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What litigation firms post for pay

Salary ranges that Southern California law firms advertise in their own civil litigation job postings, by firm, practice side and experience.

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Advertised salary ranges, not what attorneys earn

Every figure here comes from a salary range a law firm published in a current job posting. A posted range is what the firm says it expects to pay for that opening. It is not what attorneys at the firm are actually paid, it leaves out bonuses, commissions and benefits unless we say otherwise, and it is not an estimate of your individual market value.

98live openings from 17 law firms
84openings with posted pay, from 15 firms
34distinct roles in the salary analysis, from 6 firms
Nov 1, 2026figures updated

As of Nov 1, 2026, FirmSavvy lists 98 civil litigation attorney openings from 17 Southern California law firms; 84 post pay. For defense roles requiring 2–4 years of experience, calculated separately across 6 firms weighted equally, the median advertised minimum base salary is $147,500 and the median advertised maximum is $195,000. These describe advertised ranges, not what attorneys earn.

Snapshot of the figures as of Nov 1, 2026, 9:00 AM Pacific time. Openings and advertised pay change; with JavaScript on, this page replaces the snapshot with the current figures, which refresh every 15 minutes.

Where the data supports a median

Median advertised base salary

Updated Nov 1, 2026

Defense2–4 years minimum experience
Median advertised minimum$147,500
Median advertised maximum$195,000

Two separate medians from 18 distinct roles at 6 firms. Each firm carries equal weight: a firm's several similar openings are first reduced to that firm's own middle figures, then the median is taken across the 6 firms. Together they are not a salary range for any one job, and they are not what attorneys earn.

How this median was calculated

Step 1: for each firm, the middle (median) of the minimums it advertises in this group, and separately the middle of its maximums. Step 2: the median of those firm figures, each firm counted once. The minimum and maximum are calculated independently, so they can come from different firms. With an even number of firms, each median is the midpoint between the two middle firms.

FirmRolesFirm's middle advertised minimum / maximum
Tyson & Mendes LLP3$115,000 / $160,000
Lewis Brisbois Bisgaard & Smith LLP1$145,000 / $190,000
Murchison & Cumming, LLP3$145,000 / $225,000
Burke, Williams & Sorensen, LLP1$150,000 / $170,000
O'Hagan Meyer3$155,000 / $200,000
Ogletree Deakins7$235,000 / $300,000
What these medians mean, precisely
  • Each figure describes salary ranges firms advertise, not salaries paid or attorney earnings. Firms advertise a minimum and a maximum. The "median advertised minimum" and the "median advertised maximum" are two separate medians, calculated independently. Together they are not a representative salary range and not any one firm's range.
  • Each firm carries equal weight. When a firm advertises several similar openings in the same group, we first take the middle of that firm's own minimums and maximums, so a firm with seven openings counts the same as a firm with one.
  • A median is shown only when at least five different firms post base salary ranges in the same side and experience group. Otherwise the group is marked "Limited data" and each firm's range is listed instead.
  • Only base salary ranges count. Ranges that include bonus, ranges not stated as base salary, single figures and minimum-only postings are shown by firm but kept out of the medians.

Every experience level

By side and experience

SideMinimum experiencePosted base payRolesFirmsStatus
DefenseUnder 2 years
Only 3 firms (a median needs 5). Each posted base range:
  • $130,000–$155,000 · O'Hagan Meyer
  • $140,000–$185,000 · Lewis Brisbois Bisgaard & Smith LLP
  • $145,000–$170,000 · Burke, Williams & Sorensen, LLP
33Limited data
Defense2–4 yearsMedian advertised minimum$147,500Median advertised maximum$195,000Two separate medians; each of the 6 firms weighted equally186Median shown
Defense5–7 years
Only 2 firms (a median needs 5). Each posted base range:
  • $200,000–$230,000 · O'Hagan Meyer
  • $200,000–$250,000 · O'Hagan Meyer
  • $245,000–$300,000 · Ogletree Deakins
32Limited data
Defense8–12 years
Only 4 firms (a median needs 5). Each posted base range:
  • $160,000–$190,000 · Tyson & Mendes LLP (4 roles)
  • $160,000–$200,000 · Tyson & Mendes LLP
  • $190,000–$220,000 · Lewis Brisbois Bisgaard & Smith LLP
  • $190,000–$230,000 · Lewis Brisbois Bisgaard & Smith LLP
  • $210,000–$240,000 · Lewis Brisbois Bisgaard & Smith LLP
  • $250,000–$285,000 · O'Hagan Meyer
  • $262,500–$300,000 · Ogletree Deakins
104Limited data
PlaintiffNo plaintiff role qualifies yet. 9 plaintiff openings from 6 firms are listed, but none posts a base salary range with a clear experience requirement for a litigation role. Their posted pay is shown by firm below.

Advertised compensation by law firm

What each firm posts

Every current opening from each listed firm, with the pay exactly as posted, the experience the firm asks for and a link to the live posting. Labels show what kind of figure each one is.

