Associate Attorney – Palo Alto, CA

Sanford Heisler Sharp a national public interest law firm with a focus on game-changing employment discrimination cases, seeks an Associate Attorney. 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 XI sexual assault cases, qui tam and whistleblower matters, wage and hour actions, and ERISA financial 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 law firms throughout the United States and against universities such as Harvard, Columbia, Dartmouth, NYU, and Yale.

Sanford Heisler Sharp seeks an Associate Attorney for immediate hire with 2 to 4 years of experience in litigation, 1 to 2 years of which may be clerkship experience. 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. In addition, the attorney will assist the firm’s world-class team of attorneys on a range of high-stakes individual and class-wide gender, race, and age discrimination matters, sexual assault cases, Title IX lawsuits, qui tam and whistleblower matters, wage and hour actions, financial services and ERISA matters, and consumer fraud cases.

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 and are given as much responsibility as they can handle. 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—preferred, but not required. Ideally, applicants will be familiar with Title VII, Title IX, and/or complex civil litigation.

The position is available now and is temporarily remote due to COVID-19. Occasional travel may be required in the future. Applicants seeking consideration should email a one-page cover letter, a current resume, a law school transcript, a list of three references, and two legal writing samples of not less than ten pages to [email protected] Please include “2022 Palo Alto Attorney Application” 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:

Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, Sanford Heisler Sharp has been a firm that has demonstrated flexibility and concern for the well-being of our employees and our communities. We were among the first law firms in the nation to publicly announce that we were moving to a remote work environment and to develop a COVID-19 vaccine policy for employees. The firm will continue to rely on the science to guide its decisions in 2022 and beyond. As of mid-September 2022, employees are required to work from their office two days per week, and any employee may work full-time from their office if they prefer. The firm will continue to regularly assess and adjust its COVID-19 policies and its hybrid work schedule as necessary.

Sanford Heisler Sharp employees must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 (with the exception of Nashville where due to state law vaccines are not mandatory but strongly encouraged for Firm employees), 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 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 mail to the following address:

ATTN: Anita Youngkin, Senior Human Resources Director

Sanford Heisler Sharp

700 Pennsylvania Ave SE, Suite 300

Washington, DC 20003