Lateral Business & Facilities Associate Attorney

Job Overview

A California-based law firm is seeking a Business & Facilities Associate Attorney to join its Oakland office. This role focuses on supporting K–12 school districts and community colleges across a broad range of operational legal matters. The position involves both transactional and litigation support, specifically in areas such as real estate, construction, contracts, and public procurement. The ideal candidate will bring a thoughtful, client-service-driven approach along with strong legal research and writing capabilities.

Location

• Oakland, California

Duties

• Advise public education clients on a wide range of legal issues including:

  • Real estate transactions and leasing

  • Public contracting and construction procurement

  • Dispute resolution and litigation

  • Contract drafting, negotiation, and compliance

• Provide both advisory and litigation support for operational matters

• Conduct legal research, draft memoranda, and support client presentations

• Collaborate with internal teams and client stakeholders

• Interpret laws, regulations, and policies affecting school and community college operations

Requirements

• Minimum of 1 year of active legal practice experience

• Demonstrated experience or interest in public agency or education law preferred

• Proven ability to manage a range of legal issues with minimal supervision

• Strong interpersonal and communication skills for client-facing work

Education

• Juris Doctor (JD) from an ABA-accredited law school

Certifications

• Active member in good standing with the State Bar of California

Skills

• Excellent legal research, analytical, and writing abilities

• Attention to detail and organizational precision

• Ability to handle both transactional and litigation-related tasks

• Effective communicator with both legal and non-legal audiences

• Client-focused, collaborative, and proactive in problem-solving

Benefits

• Bonus opportunities:

• • Billable hours bonus

  • Annual discretionary bonus

• Health insurance benefits (generous firm-sponsored coverage)

• 401(k) plan with profit-sharing contributions

• Reasonable billable hour expectations

• Collegial and intellectually engaging work environment

This firm works with many of California's educational institutions and related agencies. They are relatively new, founded less than a decade ago. They now have over 60 attorneys thoughout the state of California.