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Project Attorney Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Our client seeks a Staff Attorney to work with all attorneys and staff to assist with discovery ... Ability to think independently and take ownership of projects as assigned. * Strong interpersonal ...

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Staff Attorney

San Francisco, CA · On-site +1

$72K - $105K/yr

The Staff Attorney's core job duties include a variety of discovery-related tasks such as document ... Ability to think independently and take ownership of projects as assigned. * Strong interpersonal ...

Attorney Location: Hybrid in Pasadena, CA Duration: Direct Hire Work Authorization: , , or ... services, project, and talent solutions. By always striving for excellence and focusing on the ...

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Project Attorney information

See California salary details

$49.3K

$119.2K

$190K

How much do project attorney jobs pay per year?

As of Jun 14, 2026, the average yearly pay for project attorney in California is $119,233.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $92,800.00 and $136,700.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a Gen Z lawyer?

A Gen Z lawyer refers to a legal professional who is part of Generation Z, typically born from the mid-1990s to early 2010s. As younger entrants to the legal field, they often bring familiarity with digital tools, social media, and evolving workplace expectations, influencing how they approach legal work and client interactions.

Do lawyers make $500,000 a year?

Project attorneys, like other lawyers, can earn high salaries depending on their experience, specialization, and location. While some senior or highly specialized lawyers may reach or exceed $500,000 annually, this is not typical for most project attorneys, whose salaries generally range lower. Factors such as firm size, industry, and billable hours influence earning potential.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Project Attorney, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Project Attorney, you need a Juris Doctor (JD) degree, a state bar license, and a solid understanding of legal research, document review, and litigation support. Familiarity with e-discovery platforms like Relativity, legal research databases such as Westlaw or LexisNexis, and document management systems is typically required. Excellent attention to detail, strong organizational skills, and clear written communication help distinguish top performers in this role. These skills and tools are critical for managing large-scale legal projects efficiently and ensuring compliance with legal standards.

What is the lowest salary of a corporate lawyer?

The lowest salary for a corporate lawyer typically starts around $60,000 to $80,000 annually for entry-level positions, depending on the region and firm size. Salaries increase with experience, specialization, and geographic location, with some entry-level roles paying less in smaller markets or organizations.

What is the difference between Project Attorney vs Associate Attorney?

AspectProject AttorneyAssociate Attorney
Required CredentialsJuris Doctor (JD), bar admissionJuris Doctor (JD), bar admission
Work EnvironmentLegal projects, litigation support, contract reviewLegal research, drafting, case preparation
Employer & Industry UsageLaw firms, corporate legal departments, government agenciesLaw firms, corporate legal departments

Project Attorneys and Associate Attorneys both require a JD and bar admission, working in legal environments like law firms and corporate legal teams. However, Project Attorneys typically focus on managing specific legal projects, while Associate Attorneys handle casework and legal research. The roles often overlap but differ mainly in scope and project management responsibilities.

How does a Project Attorney typically collaborate with other legal professionals and project teams?

Project Attorneys often work closely with in-house counsel, paralegals, and project managers to review documents, conduct legal research, and ensure compliance with relevant regulations. Their role may involve coordinating with other attorneys on large-scale litigation or transactional projects, dividing tasks, and sharing updates through regular meetings or legal technology platforms. Effective communication and teamwork are essential, as Project Attorneys frequently need to align their work with the overall objectives and timelines of the legal team and client stakeholders.

What are project attorneys?

Project attorneys are legal professionals who are typically hired on a temporary or contract basis to work on specific legal projects. Their responsibilities often include document review, legal research, due diligence, and assisting with litigation or large transactions. They are commonly employed by law firms or corporations to handle periods of high workload or specialized projects. Project attorneys may not have the same long-term career track as associates or partners, but they play a vital role in supporting legal teams during complex or resource-intensive cases.

What is the highest paid law job?

The highest paid law jobs are typically in corporate law, especially for partners at large law firms, or in specialized fields like intellectual property, mergers and acquisitions, and securities law. These roles often require extensive experience, strong negotiation skills, and a track record of successful client representation, with top earners making several million dollars annually.
What cities in California are hiring for Project Attorney jobs? Cities in California with the most Project Attorney job openings:

Alston Discovery Staff Attorney/Discovery & Analytics Consultant

Alston and Bird LLP

Los Angeles, CA • Hybrid

Full-time

Posted 5 days ago


Job description

THE FIRM

As a leading international law firm, we are dedicated to excellence through impactful communication, collaboration, and community involvement. Our company culture has earned us one of the "100 Best Companies to Work For" for 27 consecutive years. This honor, along with many others, highlights our commitment to innovation and professional development. At Alston & Bird LLP, our foundation is made of trust, reliability, and compassion.

JOB DESCRIPTION

An Alston Discovery Staff Attorney/Discovery & Analytics Consultant ("Staff Attorney") is a hybrid full time salaried position with certain HR benefits. Staff Attorneys assist in the management and supervision of eDiscovery matters, privilege reviews and privilege logs, transactional due diligence projects, research projects, lease or contract reviews, and other work as assigned. They will be responsible for team building, knowledge sharing, and cross-training with our current hourly project attorneys, staff attorneys, and technology professionals to enable them to function at a higher level. Additional information about Staff Attorney duties is set forth below.

