Legal Jobs in San Diego, CA
Every active opening we track in this market, read alongside the hiring conditions, pay, and employer demand from our September 2026 report.
198 active openings in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA, published within the last 30 days, across 134 employers. 13 were published in the last 48 hours and 51 in the last 7 days. As of November 10, 2026.
Government wage data shows San Diego legal occupations paid a 2025 median of $126,570, a mean of $154,420, and a 25th-75th range of $80,070 to $204,950. New local postings paint a similar but more current picture: annual ranges center on about $135k to $192k, hourly-paid roles center on about $37 to $48 an hour, and a recent UC San Diego Compliance & Policy Analyst posting advertised $35.34–$49.09 per hour. As a broader proxy, mean offered salary on new California Legal, Compliance & Risk openings was about $146,370 in September 2026, based on n=1,564 postings.
Advertised pay
Across the 172 openings that disclose pay, the advertised range midpoint runs $107,375 at the 25th percentile, $157,500 at the median and $182,482 at the 75th. These are advertised ranges, not earned pay.
Active openings as of November 10, 2026
Senior roles | Entry level | Remote | Posted this week
Live from the Callings.ai index of over 13 million postings, refreshed hourly and re-checked here nightly. Roles that close are dropped at the next refresh.
Litigation Paralegal – Labor & Employment
Quarles & Brady LLP | San Diego, California, United States
Full-time | On-site | $36 - $60 hourly | Posted 2026-11-09
Quarles & Brady LLP is a multidisciplinary AmLaw 200 legal services provider offering quality legal services to a wide range of industries.
Assist attorneys in all phases of labor and employment litigation case management from inception through trial.
Associate Attorney
Lorber Greenfield & Polito, LLP | San Diego, California, United States
Full-time | Hybrid | $100,000 - $150,000 yearly | Posted 2026-11-09
Lorber, Greenfield & Olsen, LLP is a civil litigation defense firm specializing in construction defect and casualty claims.
Handle substantive litigation work including drafting motions, depositions, and representing clients in trials and mediations.
Assistant General Counsel – Employment Counseling & Disputes – Associate Managing Director
Kpmg Us | San Diego, California, United States
Full-time | On-site | $240,000 - $336,000 yearly | Posted 2026-11-09
KPMG is a leading professional services firm providing audit, tax, and advisory services.
Serve as the dedicated employment law point of contact for business units, providing expert legal advice and managing employment-related risks and litigation.
ClientTeam Counsel
Ogletree Deakins’ Immigration Practice Group | Los Angeles, California, United States
Full-time | Remote | $145,000 - $200,000 yearly | Posted 2026-11-09
Ogletree Deakins is one of the largest labor and employment law firms representing management.
A flexible legal role focusing on defense strategy, legal research, and drafting motions for employment litigation.
Litigation Paralegal
Bedsore.Law | San Diego, California, United States
Part-time | Hybrid | Posted 2026-11-09
Bedsore.Law is a national trial firm specializing in nursing home neglect and elder abuse litigation.
Support attorneys in litigation processes including drafting documents, managing discovery, and handling court filings for bedsore cases.
Associate Attorney
Bedsore.Law | San Diego, California, United States
Full-time | Hybrid | Posted 2026-11-09
Bedsore.Law is a nationally recognized litigation firm specializing in nursing home neglect and bedsore cases.
Support the in-house litigation team by handling pleadings, discovery, depositions, and trials for elder neglect and bedsore cases.
Associate Attorney
TMV Global Inc. | San Diego, California, United States
Full-time | On-site | $130,000 - $150,000 yearly | Posted 2026-11-09
TMV Global Inc provides strategic consulting, innovative IT services, and tailored technology solutions.
Handle assigned cases, represent clients in legal proceedings, conduct research, draft legal documents, and contribute to litigation strategy.
Experienced Civil Litigation Paralegal
Horton Law Firm | San Diego, California, United States
Full-time | Hybrid | Posted 2026-11-09
Horton, Oberrecht & Kirkpatrick is a civil defense law firm specializing in insurance defense and private client matters.
A self-sufficient paralegal with extensive civil litigation experience to review medical records, prepare chronologies, and assist with trial preparation.
