Associate - Land Use & Environmental

A well-established California midsize law firm is seeking a Land Use & Environmental Associate with 3–5 years of experience to join its expanding practice group in Los Angeles, Oakland, or San Diego. The firm has built a strong reputation over the past 40 years as a “go-to” law firm for handling high-profile and high-stakes matters for both public entities and private sector clients across California.

The Land Use and Environmental Group works on sophisticated, large-scale development matters involving high-profile public and private projects throughout the state. Attorneys in this practice advise clients on complex land use entitlements, regulatory permitting, and environmental review processes, including compliance with CEQA and other California land use regulations. This is an opportunity to work on impactful development projects in a collaborative, client-focused environment.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Advise clients on complex land use entitlements and development approvals
• Provide counsel on CEQA compliance and environmental review processes
• Handle regulatory permitting and planning and zoning matters
• Draft motions, pleadings, legal memoranda, and advocacy materials
• Assist with or manage land use and environmental litigation matters
• Collaborate with public agency and private sector clients on high-profile development projects

QUALIFICATIONS:

• J.D. from an accredited law school and active California Bar membership
• 3–5 years of substantive land use and environmental law experience
• Extensive knowledge of CEQA, planning and zoning laws, and California land use processes
• Land use litigation experience preferred
• Strong legal research, writing, analytical, and problem-solving skills
• Ability to work independently while thriving in a collaborative team environment
• Excellent academic credentials and a strong commitment to client service

BENEFITS:

• Hybrid work schedule with flexibility for in-office collaboration
• Reasonable billable hours requirement
• Annual discretionary and billable-hours bonuses
• Competitive health insurance benefits
• 401(k) with partial match and profit-sharing