Description:
Job Overview:Tierney Law Group, P.C. is a Pleasanton-based firm practicing real estate, construction law, family law, and civil litigation. This particular opening is for our real estate, construction, and civil litigation practice — we are looking for a senior-level associate attorney with a minimum of 5 years of experience (10+ years strongly preferred) to help carry a substantive, varied caseload. Your caseload includes things like commercial and residential lease review and negotiations, landlord-tenant litigation (landlords only), quiet title and co-tenancy disputes, real estate non-disclosure claims, easement/boundary disputes, and construction defects and disputes with contractors, along with civil litigation spanning contract, business, and property matters more broadly.
This is an in-office position. Attorneys have the flexibility to work from home occasionally, but we operate primarily in office and believe the practice is better for it. Our attorneys are in court frequently, and we're looking for someone who doesn't just tolerate the courtroom but wants to be there. If trial work is something you'd rather avoid, this isn't the right seat.
Cases are assigned evenly across the team. Generating your own business is welcome and never off the table, but it isn't required. What matters here is doing the work well and taking care of the client in front of you.
We're a small firm, and that means real room to grow — there's no ceiling here on how far you can take your practice. The office culture is collegial and team-oriented — competitive in the way that pushes people to do good work, not the kind that pits people against each other. It's a fast-paced, genuinely busy practice, but we believe in working to live, not living to work, and that shows in how the office actually runs day to day. Compensation is based on experience, and we will go above the stated range for the right candidate.
Duties:
- Manage an active caseload including commercial and residential lease review and negotiations, landlord-tenant litigation (landlords only), quiet title and co-tenancy disputes, real estate non-disclosure claims, easement/boundary disputes, and construction defects and disputes with contractors, along with civil litigation spanning contract, business, and property matters more broadly
- Appear regularly in court for hearings, depositions, and trial — this is a role with real, ongoing courtroom exposure, not occasional
- Draft and review legal documents, including contracts, motions, pleadings, and discovery requests, with precision and clarity
- Conduct legal research using LexisNexis and Westlaw to support case strategy and client advisories
- Prepare for trial, including organizing evidence, preparing exhibits, and coordinating witness testimony
- Communicate directly with clients to provide updates, gather information, and clarify legal options
- Work closely with paralegals and support staff throughout case development, from initial intake through discovery and trial preparation
- Represent clients in negotiations, mediations, and court proceedings
- Stay current on statutory and case law developments affecting real estate, construction, and civil litigation practice
Skills:
- Minimum 5 years of experience in real estate, construction, or civil litigation practice; 10+ years preferred
- Substantive experience in real estate transactions and disputes, construction law, and general civil litigation
- Comfortable and confident in the courtroom, with genuine trial and hearing experience
- Proven legal research experience using LexisNexis and Protege
- Strong drafting skills — contracts, motions, pleadings, and client correspondence
- Effective negotiation skills and courtroom advocacy experience
- Clear, client-facing communication skills for explaining complex legal concepts
- Demonstrated ability to manage a caseload independently in a fast-paced environment
- Working knowledge of California procedural law and court rules