Associate Attorney Workers' Compensation San Diego and Los Angeles
EPS | San Diego, California, United States
Full-time | Hybrid | $100,000 - $215,000 yearly | Posted 2026-11-09
ENGLAND PONTICELLO & ST. CLAIR is a California law firm specializing in workers' compensation litigation and other legal matters.
Manage workers' compensation litigation cases from inception to trial and appeal while maintaining client relationships.
Attorney
Kimball Tirey & St. John LLP | San Diego, California, United States
Full-time | On-site | $95,000 - $115,000 yearly | Posted 2026-11-09
Kimball, Tirey & St. John LLP provides exceptional legal representation in business and real estate matters.
An attorney to assist clients with landlord-tenant matters and evictions.
Associate Attorney (Plaintiff Law)
Gruenberg Law | San Diego, California, United States
Full-time | On-site | $150,000 yearly | Posted 2026-11-09
Gruenberg Law Group is a San Diego-based plaintiff-side litigation firm representing individuals in high-stakes employment law, personal inj...
Manage substantive legal work on assigned cases from initial litigation through trial preparation, including drafting documents, conducting research, and representing clients in court.
Staff Counsel I, Legal Collections
Midland Credit Management, Inc. | San Diego, California, United States
Full-time | On-site | $100,000 - $109,000 yearly | Posted 2026-11-09
Midland Credit Management is a specialty finance company providing debt recovery solutions for consumers.
Manage collection litigation matters, draft legal pleadings, and negotiate resolutions in a corporate legal environment.
Associate Attorney- Business Litigation & Bankruptcy
BRODY & SHEMWELL, APC | San Diego, California, United States
Full-time | On-site | Posted 2026-11-08
Brody & Shemwell, APC is an AV-rated law firm representing businesses and financial institutions in business litigation, bankruptcy, and cre...
A junior attorney will handle litigation matters including drafting documents, conducting research, and appearing in court under the mentorship of partners.
Patent Attorney or Agent #22583 San Diego
Vanguard-IP | San Diego, California, United States
Full-time | On-site | Posted 2026-11-08
Vanguard Intellectual Partners is a search firm specializing in the placement of qualified Intellectual Property professionals.
The role involves drafting and prosecuting patents with a focus on complex technologies and eligibility considerations.
Removal Defense Attorney
Globallawgrouppc | San Diego, California, United States
Part-time | Hybrid | $94,000 - $120,000 yearly | Posted 2026-11-07
Global Law Group San Diego, P.C. is a premier law firm specializing in various legal practice areas including immigration, personal injury,...
Represent clients in removal proceedings, draft legal documents, and provide legal advice in a hybrid environment.
Pre-Litigation Attorney – Personal Injury
Batta Fulkerson Law Group | San Diego, California, United States
Full-time | $75,000 - $150,000 yearly | Posted 2026-11-07
Battafulkerson is a personal injury law firm serving clients in San Diego.
Manage pre-litigation personal injury cases from intake through settlement, evaluate case value, and negotiate settlements.
Paralegal
Axosbank | San Diego, California, United States
Full-time | On-site | $25 - $30 hourly | Posted 2026-11-07
Axos Bank is a digital-first financial institution focused on banking, investing, and clearing services.
Supports the General Counsel's office with legal process management, regulatory compliance, and document review for banking operations.
Customs & Export Compliance Analyst
NAPS International | Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico
Full-time | On-site | Posted 2026-11-07
Responsible for coordinating the information required for new product setups, tariff classifications, permits, and any other requirements related to customs compliance. Also coordinates logi...
Associate Contracts & Compliance Counsel
Morrison & Foerster LLP | San Francisco, California, United States
Full-time | On-site | $156,000 - $220,000 yearly | Posted 2026-11-07
Morrison Foerster is a law firm that transforms complexity into advantage by crafting tailored legal strategies for clients.
In-house counsel responsible for reviewing, negotiating, and managing Outside Counsel Guidelines and engagement letters for clients.