Base salary rangeMinimum onlyRange includes bonusBase not specifiedPay not posted

Block LLP

Plaintiff1 live opening · 1 with posted pay
  • Personal Injury Attorney ↗5+ years · Los AngelesAlso mentions performance-based bonus opportunities, not included in the range shown · Not in the salary analysis: range not stated as base salary
    $125,000–$200,000Base not specified

Hawkins Parnell & Young, LLP

Defense2 live openings · 2 with posted pay
  • Associate Attorney - Litigation (Santa Ana, CA) ↗0–6 years · Orange CountyPlus profit sharing to 401(k), not included in the range shown · Not in the salary analysis: experience range spans more than two groups
    $130,000–$180,000Base salary range
  • Attorney - Los Angeles ↗0–6 years · Los AngelesPlus profit sharing to 401(k), not included in the range shown · Not in the salary analysis: experience range spans more than two groups
    $130,000–$180,000Base salary range

Lewis Brisbois Bisgaard & Smith LLP

Defense31 live openings · 31 with posted pay
Show 15 more roles

Murchison & Cumming, LLP

Defense3 live openings · 3 with posted pay

O'Hagan Meyer

Defense13 live openings · 13 with posted pay
Show 2 more roles
  • Partner - Labor & Employment ↗Experience not stated · Los Angeles, Orange County · 2 officesPlus bonus programs, not included in the range shown · Not in the salary analysis: experience not stated
    $215,000–$265,000Base salary range
  • Trial Partner ↗10+ years · Orange CountyPlus bonus programs, not included in the range shown
    $250,000–$285,000Base salary range

Ogletree Deakins

Defense9 live openings · 9 with posted pay
Show 3 more roles

Shegerian & Associates

Plaintiff1 live opening · 1 with posted pay
  • Associate Attorney ↗Experience not stated · San DiegoPlus settlement commissions, not included in the range shown · Not in the salary analysis: experience not stated
    $145,000–$170,000Base salary range

Turner Henningsen Wolf & VanDenburg

Defense2 live openings · 2 with posted pay
  • Associate Attorney ↗0–3 years · Los AngelesNot in the salary analysis: minimum only (no maximum posted)
    From $130,000Minimum only
  • Litigation Attorney ↗4–7 years · Los AngelesNot in the salary analysis: minimum only (no maximum posted)
    From $165,000Minimum only

Tyson & Mendes LLP

Defense13 live openings · 13 with posted pay
  • Associate Attorney ↗1–8 years · Inland Empire, San Diego · 2 officesPlus annual billable-hours bonus, not included in the range shown · Not in the salary analysis: experience range spans more than two groups
    $115,000–$160,000Base salary range
  • Associate Attorney ↗2+ years · Orange CountyPlus annual billable-hours bonus, not included in the range shown
    $115,000–$160,000Base salary range
  • Associate Attorney ↗3+ years · Los AngelesPlus annual billable-hours bonus, not included in the range shown
    $115,000–$160,000Base salary range
  • Associate Attorney (3+ years) ↗3+ years · Orange CountyPlus annual billable-hours bonus, not included in the range shown
    $115,000–$160,000Base salary range
  • Senior Counsel ↗8+ years · Inland Empire, Los Angeles, Orange County, San Diego · 4 officesPlus annual billable-hours bonus, not included in the range shown
    $160,000–$190,000Base salary range
  • Senior Counsel (General Liability/Coverage) ↗8+ years · San DiegoPlus annual billable-hours bonus, not included in the range shown
    $160,000–$190,000Base salary range
Show 3 more roles

Wood, Smith, Henning & Berman LLP

Defense10 live openings · 0 with posted pay

Pay not posted on 10 openings: Associate Attorney, Associate Attorneys, Medical Malpractice Associate Attorney, Professional Liability Associate Attorney, Senior Associate Attorney.

Yukevich | Cavanaugh

Defense2 live openings · 0 with posted pay

Pay not posted on 2 openings: Associate Attorney, Of Counsel.

Behind the figures

Each posted range in the analysis

DefensePlaintiff

One bar per distinct role. The role and firm counts match the table above.

