Associate Attorney

Sanford Heisler Sharp McKnight, LLP, a national public interest law firm with offices in the District of Columbia, New York, California, and Tennessee, is seeking an experienced Associate Attorney for our Palo Alto, California office. Associates will focus on representing plaintiffs in individual and class action employment discrimination matters. In addition, Associates will assist the Firm’s world-class team of attorneys on a range of gender discrimination, Title IX sexual assault cases, qui tam and whistleblower matters, wage and hour actions, ERISA matters and consumer fraud cases.

We have represented thousands of individuals in some of the most significant class-action cases before the courts, securing landmark victories through trial and settlements. In addition, we have a number of cases currently before the district and federal appellate courts that raise novel issues of law. We are currently litigating and have litigated matters against major corporations and law firms throughout the United States and against universities such as Harvard, Columbia, Dartmouth, NYU, and Yale.

The ideal candidate for the Associate Attorney position will have a minimum of 2-5 years of experience in complex litigation and employment litigation. This is not an entry level position. Applicants with clerkship experience and/or demonstrated interest in civil rights litigation are preferred. This attorney will focus on representing plaintiffs in individual and class action employment discrimination matters. Speaking and writing fluency in Mandarin Chinese is highly preferred.

Associates work one-on-one with clients to develop their claims for direct settlement negotiations, mediation, arbitration, and litigation. Associates are expected to conduct factual and legal research; draft legal documents (including pleadings, motions, briefs, legal memoranda, mediation statements, discovery requests and responses, and settlement agreements); participate in discovery; provide legal advice to clients; assist and participate in depositions, mediations, arbitrations, trials, and court hearings and conferences; and attend industry, networking, and community outreach events. Our Associates are given significant responsibility commensurate with their experience and are expected to learn quickly from the firm’s more experienced attorneys. Associates draft substantive briefs with limited input from senior attorneys, take and defend depositions, argue motions in court, and conduct negotiations with opposing counsel. Attorneys are required to supervise legal assistants on their cases.

Prospective applicants must be a member in good standing of the State Bar of California or expect to be admitted in the immediate future. Familiarity with employment law—specifically, California law—is preferred, but not required. Ideally, applicants will be familiar with Title VII, Title IX, and/or complex civil litigation.

Salary: The Firm utilizes lock-step salary scales for non-partner attorney positions based on law school graduation year and practice experience. The scale begins at $130,000 in annual base salary for 2024 and 2025 law school graduates, and increases, based on law school graduation year and practice experience, up to a maximum of $180,000. Attorneys also receive benefits, such as a contribution to health insurance premiums, and may also be eligible for a discretionary bonus.

This position is available now and is currently in a hybrid environment with regular in-person attendance required 3 days per week. Occasional travel may also be required.

Applicants seeking consideration should email a one-page cover letter and current resume to Kiara Pagan, Human Resources Coordinator, at [email protected]. Please include “Palo Alto Associate Application: [Your Name]” in the subject line of the email.

We are committed to EEO principles and value a diverse workplace. We strongly encourage people of color, LGBTQ, all genders, all ages, differently abled, and other minority applicants to apply.

COVID-19: Sanford Heisler Sharp McKnight employees must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19, including obtaining the COVID-19 boosters within the time frame recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). If you accept an offer from the firm and choose not to get vaccinated for religious, medical reasons, or other applicable legal requirements, you may seek a reasonable accommodation.

Reasonable Accommodations: Sanford Heisler Sharp McKnight welcomes applications from individuals with disabilities. If you require reasonable accommodations during any part of the hiring process, please send your request to us by email at [email protected] or by U.S. mail to the following address:

ATTN: Kiara Pagan, Human Resources Coordinator

Sanford Heisler Sharp McKnight, LLP

17 State Street, Suite 3700

New York, NY 10004