Legal Assistant
Higgs Fletcher & Mack | San Diego, California, United States
Full-time | Hybrid | $75,000 - $95,000 yearly | Posted 2026-11-06
Higgs Fletcher & Mack is a full-service law firm providing expert legal solutions to clients across California.
Provide administrative and litigation support to attorneys in Family Law, managing calendars, documents, and court filings.
General Counsel (GC)
Trust & Will | San Diego, California, United States
Full-time | On-site | $280,000 - $315,000 yearly | Posted 2026-11-06
Trust & Will is a leading digital estate planning platform trusted by over one million users.
Lead the in-house legal team and provide strategic legal guidance to the executive team on regulatory compliance, risk management, and business strategy.
Legal Counsel, Commercial Transactions (hybrid)
ICU Medical Inc | San Diego, California, United States
Full-time | Hybrid | $120,000 - $172,000 yearly | Posted 2026-11-06
ICU Medical is a global market leader in IV therapy systems, software, and consumables.
Provide legal advice and guidance on commercial matters in the medical device industry while ensuring compliance with federal, state, and local statutes.
Civil Litigation Paralegal
Jeffrey A. Haile APC | San Diego, California, United States
Contract | Hybrid | $75 hourly | Posted 2026-11-06
Jeffrey A. Haile APC is a San Diego-based Civil Litigation law firm specializing in general business, real estate, and construction litigati...
Support attorneys in trial preparation and handling by managing case files, drafting legal documents, and coordinating appointments.
Legal Assistant (Western Region – CA)
Tyson & Mendes LLP | San Diego, California, United States
Full-time | Hybrid | $33 - $43 hourly | Posted 2026-11-06
Tyson & Mendes is an AV-rated litigation firm specializing in civil litigation and insurance defense.
Support attorneys in civil litigation and insurance defense cases by handling administrative tasks, document preparation, and case management.
Legal Assistant
Tyson & Mendes LLP | San Diego, California, United States
Full-time | Remote | $38 - $46 hourly | Posted 2026-11-06
Tyson & Mendes LLP is an AV-rated litigation firm specializing in civil litigation and insurance defense.
Support attorneys in civil litigation and insurance defense cases by handling administrative tasks, document preparation, and case management.
Associate Attorney
Tyson & Mendes LLP | San Diego, California, United States
Full-time | Hybrid | $115,000 - $160,000 yearly | Posted 2026-11-06
Tyson & Mendes is an AV-rated litigation firm specializing in defending insurers, corporations, and insureds in civil litigation.
Develop case strategies, manage court appearances and depositions, and build litigation skills under the guidance of experienced attorneys.
Litigation Paralegal (Complex Trial)
Tyson & Mendes LLP | San Diego, California, United States
Full-time | Hybrid | $35 - $48 hourly | Posted 2026-11-06
Tyson & Mendes is a nationally recognized law firm specializing in insurance defense and high-exposure litigation.
Support attorneys in multi-party civil litigation, catastrophic personal injury, and construction defect matters through case management and discovery assistance.
Litigation Paralegal
Tyson & Mendes LLP | San Diego, California, United States
Full-time | Hybrid | $30 - $45 hourly | Posted 2026-11-06
Tyson & Mendes is a nationally recognized insurance defense litigation firm specializing in civil litigation across the U.S.
Support attorneys with discovery, trial preparation, and case management in a primarily remote environment.
Legal Assistant
Tyson & Mendes LLP | San Diego, California, United States
Full-time | Hybrid | $25 - $38 hourly | Posted 2026-11-06
Tyson & Mendes LLP is an AV-rated litigation firm specializing in defending insurers, corporations, and insureds in civil litigation.
Support attorneys in civil litigation and insurance defense by handling administrative tasks, managing case calendars, and coordinating court filings.
Life Sciences Promotional Review Attorney (Remote)
Axiom | San Diego, California, United States
Full-time | Remote | $104,500 - $325,000 yearly | Posted 2026-11-06
Axiom is a global alternative legal services provider offering on-demand legal talent to in-house legal teams.
Serve as legal counsel on promotional review committees and lead Medical, Legal & Regulatory reviews to ensure promotional content complies with FDA, FTC, and other regulations.
Showing 30 of 198 openings.
