Job Description

Litigation Associate (Real Estate Focus)

Location: San Jose or Pleasanton, CA (Hybrid)

Compensation: $145,000 – $165,000 + Full Benefits

Position Overview

A highly regarded Northern California law firm is seeking a Litigation Associate (2–3 years) with meaningful real estate litigation experience to join its growing disputes practice.

This is not a generalist litigation role . The firm is prioritizing attorneys with hands-on exposure to real estate disputes , including property, landlord-tenant, development, and construction-adjacent matters.

If your background is purely commercial litigation or transactional real estate, this is not the right seat.

Why This Role Stands Out

• Direct exposure to substantive real estate disputes early in your career
• Work alongside trial-ready litigators in a collaborative, mid-sized platform
• Clear long-term growth trajectory without BigLaw bureaucracy
• Strong compensation + student loan repayment benefit + no-accrual PTO

Key Responsibilities

• Draft pleadings, motions, and discovery with precision
• Conduct legal research and develop case strategy
• Handle depositions, hearings, and settlement negotiations
• Support trial preparation and client-facing litigation strategy

Required Qualifications

• J.D. from an accredited law school
• Active California Bar membership
• 2–3 years of litigation experience with real estate exposure
• Strong command of California Code of Civil Procedure and Evidence Code
• Experience drafting pleadings, discovery, and motions

Preferred Experience

Real estate litigation matters such as:

• Property Disputes
• Landlord-tenant (including unlawful detainers)
• Development disputes
• Construction-related litigation
• Exposure to partition actions, mechanic’s liens, or similar procedures
• Background from a boutique litigation firm, government, or AmLaw platform

What Will Disqualify You

• Pure commercial/business litigators with no real estate exposure
• Transactional real estate attorneys without litigation experience

Compensation & Benefits

• Base Salary: $145K – $165K
• Medical, Dental, Vision, Disability
• 401(k)
• Student Loan Repayment Program
• Paid Parental Leave
• Telework Flexibility
• Unlimited / No-Accrual PTO

Work Environment

• Silicon Valley–based platform with strong regional reputation
• Collaborative, partner-accessible culture
• Emphasis on long-term career development—not churn

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