Associate Attorney (Insurance Defense)

Location: Orange County, California, with the office in Costa Mesa. Flexible remote, hybrid, or onsite work models are available; the supervising partner expects to be in the Costa Mesa office approximately three days per week.

Salary: $115,000–$160,000 annually, depending on experience and qualifications. Annual billable-hours bonuses are also available.

Company

Tyson & Mendes is a growing civil defense law firm focused on trial litigation, attorney development, and professional leadership.

What you will do

• Develop case strategies for sophisticated civil litigation matters.
• Independently manage court appearances, depositions, discovery, motion practice, and trials.
• Handle matters involving medical malpractice, catastrophic injury, wrongful death, elder abuse, institutional liability, trucking, automobile, healthcare, and entertainment claims.
• Communicate professionally with clients and build relationships with existing and prospective clients.
• Collaborate with attorneys and staff across experience levels.
• Mentor junior attorneys and contribute to team development.

Requirements

• Active California Bar license required.
• Juris Doctor degree from an ABA-accredited law school.
• Three or more years of litigation experience, including insurance defense experience, case strategy, depositions, and trial preparation.
• Ability to independently manage a full caseload from discovery through trial.
• Familiarity with litigation timekeeping and billing systems.
• Strong critical thinking, problem-solving, written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills; proficiency in Microsoft Word, Outlook, and PowerPoint.

Culture & Benefits

• Direct mentorship, regular feedback, weekly team meetings, and a manageable caseload for developing attorneys.
• Comprehensive health, vision, dental, and life insurance plans, including options at zero employee cost.
• 401(k) matching, paid parental leave, flexible vacation, and monthly technology reimbursement.
• Student loan repayment assistance or a 529 college savings plan for eligible full-time attorneys after one year.
• In-house training, leadership development, CLE programs, paid bar license renewal fees, and a defined pathway to partnership.
• Diversity initiatives, charitable programs, and firm social and off-site events.