What our analysts see this month
Competitive market | next 3-6 months
San Diego is a competitive, not collapsing, market for Legal, Compliance & Risk right now: the metro unemployment rate was 4.9% in August 2026, and the local sample still showed more than 250 postings across more than 150 companies over the last 90 days. Pay is meaningfully above many markets, with a 2025 local median wage of $126,570 and mean wage of $154,420 for legal occupations, while recent posting ranges center on about $135k to $192k. But access is tighter than the pay bands imply: California Legal, Compliance & Risk employment was up 2.6% year over year in September 2026 while active postings were down 9.4%, and the local posting mix leans heavily mid-career.
Best positioned: The strongest profile is a mid-career attorney, in-house counsel, compliance, or enterprise-risk candidate who can show California bar admission or regulated-industry compliance experience plus AI/legal-tech fluency.
Main caution: The biggest trap is assuming the high salary bands mean easy access; only about 10% of sampled postings are entry level, about 10% are remote, and typical openings stay live around 35 days.
Who is hiring here
Counted across all 198 openings in this market. 10 of the employers below are hiring for more than one role right now.
- Tyson & Mendes LLP: 10 open roles
- Lewis Brisbois: 8 open roles
- Gordon Rees Scully Mansukhani, LLP: 6 open roles
- Higgs Fletcher & Mack: 5 open roles
- Klinedinst Pc: 5 open roles
- QUALCOMM, Inc.: 5 open roles
- Dexcom, Inc.: 4 open roles
- Ascendion: 3 open roles
- Cage & Miles Llp: 3 open roles
- Liberty Mutual Insurance Company: 3 open roles
Where the openings are
- San Diego: 179
- Los Angeles: 5
- Tijuana: 2
- San Francisco: 2
- Encinitas: 1
- New York City: 1
- La Jolla: 1
- Chula Vista: 1
Work arrangement
hybrid 99 (50%), on-site 82 (42%), remote 16 (8%)
Where the demand is
Most openings are still clustered in traditional legal employers. In the local posting sample, legal services account for about 40% of openings, law practice for about 25%, and legal for about 20%, with a fragmented employer base rather than one dominant buyer. The most active named employers include Ororun, Ashurst Perkins Coie Group, Klinedinst Pc, Neurocrine Biosciences, Inc., Morrison & Foerster LLP, Ogletree Deakins' Immigration Practice Group, Manning Kass, and SDCBA Resource Hub. The second pocket is regulated in-house and compliance-adjacent work. UC San Diego posted a Compliance & Policy Analyst role, Mission Federal Credit Union advertised a hybrid enterprise-risk leadership role, and Goodwin said its Del Mar return was driven by biotechnology, life-sciences, and technology demand. That mix favors candidates who can translate legal training into compliance operations, privacy, governance, contracts, or risk programs rather than staying purely practice-area generalists.
- Law firms and litigation-heavy practice (high): This is still the largest local pool, and the skill mix emphasizes legal research, case management, legal writing, depositions, discovery, litigation, and trial preparation.
- In-house compliance, privacy, and enterprise risk (high): University, healthcare, biotech, and financial-institution roles reward candidates who can connect legal judgment to compliance monitoring, policy, privacy, and risk operations.
- Specialty growth pockets: life sciences, restructuring, and government contracts (moderate): Recent office moves and partner additions point to local demand pockets in biotech/technology work, insolvency and restructuring, and government-contracts-related matters.
Where to focus: If you have a choice, focus on mid-career in-house or regulated-industry roles where legal judgment meets compliance, contracts, privacy, or risk operations.
Roles worth searching next
- Contract administrator / contract lifecycle specialist: This is a credible bridge when employers value contract management but you are not landing full attorney-track or compliance-manager roles yet.
- Policy analyst / governance analyst: Policy-heavy jobs sit close to compliance work and can convert legal writing or regulatory research into a business or institutional role.
- Legal operations or eDiscovery analyst: Employers increasingly value legal operations, eDiscovery, data analytics, and workflow management, which creates a practical alternative to pure practice-law hiring.
- Government contracts specialist: Local practice expansion in government contracts suggests adjacent demand for people who understand procurement rules, claims, and contract administration.