Defense · Under 2 years 3 roles · 3 firms

Associate Attorney - Commercial Litigation O'Hagan Meyer · Orange County$130K–$155K
Police/Civil Rights Litigation Associate Lewis Brisbois Bisgaard & Smith LLP · Los Angeles$140K–$185K
Law Enforcement Defense Associate – Los Angeles Burke, Williams & Sorensen, LLP · Los Angeles$145K–$170K

Defense · 2–4 years 18 roles · 6 firms

Associate Attorney Tyson & Mendes LLP · Orange County$115K–$160K
Associate Attorney Tyson & Mendes LLP · Los Angeles$115K–$160K
Associate Attorney (3+ years) Tyson & Mendes LLP · Orange County$115K–$160K
Associate Attorney - General Liability O'Hagan Meyer · Los Angeles, Orange County$135K–$170K
Toxic Tort & Environmental Associate Attorney Lewis Brisbois Bisgaard & Smith LLP · San Diego$145K–$190K
Law and Motion Attorney (4+ years) Murchison & Cumming, LLP · Los Angeles$145K–$225K
Professional Liability Attorney (4+ years) Murchison & Cumming, LLP · Los Angeles$145K–$225K
Transportation Attorney (4+ years) Murchison & Cumming, LLP · Los Angeles$145K–$225K
Litigation Associate – San Diego Burke, Williams & Sorensen, LLP · San Diego$150K–$170K
Associate Attorney - Employment & Commercial O'Hagan Meyer · Los Angeles$155K–$200K
Employment Counsel - Remote and Reduced Hours Ogletree Deakins · Los Angeles$165K–$181.5K
Associate Attorney - Labor & Employment O'Hagan Meyer · Los Angeles, Orange County$170K–$215K
Labor & Employment Associate Ogletree Deakins · San Diego$235K–$300K
Wage and Hour Class Action Associate Ogletree Deakins · San Diego$235K–$300K
Wage and Hour Class Action Associate - West Los Angeles Ogletree Deakins · Los Angeles$235K–$300K
Employment Litigation Associate Ogletree Deakins · Los Angeles$245K–$300K
Litigation Attorneys – Los Angeles (West Los Angeles) Ogletree Deakins · Los Angeles$245K–$300K
Wage and Hour Class Action Associate Ogletree Deakins · Orange County$245K–$300K

Defense · 5–7 years 3 roles · 2 firms

Of Counsel - Labor & Employment Attorney O'Hagan Meyer · Los Angeles$200K–$230K
Of Counsel - Labor & Employment Attorney O'Hagan Meyer · Los Angeles, Orange County$200K–$250K
Labor & Employment Associate Ogletree Deakins · Orange County$245K–$300K

Defense · 8–12 years 10 roles · 4 firms

Senior Counsel Tyson & Mendes LLP · Inland Empire, Los Angeles, Orange County, San Diego$160K–$190K
Senior Counsel (General Liability/Coverage) Tyson & Mendes LLP · San Diego$160K–$190K
Senior Counsel (Landlord/Tenant) Tyson & Mendes LLP · Los Angeles$160K–$190K
Senior Counsel (Medical Malpractice) Tyson & Mendes LLP · Los Angeles$160K–$190K
Senior Counsel (Sexual Torts Defense) Tyson & Mendes LLP · San Diego$160K–$200K
Professional Liability Partner Lewis Brisbois Bisgaard & Smith LLP · Los Angeles$190K–$220K
Bad Faith & Insurance Coverage Partner Lewis Brisbois Bisgaard & Smith LLP · Orange County$190K–$230K
Labor & Employment Partner Lewis Brisbois Bisgaard & Smith LLP · Inland Empire$210K–$240K
Trial Partner O'Hagan Meyer · Orange County$250K–$285K
Employment Litigation Of Counsel Ogletree Deakins · Los Angeles$262.5K–$300K
$100K$150K$200K$250K$300K

Geography and practice side

Where the openings are

RegionOpeningsDefensePlaintiffFirmsWith posted pay
Los Angeles County454141236
Orange County26233824
San Diego County19172818
Inland Empire88036

Defense: 89 openings from 11 firms. Plaintiff: 9 openings from 6 firms. These are counts of current listings, not pay comparisons; there are too few firms per region and on the plaintiff side for reliable regional or plaintiff-versus-defense salary figures.

How these figures are calculated
  1. Only openings currently listed on FirmSavvy: civil litigation roles at private law firms in Los Angeles County, Orange County, San Diego County or the Inland Empire, taken from each firm's own careers page or applicant-tracking page.
  2. Each posting's pay and experience requirement is checked against the firm's published posting. Experience is the minimum the firm states or prefers.
  3. A role posted for several offices with the same title, pay and experience counts once.
  4. Each role goes in the experience group containing its minimum requirement. Roles whose stated range spans more than two groups, or whose requirement reads more than one way, are left out of the medians.
  5. Only annual base salary ranges with both a minimum and a maximum are used in medians. Bonuses and commissions are never added in.
  6. Pre-litigation roles are listed by firm but left out of litigation pay figures.
  7. Figures refresh automatically every 15 minutes as openings are added or close. New postings join the analysis after their pay and experience are checked.
What was left out, and why
Live openings on FirmSavvy98
Experience range spans more than two groups−29
No pay posted−14
Minimum only (no maximum posted)−4
Experience not stated−3
Experience requirement unclear−2
Range not stated as base salary−2
Range includes bonus−1
Single figure, not a range−1
Pre-litigation role−1
Openings in the salary analysis41
Same role posted for several offices, counted once−7
Distinct roles in the salary analysis34

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