Senior Counsel - Employment Law

The Office of General Counsel (OGC) at LLNL, one of the nation’s premier research laboratories, is looking for a Senior Counsel whose primary areas of practice will include employment law.  We are looking for a bright, collegial attorney with a flexible mindset, sound judgment, and an enthusiasm for addressing unique legal issues in an intellectually stimulating environment. The successful candidate will be one who enjoys working in a collaborative office and building good working relationships with internal groups.  You will be joining a team that is responsible for a wide-ranging legal portfolio and you will have the opportunity to learn the business of operating and managing a US Department of Energy laboratory with a national security mission. This role will be in the Office of General Counsel, which is part of the Director’s Office.

This position offers a hybrid schedule, blending in-person and virtual presence. You will have the flexibility to work from home one to two days per week. 

You will

• Provide practical legal advice and guidance to management, Staff Relations, Employee Relations, and Human Resources in connection with each step of the employment lifecycle, including hiring, on-boarding, performance management, compensation, discipline, benefits, leaves of absence, accommodations and terminations.
• Conduct legal research and monitor and analyze developments in employment laws and regulations, assess risk, and recommend strategies to support proactive compliance and effective policy development based on legal requirements.
• Develop, deliver, and support training for managers and staff on employment law and related workplace topics, and prepare or update employee handbooks, policies, and procedures.
• Support and, as appropriate, lead internal investigations of employee complaints and allegations; represent the Laboratory in administrative proceedings, alternative dispute resolution, union arbitrations, and government audits or investigations.
• Draft, review, and negotiate employment related documents, including benefit plans and vendor agreements; manage outside counsel in employment litigation and other matters as needed.
• Collaborate effectively with OGC colleagues, Laboratory organizations, government representatives, and outside counsel; mentor and provide development support to less experienced attorneys.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

• Ability to secure and maintain a U.S. DOE Q-level security clearance which requires U.S. citizenship.
• Juris Doctorate (or equivalent degree) and membership in California Bar (or the ability to obtain a limited practice license as Registered In-House Counsel in California
• Demonstrated mastery of providing practical employment law advice and managing employment litigation in positions with progressively greater responsibility and involving matters of greater complexity and/or significance over time.
• Significant experience preparing and delivering written legal communications, presentations, and oral briefings on complex legal issues for more experienced attorneys and for more senior clients.
• Comprehensive knowledge of federal and California state employment laws.
• Strong analytical, writing, and presentation skills.
• Experience collaborating with and contributing to multi-disciplinary teams to solve problems and accomplish goals.
• Ability to explain complex legal concepts to non-legal audiences.

Qualifications We Desire

• Experience as an attorney, whether in a law firm or in-house, representing or advising: a U.S. government contractor or other large business organization, a university or other research-focused organization; or a federal, state or local government entity, including military service.
• Experience working as an attorney in a larger law firm (e.g. a firm with multistate presence) or comparable experience.
• Experience conducting internal workplace investigation, and handling labor and union related matters.
• Prior interaction with, and knowledge of, agencies such as the U.S. Department of Labor, Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs, National Labor Relations Board, and comparable California agencies.

Pay Range

$162,060 - $198,456 Annually

This is the lowest to highest salary we in good faith believe we would pay for this role at the time of this posting; pay will not be below any applicable local minimum wage. An employee’s position within the salary range will be based on several factors including, but not limited to, specific competencies, relevant education, qualifications, certifications, experience, skills, seniority, geographic location, performance, and business or organizational needs. 

#LI-Hybrid

Position Information

This is a Career Indefinite position, open to Lab employees and external candidates.

Why Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory?

• Included in 2026 Best Places to Work by Glassdoor!
• Flexible Benefits Package
• 401(k)
• Relocation Assistance
• Education Reimbursement Program
• Flexible schedules (*depending on project needs)
• Our values - visit https://www.llnl.gov/inclusion/our-values

Security Clearance

This position requires a Department of Energy (DOE) Q-level clearance.  If you are selected, we will initiate a Federal background investigation to determine if you meet eligibility requirements for access to classified information or matter. Also, all L or Q cleared employees are subject to random drug testing.  Q-level clearance requires U.S. citizenship. 

Pre-Employment Drug Test

External applicant(s) selected for this position must pass a post-offer, pre-employment drug test. This includes testing for use of marijuana as Federal Law applies to us as a Federal Contractor.

Wireless and Medical Devices

Per the Department of Energy (DOE), Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory must meet certain restrictions with the use and/or possession of mobile devices in Limited Areas. Depending on your job duties, you may be required to work in a Limited Area where you are not permitted to have a personal and/or laboratory mobile device in your possession.  This includes, but not limited to cell phones, tablets, fitness devices, wireless headphones, and other Bluetooth/wireless enabled devices.  

If you use a medical device, which pairs with a mobile device, you must still follow the rules concerning the mobile device in individual sections within Limited Areas.  Sensitive Compartmented Information Facilities require separate approval. Hearing aids without wireless capabilities or wireless that has been disabled are allowed in Limited Areas, Secure Space and Transit/Buffer Space within buildings.

How to identify fake job advertisements

Please be aware of recruitment scams where people or entities are misusing the name of Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) to post fake job advertisements. LLNL never extends an offer without a personal interview and will never charge a fee for joining our company. All current job openings are displayed on the Career Page under “Find Your Job” of our website. If you have encountered a job posting or have been approached with a job offer that you suspect may be fraudulent, we strongly recommend you do not respond.

To learn more about recruitment scams: https://www.llnl.gov/sites/www/files/2023-05/LLNL-Job-Fraud-Statement-Updated-4.26.23.pdf

Equal Employment Opportunity

We are an equal opportunity employer that is committed to providing all with a work environment free of discrimination and harassment. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, marital status, national origin, ancestry, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, medical condition, pregnancy, protected veteran status, age, citizenship, or any other characteristic protected by applicable laws.

Reasonable Accommodation

Our goal is to create an accessible and inclusive experience for all candidates applying and interviewing at the Laboratory.  If you need a reasonable accommodation during the application or the recruiting process, please use our online form to submit a request. 

California Privacy Notice

The California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) grants privacy rights to all California residents. The law also entitles job applicants, employees, and non-employee workers to be notified of what personal information LLNL collects and for what purpose. The Employee Privacy Notice can be accessed here.