility, gender-affirming, and behavioral health coverage

401(k) participation

Life and disability insurance

Flexible time off + paid holidays

Up to 15 weeks fully paid parental leave

Additional paid medical leave for birth parents

Dependent care, healthcare, and transportation FSAs

Backup child / elder care

Education support, tutoring, wellbeing programs

Transit programs (office-dependent)

Relocation / clerkship / bar review support for eligible hires