Senior Real Estate Litigation Attorney
Remote – California Only This is a high-stakes litigation role for a California attorney who can think critically, write at an elite level, and take full ownership of cases without hand-holding. Castaneda & Co., PC is a boutique real estate litigation firm handling high-stakes residential purchase disputes across California, including fraud, non-disclosure, and breach of fiduciary duty claims. We are building a top 5% litigation team. This is a fully remote position for a high-performing litigation attorney who can take ownership of cases from start to finish and operate without supervision. If you are looking for a predictable or low-intensity job, this is not the role. What This Role Actually Is
- Own cases from inception through resolution
- Lead depositions, mediations, and court appearances
- Produce high-level legal analysis and original writing
- Think critically and connect facts to legal arguments Non-Negotiable Performance Requirements
- 1,440 billed AND collected hours annually
- (This is the minimum to remain employed — not a target. 1,439 is not enough.)
- Strong responsiveness and communication
- Ability to execute without supervision Work Reality (Read Carefully) This is litigation. If you are not starting your day early, you will be working evenings and weekends. This is not occasional—it is the reality of performing at a high level. We do not micromanage your schedule. We do not cap your hours. We care about performance and results. If you want a balance handed to you, this is not the job. If you want to earn it through discipline and performance, you will fit here. Culture & Fit (Read Carefully) We are a high-performance, no-ego environment. We are looking for attorneys who:
- Take full ownership
- Communicate consistently
- Can handle direct, critical feedback
- Want to improve and become elite litigators
- Can work independently and also actively collaborate We Are NOT a Fit For You If:
- You get your feelings hurt when your work is criticized
- You become defensive when receiving feedback
- You avoid accountability
- You disengage or disappear instead of communicating
- You struggle to follow instructions exactly We critique the work aggressively so it improves. If we don’t do it, opposing counsel and the court will. If you take criticism personally, this will not work. Additional Performance Expectations (Above Billables)
- Minimum 5 hours/week of assigned legal reading (outside billable time) You Must:
- Track what you read (book, pages, chapters)
- Be able to discuss it That is 250+ hours per year of additional development. Top performers will exceed this. Your performance in this role will be evaluated immediately through real case assignments from day one. Responsibilities:
- Take full ownership of cases from inception through resolution
- Draft and argue complex law and motion, including MSJ, anti-SLAPP, oppositions, and replies
- Conduct advanced legal research using Boolean methods and independent analysis (not AI-dependent)
- Produce original, high-level legal writing that connects facts to legal arguments
- Draft discovery, meet and confer letters, and discovery motions
- Lead depositions, mediations, and court proceedings
- Work independently while also actively collaborating with the team to refine strategy and work product
- Maintain awareness of billing and ensure work aligns with billed and collected performance expectations Qualifications: Required
- Active California Bar license
- 4+ years of litigation experience (7+ preferred)
- Strong law and motion experience
- Exceptional legal writing and analytical ability
- Ability to manage cases independently without supervision Preferred
- Real estate litigation experience
- Trial or trial preparation experience Technology
- Clio
- Westlaw
- CEB Application Requirements (Strict) To be considered, you must submit:
- Resume
- Two oppositions
- Two replies
- One complex motion (MSJ, anti-SLAPP, or similar)
- One mediation brief (your best work)
- One meet and confer letter Incomplete applications will not be reviewed. Failure to follow instructions will result in automatic rejection. Compensation: $170,000 - $220,000 yearly
- Take full ownership of cases from inception through resolution
- Draft and argue complex law and motion, including MSJ, anti-SLAPP, oppositions, and replies
- Conduct advanced legal research using Boolean methods and independent analysis (not AI-dependent)
- Produce original, high-level legal writing that connects facts to legal arguments
- Draft discovery, meet and confer letters, and discovery motions
- Lead depositions, mediations, and court proceedings
- Work independently while also actively collaborating with the team to refine strategy and work product
- Maintain awareness of billing and ensure work aligns with billed and collected performance expectations
Compensation: $170,000-$220,000 per year Apply tot his job Apply To this Job