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First Year Attorney Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Jobot

Junior Attorney

Sacramento, CA · Remote

$40 - $45/hr

Why join us? ----- As a First Year Associate / First Year Attorney in our company, we are able to offer: * An hourly rate between $40-45/hr! * Medical, dental and vision coverage! * 401k! * Work from ...

Jobot

Junior Attorney

Lancaster, CA · Remote

$40 - $45/hr

Why join us? ----- As a First Year Associate / First Year Attorney in our company, we are able to offer: * An hourly rate between $40-45/hr! * Medical, dental and vision coverage! * 401k! * Work from ...

Jobot

Junior Attorney

Modesto, CA · Remote

$40 - $45/hr

Why join us? ----- As a First Year Associate / First Year Attorney in our company, we are able to offer: * An hourly rate between $40-45/hr! * Medical, dental and vision coverage! * 401k! * Work from ...

Jobot

Junior Attorney

Stockton, CA · Remote

$40 - $45/hr

Why join us? ----- As a First Year Associate / First Year Attorney in our company, we are able to offer: * An hourly rate between $40-45/hr! * Medical, dental and vision coverage! * 401k! * Work from ...

Jobot

Junior Attorney

Pomona, CA · Remote

$40 - $45/hr

Why join us? ----- As a First Year Associate / First Year Attorney in our company, we are able to offer: * An hourly rate between $40-45/hr! * Medical, dental and vision coverage! * 401k! * Work from ...

Jobot

Junior Attorney

Santa Clarita, CA · Remote

$40 - $45/hr

Why join us? ----- As a First Year Associate / First Year Attorney in our company, we are able to offer: * An hourly rate between $40-45/hr! * Medical, dental and vision coverage! * 401k! * Work from ...

Jobot

Junior Attorney

Chula Vista, CA · Remote

$40 - $45/hr

Why join us? ----- As a First Year Associate / First Year Attorney in our company, we are able to offer: * An hourly rate between $40-45/hr! * Medical, dental and vision coverage! * 401k! * Work from ...

Jobot

Junior Attorney

Irvine, CA · Remote

$40 - $45/hr

Why join us? ----- As a First Year Associate / First Year Attorney in our company, we are able to offer: * An hourly rate between $40-45/hr! * Medical, dental and vision coverage! * 401k! * Work from ...

Jobot

Junior Attorney

Victorville, CA · Remote

$40 - $45/hr

Why join us? ----- As a First Year Associate / First Year Attorney in our company, we are able to offer: * An hourly rate between $40-45/hr! * Medical, dental and vision coverage! * 401k! * Work from ...

Jobot

Junior Attorney

Long Beach, CA · Remote

$40 - $45/hr

Why join us? ----- As a First Year Associate / First Year Attorney in our company, we are able to offer: * An hourly rate between $40-45/hr! * Medical, dental and vision coverage! * 401k! * Work from ...

Jobot

Junior Attorney

Fresno, CA · Remote

$40 - $45/hr

Why join us? ----- As a First Year Associate / First Year Attorney in our company, we are able to offer: * An hourly rate between $40-45/hr! * Medical, dental and vision coverage! * 401k! * Work from ...

Jobot

Junior Attorney

Oakland, CA · Remote

$40 - $45/hr

Why join us? ----- As a First Year Associate / First Year Attorney in our company, we are able to offer: * An hourly rate between $40-45/hr! * Medical, dental and vision coverage! * 401k! * Work from ...

Jobot

Associate Attorney

Los Angeles, CA · Hybrid

$95K - $150K/yr

Why join us? ----- As a First Year Attorney / First Year Associate in our firm, we are able to offer: * A competitive base salary with bonus incentive program * Generous Benefits Package (medical and ...

MANUKYAN LAW FIRM

Be Seen First

Associate Attorney- Employment Law

Glendale, CA · On-site

$100K - $175K/yr

We are looking to hire an associate attorney, preferably a first or second year attorney, who has experience with answering discovery. We practice Plaintiff's side employment law. Responsibilities ...

JBA International

Trial Attorney

Beverly Hills, CA · On-site

Plaintiffs Practice Seeking 5+ year attorney with personal injury trial experience * Must have ... Medical and Vacation starting after 90 days Interview Process: 1st interview= phone/zoom 2nd ...

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Showing results 21-40

All JobsFirst Year Attorney JobsFirst Year Attorney Jobs in California

First Year Attorney information

See California salary details

$40K

$97K

$189.5K

How much do first year attorney jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 9, 2026, the average yearly pay for first year attorney in California is $97,043.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $64,600.00 and $118,400.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are some common challenges faced by first year attorneys, and how can they be addressed?

First year attorneys often face challenges related to managing a steep learning curve, balancing heavy workloads, and adapting to the fast-paced environment of a law firm or legal department. It's common to feel overwhelmed by billable hour requirements and the expectation to deliver high-quality work while learning firm procedures. Building strong relationships with mentors and colleagues, seeking regular feedback, and taking proactive steps to improve time management skills can help ease the transition. Many firms also offer training programs and support networks to assist new attorneys in developing their legal and professional skills.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a first year attorney, and why are they important?

To thrive as a First Year Attorney, you need a Juris Doctor (JD) degree, a state bar license, and a strong foundation in legal research, writing, and analytical reasoning. Familiarity with legal research databases such as Westlaw or LexisNexis, document management systems, and e-discovery tools is typically required. Excellent communication, organization, attention to detail, and the ability to manage deadlines are standout soft skills in this position. These competencies are crucial for producing accurate work, meeting client and firm expectations, and building a successful legal career from the outset.

