Litigation Attorney Jobs in California

Litigation attorney jobs in California are among the most active in the country, with consistent demand across corporate defense, personal injury, employment law, and securities litigation at every level from first-year associate through senior partner. Los Angeles, San Francisco, and San Diego anchor the market, with major employers including Gibson Dunn, Latham and Watkins, and the California Department of Justice maintaining large litigation practices across the state. The most in-demand specialties are complex commercial litigation, employment and labor disputes, and insurance defense. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.

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Overview

Open roles199+
Top employerCareer Consulting Partners
Top cityLos Angeles, CA
Cities hiring47
Work type46% Hybrid
Top industryLaw

Showing 5 of 199+ Litigation Attorney jobs

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Civil Litigation Attorney
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T
New 12h ago
Civil Litigation Attorney
The Ryan Firm
Irvine, California
Business Development
Growth Marketing
Marketing
$185k - $205k/yr
Hybrid

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Ashurst Perkins Coie
Business Litigation Associate Attorney - Midlevel
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Ashurst Perkins Coie
Added 2d ago
Business Litigation Associate Attorney - Midlevel
Ashurst Perkins Coie
San Francisco, California
Administrative & Office Support
Business Operations
Office Management
$260k - $365k/yr
Hybrid
1,001-5,000

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AAA Auto Club Enterprises
Claims Litigation Attorney
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AAA Auto Club Enterprises
Added 2d ago
Claims Litigation Attorney
AAA Auto Club Enterprises
Ventura, California
Business Operations
Compliance & Risk
Project Management
$146k - $195k/yr
10,000+

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Quill & Arrow Law
Pre-Litigation Employment Attorney
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Quill & Arrow Law
Added 2d ago
Pre-Litigation Employment Attorney
Quill & Arrow Law
Los Angeles, California
Compliance & Legal
Legal Counsel
$140k - $180k/yr
On-Site
Doctorate

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Kjar McKenna & Stockalper LLP
Litigation Attorney
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Kjar McKenna & Stockalper LLP
Added 3d ago
Litigation Attorney
Kjar McKenna & Stockalper LLP
El Segundo, California
Business Operations
Compensation & Benefits
Human Resources (HR) — Generalist
$130k - $230k/yr
Hybrid
Doctoral degree

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Litigation Attorney Jobs by City in California

Where California roles are concentrated, by current openings.

Los Angeles
37 jobs
Irvine
21 jobs
San Diego
18 jobs
Sacramento
14 jobs
San Francisco
13 jobs
Costa Mesa
8 jobs
Glendale
7 jobs
Oakland
4 jobs
Pasadena
4 jobs

Litigation Attorney Job Market in California

A snapshot from current California openings, updated as new roles post.

Who's Hiring

Career Consulting Partners
Career Consulting Partners9 open roles
Kahana & Feld LLP
Kahana & Feld LLP8 open roles
Aionios
Aionios7 open roles

Top Industries Hiring

  • Law & Legal Services10
  • Staffing & Recruiting5
  • Technology & Software3
  • Consulting & Professional Services3
  • Healthcare & Medical Services1

What California Employers Look For

The qualifications that appear most often in litigation attorney jobs across California.

  • Active membership in the State Bar of California required to practice law
  • Juris Doctor degree from an ABA-accredited law school
  • Experience drafting motions, pleadings, and discovery in California state or federal court
  • Familiarity with the California Rules of Court and local court procedures
  • Strong deposition, negotiation, and trial preparation skills
  • Experience with legal research platforms such as Westlaw or LexisNexis

Litigation Attorney Jobs in California: Frequently Asked Questions

How do you become a litigation attorney in California?

To become a litigation attorney in California, you must earn a Juris Doctor from an ABA-accredited law school, pass the California Bar Examination, and be admitted to the State Bar of California. The State Bar oversees admissions, character and fitness review, and ongoing licensing. Most litigation roles also require completing a clerkship, law school clinic, or associate-level position to build courtroom and procedural experience before taking on independent matters.

How much do litigation attorneys make in California?

Litigation attorneys in California earn a median of about $195,080 a year, based on May 2025 Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, ranging from around $97,950 for the lowest 10% to over $369,180 for the top 10%. Pay rises with experience, specialty, and employer.

Which companies hire litigation attorneys in California?

Employers hiring litigation attorneys in California right now include Career Consulting Partners, Kahana & Feld LLP, and Aionios, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of September 2026. California's volume of Fortune 500 headquarters, large insurance carriers, and state and federal agencies means litigation hiring stays active year-round across both private firms and in-house legal departments.

Which California cities have the most litigation attorney jobs?

Los Angeles, Irvine, and San Diego account for the largest share of litigation attorney openings in California. Los Angeles leads because of its concentration of Am Law 100 firms, entertainment and media clients, and major insurance defense work, while San Francisco draws heavily from technology and securities litigation, and San Diego's market is shaped by biotech, defense contractors, and a substantial federal court docket.

Are there remote litigation attorney jobs in California?

Yes, but they're less common than in purely desk-based legal roles, since litigation involves court appearances, depositions, and client meetings that require in-person presence. About 61% of litigation attorney openings tied to California are remote or hybrid as of September 2026, with remote work most often available for research-heavy roles, document review, and early-stage discovery work rather than trial or hearing coverage.

How can I get hired as a litigation attorney in California with little or no experience?

The most realistic entry path is a litigation associate position at a mid-size or large California firm, where structured training programs bring on new State Bar admittees directly from law school. Many California employers, including county public defender and district attorney offices, the California Department of Justice, and large insurance defense firms, hire new graduates for supervised associate roles. A federal or state judicial clerkship in California is also a strong credential that opens doors at firms that otherwise require prior associate experience.

Where can I find and apply to litigation attorney jobs in California?

You can find and apply to litigation attorney jobs in California on Migrate Mate, which lists current California openings updated regularly. Search the listings, find roles that match your experience and practice area, and apply directly to the employers posting them.

See All 199+ Litigation Attorney Jobs in California

Find roles in California that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.

Find Litigation Attorney Jobs