Davis Wright Tremaine LLP is seeking an experienced mid to senior level employment litigation attorney for engagement through the firm’s alternative-track contract attorney and staffing program, DWTSurge. The selected contract attorney will work with the Employment Services practice group handling single plaintiff litigation and PAGA/class action litigation matters. Attorneys based in and admitted to practice in California are preferred. Attorneys should be able to accommodate West Coast business hours.

The selected attorney will assist the firm's Employment Services group with California employment litigation matters, with a focus on employment defense litigation, single plaintiff litigation, and class/PAGA litigation cases. Attorneys with demonstrated experience managing all phases of litigation and specifically California employment litigation matters are encouraged to apply.

The selected resource will be responsible for drafting motions and discovery, and working directly with client teams, counterparties, and other stakeholders in support of large institutional clients. Attorneys should be highly organized with strong case management skills and will be required to regularly manage multiple matters with competing deadlines. Attorneys should be able to work independently and exercise good judgement, but should also collaborate easily with lawyers and support staff to meet discrete litigation objectives within short deadlines. This contract position offers the flexibility of fully remote work and an anticipated 20-40 hours/week. Hours may fluctuate depending on the availability of appropriate work. We anticipate this temporary contract role to start as soon as possible and end in late February or early March 2026. There is a possibility of an extension or renewal of the contract for successful candidates, although any extension or renewal is not guaranteed. We are looking for attorneys interested in establishing an alternative-track working relationship with the firm on an exclusive basis. 

The ideal candidate will have: 

• 5+ years of employment litigation experience in a mid-large law firm or in-house setting. 
• Residency and active bar admission in California.

• Strong experience managing employment defense, single plaintiff, and PAGA or class action litigation cases.
• A demonstrated understanding of California and federal employment laws and regulations.

   

• Experience representing client interests when meeting and conferring with various stakeholders, including opposing counsel.
• Strong legal research skills.
• Excellent legal drafting and communication skills, including oral and written advocacy.
• Ability to distill research into meaningful and persuasive written work product, as well as to work meticulously to ensure work product quality.
• High-level of responsiveness and client service abilities.
• Availability to work from 20-40 hours per week and maintain PST business hours.
• Flexibility for anticipated hours to fluctuate as needed.

   

• Ability to work remotely and quickly handle high volume litigation matters. 
• Excellent writing skills, strong attention to detail, and ability to produce high quality work product with minimal supervision and direction. 
• Excellent proactive communication and interpersonal skills, including the ability to maintain effective working relationships and communicate verbally and in writing, with clients, firm members, and other business contacts.

Please note that this is a temporary contract position is managed by DWT’s flexible attorney program, DWTSurge. Compensation will be paid on an hourly basis, commensurate with experience and skill level (see below). This role is not eligible for benefits. Due to the structure of the DWTSurge program, DWTSurge employees are not eligible for the firm’s pro bono, DEI, and other activities or opportunities outside of the above stated scope of work. We are interested in candidates electing to pursue a more flexible way of providing continuous, high-value legal services to the firm and our clients. If you are interested in a more traditional law firm position, please check the DWT careers page for lateral opportunities.

Salary Range:

 The hourly range for this position in California is $130 to $160 per hour. Actual pay will be adjusted based on experience and other job-related factors permitted by law.

Additional benefits include: 

• First Stop Health Telemedicine: Speak with a licensed physician or mental health counselor 24/7, covered by the firm 
• TELUS Health Employee Assistance Program: Receive support with mental, financial, physical, and emotional wellbeing 
• Voluntary Pet Insurance 
• Milk Stork: Virtual lactation consulting, breast milk shipping and nutritional testing covered by the firm 

Wellness Benefits: 

• Peloton App
• Headspace App 

WASHINGTON STATE AND CALIFORNIA STATE 

Paid sick leave is accrued on a biweekly basis at a rate of 1 hour per 30 hours worked. 

To apply, send your resume and cover letter to DWTSurge Recruiter, Zoё Melcher, at zoemelcher@dwt.com. We are currently not accepting third party submissions for this opportunity. 

We are an AmLaw 100 law firm with eleven offices nationwide. We are relentlessly committed to client service and look for candidates who share that commitment. At DWT, client service means having empathy for each client’s and each lawyer’s work and personal pressures, business objectives, and legal needs; anticipating their needs; and having the capabilities and commitment to deliver what matters most to them.

Davis Wright Tremaine LLP embraces diversity, equity and inclusion. It brings out the best of what each individual has to offer and inspires us to build strong and lasting connections with each other, our clients, and our communities.

Davis Wright Tremaine LLP fosters a culture where all talented individuals—including those who are traditionally underrepresented in the legal profession—can have, and can see, paths to success.  Our commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion sits on four pillars: Community, Growth, Education, and Engagement.  Learn more about the firm’s commitment to DEI here: www.dwt.com/dei.

In order to support our effort to foster a diverse, equitable, and inclusive law firm, we request that you voluntarily provide demographic data. All self-reported demographic information is stored securely in a manner that is compliant with DWT’s privacy and security policies and is only accessible by authorized members of the Talent Acquisition and HR Departments; it is not shared with any of the hiring decision-makers.

It is our policy to hire, promote, transfer, terminate, and make all other employment-related decisions without regard to an employee’s sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, or related medical condition), race, color, ancestry, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, religious creed, age, marital status, physical or mental disability, genetic information, medical condition, military or veteran status or any other basis prohibited by applicable local, state, or federal laws. To review our Anti-Harassment Policy, click on this URL, https://www.dwt.com/-/media/files/policyagainstharassmentdiscrimination.pdf?la=en&hash=66A1B0095748A5E76B0B8A00773F5246.

As an equal opportunity employer, Davis Wright Tremaine LLP values the diversity of our work force and the knowledge of our personnel. Labor Condition Applications (LCAs) for specialty occupation petitions are displayed electronically in accordance with notice requirements pursua