What postings ask for
- California bar admission (table_stakes | immediate): It is the most commonly named local credential and remains the gate for attorney-track openings. Who: Attorneys and recent JDs targeting firms, in-house counsel, or litigation-heavy paths.
- Regulatory compliance (table_stakes | immediate): It appears among the most-requested local hard skills and is central to current policy-focused and enterprise-risk openings. Who: Compliance analysts, in-house counsel, risk professionals, and switchers from regulated industries.
- Legal research and legal writing (table_stakes | immediate): They are the most visible foundational skills in the local sample, especially for law-firm and litigation-support hiring. Who: Entry-level candidates, litigators, paralegals, and anyone trying to prove readiness through samples.
- Discovery, eDiscovery, and case management (differentiator | near-term): Case management and discovery show up repeatedly in local postings, and national employer guidance still flags eDiscovery and legal operations as in-demand. Who: Paralegals, litigation support, legal operations candidates, and attorneys who want faster interview traction.
- Contract lifecycle management (differentiator | near-term): Contract management is part of the national demand pattern, and it is a strong bridge skill for in-house, procurement-adjacent, and policy-heavy roles. Who: Career switchers, in-house aspirants, and candidates leaving pure litigation tracks.
- AI literacy and AI governance (premium | immediate): Employers are paying more for relevant AI skills, law firms and corporate legal departments are adopting generative AI more widely, and compliance leaders rank AI governance as a critical future skill. Who: Mid-career attorneys, compliance managers, legal ops professionals, and anyone targeting in-house roles.
Questions about this market
What do Legal, Compliance & Risk roles pay in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA?
Government wage data shows San Diego legal occupations paid a 2025 median of $126,570, a mean of $154,420, and a 25th-75th range of $80,070 to $204,950. New local postings paint a similar but more current picture: annual ranges center on about $135k to $192k, hourly-paid roles center on about $37 to $48 an hour, and a recent UC San Diego Compliance & Policy Analyst posting advertised $35.34–$49.09 per hour. As a broader proxy, mean offered salary on new California Legal, Compliance & Risk openings was about $146,370 in September 2026, based on n=1,564 postings. This is a high-pay market by national standards: San Diego's legal group averaged $74.24 per hour in May 2025 versus $67.07 nationally. The catch is that strong pay is tied to specialization, experience, and California-market credentials rather than open-access volume.
Where is demand for Legal, Compliance & Risk roles in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA concentrated?
Most openings are still clustered in traditional legal employers. In the local posting sample, legal services account for about 40% of openings, law practice for about 25%, and legal for about 20%, with a fragmented employer base rather than one dominant buyer. The most active named employers include Ororun, Ashurst Perkins Coie Group, Klinedinst Pc, Neurocrine Biosciences, Inc., Morrison & Foerster LLP, Ogletree Deakins' Immigration Practice Group, Manning Kass, and SDCBA Resource Hub. The second pocket is regulated in-house and compliance-adjacent work. UC San Diego posted a Compliance & Policy Analyst role, Mission Federal Credit Union advertised a hybrid enterprise-risk leadership role, and Goodwin said its Del Mar return was driven by biotechnology, life-sciences, and technology demand. That mix favors candidates who can translate legal training into compliance operations, privacy, governance, contracts, or risk programs rather than staying purely practice-area generalists.
Which employers are hiring the most Legal, Compliance & Risk talent in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA?
Recent postings show the most activity from Ororun (10 postings), Ashurst Perkins Coie Group (10 postings), Klinedinst Pc (10 postings), Neurocrine Biosciences, Inc. (5 postings), Morrison & Foerster LLP (5 postings). See the full market report for the complete employer landscape.
Can Legal, Compliance & Risk roles in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA be done remotely?
Of recent postings, 10% are remote and 40% hybrid, with 50% on-site. Use the Remote filter above to see only remote openings.
How current are these listings?
Openings come from the Callings.ai live index of over 13 million jobs, refreshed hourly. This page searches postings from the last 30 days; run the search yourself to filter by anything else in plain language.
Browse California openings by job title
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Read the full Legal, Compliance & Risk market report for San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA