Open Positions: Attorneys
At Hanson Bridgett, we look for the best and brightest legal minds to join the Firm. Ours is a tight-knit group of attorneys who enjoy a team approach to legal matters, always work with the client’s long-term interest in mind, and expect significant contributions from junior attorneys and established partners alike.
Ideal candidates will have a distinguished academic background and impeccable references. CA Bar required. Strong research, writing and communication skills, high level of analytical skills as well as excellent and highly adaptable communication skills are required. We seek intelligent, entrepreneurial, team players who are practical, problem solvers, ambitious, organized, and detail oriented and are looking towards a partnership with Hanson Bridgett.
We are an EEO employer and offer a competitive salary and benefits package.
To be considered for a position, please submit:
- Cover letter
- Resume
- Law school transcript
- Writing sample
Non-Discrimination Policy
Hanson Bridgett LLP seeks to ensure a positive and diverse work culture where each person may work and develop professionally to the best of their ability free of unlawful discrimination or prejudice. To this end, the firm is an equal opportunity employer that prohibits unlawful discrimination or prejudice of any kind based on race, color, ancestry, national origin, religion or creed, age, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, veteran’s status, mental or physical disability, or pregnancy.
6-8 years of experience
Open to All Hanson Bridgett Offices (Hybrid)
1-2 years of experience
San Francisco, San Rafael, Walnut Creek (Hybrid)
3-5 years of experience
San Francisco, Los Angeles, Sacramento, San Rafael, Walnut Creek, San Diego, Fresno
5-6 years of experience
San Francisco, Sacramento, Los Angeles
8+ years of experience
Open to All Hanson Bridgett Offices(Hybrid)
4-5 years of experience
NorCal offices only: San Francisco, San Rafael, or Walnut Creek (hybrid)
3-5 years of experience
San Francisco or San Rafael (hybrid)
Environmental and Natural Resources Attorney
6-8 years of experience
Open to All Hanson Bridgett Offices
The Real Estate & Environment Section is seeking an attorney with 6-8 years of experience in environmental law, including water and environmental litigation compliance and regulatory issues. The ideal candidate will have strong research and writing skills and experience in all phases of environmental, toxic tort, and habitability litigation, including case management, motion practice, and discovery, as well as handling hearings, depositions, arbitrations, and trials. Ideal candidates will have experience with at least some of the following: Clean Water Act, Porter-Cologne Water Quality Control Act, Endangered Species Act, CERCLA, RCRA, State voluntary cleanup program, CEQA, NEPA, and water rights. Land use experience is a plus. This is an excellent opportunity to work closely and collaboratively with a growing team, mentor junior associates, and contribute to the development of a statewide environmental practice.
This is a hybrid position based out of any of our California offices: Fresno, Los Angeles, Sacramento, San Diego, San Francisco, San Rafael, or Walnut Creek. The annual base compensation range for this California position is approximately $255,000 -$275,000. Placement within the salary range depends upon a number of factors including, but not limited to years of experience and professional skills required for this role.
Government Associate
1-2 years of experience
San Francisco, San Rafael, Walnut Creek
We are seeking an attorney with up to two years of practice experience, including recent law school graduates, with an interest in public agency and/or water and transit issues to join our robust Government Section. The ideal candidate (JD 2025-2026) will have some experience or exposure to transactions, advice & counsel, and/or litigation work for public or private clients, though demonstrated experience is a plus rather than a requirement. Prior experience working with or for a public agency is also a plus, but not required. This is an excellent opportunity to work closely with partners and senior attorneys as part of a collaborative team with an energetic practice spanning the state of California. The responsibilities include assisting with legal matters for public agency clients, including competitive bidding and procurement, public works contracting, alternative project delivery, transparency and open meeting laws, conflict of interest issues, and rate setting, including Proposition 218 analysis. The role also involves legal research and writing; reviewing and drafting contracts; drafting policies and resolutions; analyzing issues including water law, public works and environmental aspects of client projects; and assisting in advising clients. The attorney will support transactions, advice & counsel, and/or litigation matters for public and private clients. Eventually this position will also include in person client meeting attendance in the SF Bay Area. The position also provides opportunities to participate in business development efforts, including speaking, writing, conference attendance, and networking with trade associations and professional organizations. The ability to thrive in a fast paced environment, be entrepreneurial, and develop your own niche and eventually your own clients is also important.
This is a hybrid position ideally based in our San Francisco office, with preference given to candidates who are able to work from SF or another Bay Area office on a regular basis. The annual base compensation range for this California position is approximately $185,000 -$195,000. Placement within the salary range depends upon a number of factors including, but not limited to years of experience and professional skills required for this role.
Trademark Associate
3-5 years of experience
San Francisco, Los Angeles, Sacramento, San Rafael, Walnut Creek, San Diego, Fresno
Hanson Bridgett’s IP Practice Group is seeking an associate with 3 - 5 years of trademark prosecution or enforcement experience. The ideal candidate will have experience with trademark prosecution (domestic and international), clearance, counseling, enforcement, domain name disputes, and litigation experience in federal court and before the TTAB. Advertising, sweepstakes and promotions experience, copyright and other intellectual-property experience, is a plus. The preference is for the person filling this position to be based in Hanson Bridgett’s Los Angeles office. We offer the ability to work remotely in an agile (hybrid) manner from within California.