Candidates must be licensed attorneys in good standing in the state in which they live and work. In evaluating candidates, consideration will be given to (1)technical expertise with eDiscovery review platforms, AI tools, advanced analytics and technology assisted review (TAR), contract analysis platforms, Excel spreadsheets and other technology tools; (2)the demonstration of, or potential for, excellent leadership, management and supervisory skills and experience; (3)depth of experience with eDiscovery, analytics, and other developing AI tools generally; (4)in depth knowledge of and experience with privilege reviews and privilege logs; and (5)the ability to effectively work and interact with lawyers at the Firm and our clients and serve as a representative of the Firm's legal team. The billable hours expectation for this position will be 1,800.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES

The essential duties of a Staff Attorney/Discovery & Analytics Consultant may include, but are not limited to:

  • Assume primary attorney responsibility ("ownership") for Alston Discovery projects.
  • Create and revise project estimates.
  • Develop and maintain excellent working relationships with associates and partners on a consistent basis.
  • Participate in Alston Discovery business development and marketing efforts.
  • Regularly and consistently have meaningful involvement in client conferences and meet and confers.
  • Create, revise and implement best practices guidelines, protocols, workflows and templates for the analysis and production of electronic data.
  • Work with case teams and clients on drafting and implementation of legal hold memos and ESI orders.
  • Lead Relativity trainings for project attorneys, staff attorneys and other firm lawyers.
  • Draft, create and report defensibility memorandum and after-action reports, and de-briefings with case team and technology professionals.
  • Team building, knowledge sharing, and cross-training of project attorneys, other staff attorneys, technology professionals, and client teams.
  • Coordinate with Alston Discovery leadership and with internal and external client teams.
  • Manage and supervise complex document reviews, contract analysis, analytics projects, and other projects.
  • Develop and maintain primary responsibility with case teams for non-review special projects (such as research, surveys and contract analysis) that demonstrates in-depth substantive knowledge in a specific legal area or client business.
  • Oversee and work collaboratively with our Legal Technology & Consulting Services team on design and implementation of Alston Analytics projects.
  • Perform 2nd tier review or quality control on a document review.
  • Perform and supervise privilege reviews.
  • Assist client teams in the development of witness files, timelines, chronologies, deposition and trial outlines and memoranda.
  • Create, revise and update document decision and privilege logs.
  • Preserve confidentiality of client matters.
  • Maintain current and accurate time entry records.
  • Maintain knowledge of and adherence to the Firm's policies and procedures, including established best practices.

SKILLS NEEDED TO BE SUCCESSFUL

The skills needed to be successful will vary with the particular matter to which a Staff Attorney is assigned but may include:

  • Advanced Relativity certifications.
  • Skilled in software tools, such as Heretic, Excel, etc.
  • Superior legal analysis skills.
  • Significant experience applying state-of-the-art litigation technology, advanced analytics, and project management tools.
  • Ability to effectively supervise and manage numerous attorneys in discovery and production of documents and data in general commercial and financial litigation, insurance matters, product liability litigation, health care matters, IP litigation, and government investigations.
  • Ability to track, evaluate, and provide feedback designed to improve performance of project attorneys and staff attorneys.
  • Ability to manage e-discovery requests in response to subpoenas, requests for production of documents, and all other forms of discovery.
  • Ability to train new attorneys on privilege, confidentiality, and e-discovery policies and procedures.
  • Ability to supervise and manage foreign language document reviews on behalf of various clients in Europe and Asia.
  • Ability to effectively express yourself, both orally and in writing.
  • Ability to establish effective working relationships throughout the Firm and with the Firm's clients.
  • Ability to be responsive and flexible to the immediate requests for assistance that are inherent in the nature of Alston Discovery.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

  • Juris Doctorate degree.
  • Licensed to practice law and in good standing in the state in which they live and work.

SALARY

Up to $225,000 with an opportunity to earn a bonus of up to $34,000.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

Alston & Bird LLP is an Equal Opportunity Employer does not discriminate on the bases of any status protected under federal, state, or local law. Applicants will be considered regardless of their sex, race, age, religion, color, national origin, ancestry, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition (associated with cancer, a history of cancer, or genetic characteristics), HIV/AIDS status, genetic information, marital status, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, military and veteran status, or other protected category under the law on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, age, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, national origin, veteran status or disability in relation to our recruiting, hiring, and promoting practices.

The statements contained in this position description are not necessarily all-inclusive, additional duties and responsibilities may be assigned, and requirements may vary from time to time.

Professional business references and a background screening will be required for all final applicants selected for a position.

If you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability you may contactdonavan.mclean@alston.com.

Alston & Bird is not currently accepting resumes from agencies for this position. If you are a recruiter, search firm, or employment agency, you will not be compensated in any way for your referral of a candidate even if Alston & Bird hires the candidate.