Associate Attorney – Construction Defect

Pay, Benefits, and Work Arrangement

Base salary: $145,000 – $345,000+
Location: San Diego, CA
Employment: Full Time
Work arrangement: On-site or hybrid in San Diego, CA, subject to court, client, deal, and team needs. The exact office schedule will be confirmed before interview.

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance options.
• Paid time off and paid company holidays.
• Employer-supported retirement plan.
• Bar dues, CLE support, and professional-development resources appropriate to the role.
• Bonus, origination credit, or other performance incentives where offered by the employer.
• Final eligibility, plan design, and incentive terms are confirmed with the employer before interview.

This full-time Associate Attorney – Construction Defect opening in San Diego, CA is with a confidential construction-law practice. The successful candidate will connect legal strategy to project facts, technical records, contracts, insurance, and the practical pressures of construction disputes. Qualified applicants can review the employer, team structure, and interview process with Hire Innovative before authorizing a submission.

About the Role

The role provides sophisticated disputes, direct client contact, and a chance to build deeper construction-industry expertise. Day to day, the person in this position will connect legal strategy to project facts, technical records, contracts, insurance, and the practical pressures of construction disputes. San Diego candidates can expect an early discussion about work model, compensation, team structure, and whether the opportunity offers a meaningful step forward. The interview process will cover team structure, workload, success measures, and advancement.

Responsibilities

• Analyze contracts, plans, schedules, change records, expert materials, claims, and insurance issues.
• Prepare pleadings, discovery, depositions, motions, mediation, and trial materials.
• Coordinate with owners, contractors, design professionals, consultants, carriers, and experts.
• Translate complex project history into clear legal strategy and client advice.
• Take ownership of assigned matters and keep clients and supervising attorneys informed about deadlines, risk, and next steps.

Required Qualifications

• Construction, defect, commercial, insurance, or complex-litigation experience.
• Ability to work confidently with technical documents and expert issues.
• Strong writing, case organization, and client communication.
• Active or eligible state bar admission for the position.
• Ability to use feedback, work effectively with supervision, and take on greater ownership as proficiency grows.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with the employer’s practice area, matter type, and local court or transaction process.
• Comfort using modern legal research, document, case-management, or billing systems.
• Examples of work completed directly, including the tools, matters, patients, projects, or decisions involved.

How to Apply

Send your current resume through the form below. A cover letter is optional. Candidates whose experience matches the opening will hear from Hire Innovative about the employer, timing, and interview process. We do not submit your resume without your consent.