This is a hybrid position based out of any of our California offices: San Francisco, Los Angeles, Sacramento, San Rafael, Walnut Creek, San Diego, or Fresno. The annual base compensation range for this California position is approximately $205,000 to $245,000. Placement within the salary range depends upon a number of factors including, but not limited to years of experience and professional skills required for this role.
Hanson Bridgett is recognized for its commitment to collaboration, diversity, and innovative legal solutions. Join us and work on impactful projects in a collegial environment that values your expertise and professional growth.
Mid-Level Trust & Estate Transactional Associate
5-6 years of experience
San Francisco, Sacramento, Los Angeles
The Private Client Services Section is seeking a mid-level associate with 5-6 years of estate planning experience to join the firm’s Family Wealth Planning Practice Group. The ideal candidate will have law firm experience in estate planning and trust administration; including drafting of comprehensive estate plans (wills, revocable living trusts, and irrevocable trust instruments). Estate/gift tax knowledge and experience with taxable estates is highly preferred. The candidate will work directly with and learn from senior estate planning partners while working in a collegial environment. The preference is for the person filling this position to be based in Hanson Bridgett’s San Francisco, Sacramento or Los Angeles offices. We offer the ability to work remotely in an agile (hybrid) manner from within California. The annual base compensation range for this California position is approximately $245,000 to $255,000. Placement within the salary range depends upon a number of factors including, but not limited to years of experience and professional skills required for this role.
Senior Tax Associate or Counsel
8+ years of experience
Open to All Hanson Bridgett Offices (Hybrid)
Our Tax Practice Group is seeking a senior tax attorney with eight or more years of experience to join its dynamic and growing practice. The ideal candidate will have substantial experience handling a broad range of federal, state, and local tax matters, with technical expertise in partnerships (including Subchapter K), pass-through entities, and complex waterfall structures. Experience with fund formation, private equity transactions, LLCs, and M&A is required, along with familiarity working with nonprofit organizations. International tax experience, a Tax LL.M., and prior law firm experience are preferred.
This is an excellent opportunity to play a key role in a collaborative and entrepreneurial practice with a national reach. The successful candidate will work closely with partners and clients across offices, lead sophisticated tax matters and contribute meaningfully to the continued expansion of the firm’s tax practice. Partnership opportunities may be available for exceptional candidates, particularly those with a demonstrated ability to generate or support business development efforts including a portable book of business. This is a hybrid position based in any of our California offices, including San Francisco, Los Angeles, Sacramento, San Rafael, Walnut Creek, San Diego, or Fresno.
The annual base compensation range for this California position is approximately $305k+. Salary depends upon a number of factors including, but not limited to, years of experience, book of business, and professional skills required for this role.
Labor & Employment Associate
4-5 years of experience
NorCal offices only: San Francisco, San Rafael, or Walnut Creek (hybrid)
The Employer Services Section is seeking a labor & employment associate with 4-5 years of employment litigation experience. Traditional labor law and advice and counsel experience is a plus. At Hanson Bridgett, you’ll have close, supportive relationships with your peers, partners and clients—getting exposure to trials and depositions early and taking on challenging cases together. With a values-driven culture that measures its impact, you can be confident your influence will go beyond what’s on paper and directly change the communities you serve. This is a hybrid position based out of one of our Northern California offices: San Francisco, San Rafael, Walnut Creek or Sacramento. The annual base compensation range for this California position is between $235,000 and $245,000. Placement within the salary range depends upon a number of factors including but not limited to years of experience and professional skills required for this role.
Labor & Employment Associate
3-5 years of experience
San Francisco or San Rafael (hybrid)
Hanson Bridgett’s Labor & Employment group is seeking a mid-level associate to join a practice focused on advising public agencies and special districts on the full range of employment, governance, and litigation matters. This is a substantive, client-facing role from day one that combines active litigation with advisory and investigative work. The associate will represent public agency clients in employment litigation, arbitrations, and administrative proceedings, including handling employee discipline appeals, drafting arbitration briefs, conducting witness preparation, and managing cases through hearing. Alongside this litigation work, the associate will advise clients on employment policies, employee discipline, leaves of absence, wage and hour compliance, and disability accommodation, and will conduct and support workplace investigations involving allegations of discrimination, harassment, and retaliation. The role also involves labor negotiations and advising on matters affecting both represented and unrepresented workforces, including public safety personnel. The associate will further counsel public agency clients on government law issues — including the California Public Records Act, the Brown Act, and ethics compliance — and will draft training materials and present to client boards, HR teams, and executive leadership.
We are looking for someone with 3–5 years of labor and employment experience, ideally with public agency or public entity clients, who is comfortable both in the courtroom or hearing room and in an advisory capacity. Strong research, writing, and advocacy skills are essential. Exposure to government law, FEHA, FLSA/FMLA, POBR/FBOR, or public records matters is a plus. You’ll work alongside experienced partners on high-stakes matters that involve not just legal complexity, but real political and organizational nuance — serving clients who rely on their outside counsel as genuine strategic partners.
This is a hybrid position based out of San Francisco or San Rafael. The annual base compensation range for this California position is between $205,000 and $245,000. Placement within the salary range depends upon a number of factors including but not limited to years of experience and professional skills required for this role.