What is a first year attorney?

A first year attorney is a lawyer who has recently graduated from law school and has just begun practicing law, typically in their first year at a law firm or legal organization. These attorneys are often referred to as 'associates' and usually focus on learning the foundational aspects of legal practice, performing research, drafting documents, and assisting more senior lawyers. The first year is considered a training period where new attorneys gain practical experience, develop professional skills, and begin to build their legal careers.

What is the difference between First Year Attorney vs Law Clerk?

AspectFirst Year AttorneyLaw Clerk
Required CredentialsJ.D. degree, bar admissionJ.D. degree, often bar admission not required
Work EnvironmentLaw firms, corporate legal departments, government agenciesCourts, law firms, government offices
Employer & Industry UsageLegal industry, post-law schoolJudicial and legal institutions
Common Search & ComparisonYesYes

First Year Attorneys and Law Clerks often share similar educational backgrounds, but First Year Attorneys are typically recent law school graduates working as entry-level lawyers, while Law Clerks usually assist judges or attorneys with research and drafting. Both roles require a J.D. degree, but First Year Attorneys are more involved in client representation and legal practice, whereas Law Clerks focus on research and case preparation. Understanding these differences helps job seekers identify the right position based on their career goals and experience.

What are popular job titles related to First Year Attorney jobs in California? For First Year Attorney jobs in California, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching First Year Attorney jobs in California look for? The top searched job categories for First Year Attorney jobs in California are:
What cities in California are hiring for First Year Attorney jobs? Cities in California with the most First Year Attorney job openings:
First Year Attorney jobs near you
Infographic showing various First Year Attorney job openings in California as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 67% Full Time, 27% Part Time, 2% Temporary, and 3% Contract. Highlights an 90% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 9% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $97,043 per year, or $46.7 per hour.

Junior Attorney

Jobot

Sacramento, CA • Remote

$40 - $45/hr

Full-time, Contractor

Medical, Dental, Vision, Retirement

Posted 11 days ago

Job description

100% REMOTE Contract to Hire Entry Level Attorney / Associate Attorney Needed for Growing Firm!
This Jobot Consulting Job is hosted by: Reed Kellick
Are you a fit? Easy Apply now by clicking the "Apply Now" button and sending us your resume.
Salary: $40 - $45 per hour
A bit about us:
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We are a growing labor & employment law firm that is on the lookout for a fully remote contract-to-hire Entry-Level Attorney / First-Year Associate who is based in and licensed in California!
Why join us?
---------
As a First Year Associate / First Year Attorney in our company, we are able to offer:
  • An hourly rate between $40-45/hr!
  • Medical, dental and vision coverage!
  • 401k!
  • Work from home / work remotely 100%!
  • Conversion to a perm/direct hire role after 3 months!

Job Details
---------
As an First-Year Attorney / Junior Associate on our team, we are looking for:
  • CA Bar license
  • CA residence
  • Willingness to work on a contract for 3 months before conversion to a perm, direct hire role
  • JD from an accredited law school
  • Interest in employment law and/or workers' compensation

Interested in hearing more? Easy Apply now by clicking the "Apply Now" button.
Jobot is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We provide an inclusive work environment that celebrates diversity and all qualified candidates receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, national origin, age (40 and over), disability, military status, genetic information or any other basis protected by applicable federal, state, or local laws. Jobot also prohibits harassment of applicants or employees based on any of these protected categories. It is Jobot’s policy to comply with all applicable federal, state and local laws respecting consideration of unemployment status in making hiring decisions.
Sometimes Jobot is required to perform background checks with your authorization. Jobot will consider qualified candidates with criminal histories in a manner consistent with any applicable federal, state, or local law regarding criminal backgrounds, including but not limited to the Los Angeles Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring and the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance.
Information collected and processed as part of your Jobot candidate profile, and any job applications, resumes, or other information you choose to submit is subject to Jobot's Privacy Policy, as well as the Jobot California Worker Privacy Notice and Jobot Notice Regarding Automated Employment Decision Tools which are available at jobot.com/legal.
By applying for this job, you agree to receive calls, AI-generated calls, text messages, or emails from Jobot, and/or its agents and contracted partners. Frequency varies for text messages. Message and data rates may apply. Carriers are not liable for delayed or undelivered messages. You can reply STOP to cancel and HELP for help. You can access our privacy policy here: jobot.com/privacy-policy #legal #attorney #jd #juris-doctor #tier4
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About Jobot

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

Jobot is a revolutionary Recruiting Rirm that combines the latest in AI technology with our custom software, Jax, and partners it with Jobot Pros experienced recruiters to fill jobs and provide incredible service to our clients and candidates in the process. We are disrupting the Recruiting space and have grown from 0 to over 750 folks in 5 years. Jobot is committed to workplace flexibility. Come join us at the beautiful Jobot House in Newport Beach, CA or work from anywhere in the United States with strong WiFi. We have recruiters in New York, Hawaii and all over the US. We typically fly top performers to California a few times a year to enjoy the weather and celebrate in style.

Industry

Recruiting and staffing services

Company size

51 - 200 Employees

Headquarters location

Irvine, CA, US

Year founded

2018

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