Job Description:
This is not a general employment counsel role. About half of your time will be spent hands-on with employment class and collective actions . The other half is focused on proactive wage-and-hour counseling , helping the business make decisions that prevent those cases in the first place.
If you've personally run class or collective actions at a national law firm and are looking to step out of constant billable pressure while staying close to complex, meaningful work, this role connects that experience directly to business decisions. While this role focuses on class-action and wage and hour support, you will also do some general employment law counseling as needed.
This role requires real ownership : leading cases, shaping strategy, and making judgment calls, not just executing someone else's plan.
It's likely not the right fit if your experience is primarily supporting vs. leading cases, in-house only, single-state or limited in scope
What you'll do:
1) Stay close to the litigation
Partner directly with outside counsel on employment class and collective actions (wage & hour, discrimination, ERISA)
Contribute to case strategy, discovery, and motion practice
Advise the business on risk, exposure, and potential outcomes
Pressure-test legal recommendations using practical business judgment
2) Use that experience to prevent the next case
Advise HR, Finance, and business leaders on wage-and-hour compliance
Lead work on classification, compensation and incentive plans, and multi-state pay practices
Identify issues early and recommend practical changes, not just legal analysis
Help design policies and programs that hold up across jurisdictions
3) Translate complexity into decisions
Turn evolving laws, especially multi-state and California/PAGA, into clear, usable guidance
Partner with the business to implement changes, not just recommend them
Conduct root-cause reviews when issues escalate into litigation
What success looks like: You quickly earn trust and deliver clear, actionable guidance the business can use, balancing litigation strategy with practical business decisions.
When its working, leaders bring you in early, outside counsel relies on you as a strategy partner, and your guidance leads to real changes in policies and practices, not just documentation.
Company description
Join a financial services firm where your contributions are valued. Edward Jones is a Fortune 500¹ company where people come first. With over 9 million clients and 20,000 financial advisors across the U.S. and Canada, we're proud to be privately-owned, placing the focus on our clients rather than shareholder returns.
Behind everything we do is our purpose: We partner for positive impact to improve the lives of our clients and colleagues, and together, better our communities and society. We are an innovative, flexible, and inclusive organization that attracts, develops, and inspires performance excellence and a sense of belonging.
People are at the center of our partnership. Edward Jones associates are seen, heard, respected, and supported. This is what we believe makes us the best place to start or build your career.
View our Purpose, Inclusion and Citizenship Report (https://careers.edwardjones.com/blog/edward-jones-releases-annual-purpose-inclusion-and-citizenship-report/?codes=DIRECT&utm_source=DIRECT) .
¹Fortune 500, published June 2024, data as of December 2023. Compensation provided for using, not obtaining, the rating.
Awards and Accolades
At Edward Jones, we are building a place where everyone feels like they belong. We're proud of our associates' contributions to the firm and the recognitions we have received.
Check out our U.S. awards and accolades: Insights & Information Blog Postings about Edward Jones (https://careers.edwardjones.com/blog/?\sft\category=awards-accolades)
Check out our Canadian awards and accolades: Insights & Information Blog Postings about Edward Jones (https://careers.edwardjones.com/en-CA/blogs/?\sft\category=awards-accolades-en-ca)
Awards and Accolades
Edward Jones does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, gender, religion, national origin, age, disability, sexual orientation, pregnancy, veteran status, genetic information or any other basis prohibited by applicable law.
Requirements
At least 5 years of direct, hands-on experience leading employment class or collective actions. You have served as the primary attorney responsible for day-to-day case management and strategy, including meaningful involvement in discovery and motion practice
J.D. and active license to practice law. Missouri license, or ability to obtain within six months (including pursuant to Missouri Rule 8.105 if necessary).
National law firm experience is required. This experience must include running class or collective actions directly, not solely supervising outside counsel or supporting from a distance
Demonstrated ability to own complex litigation matters end-to-end. You can assess risk, make strategy decisions, and guide outcomes
Practical wage and hour counseling experience. You've advised on real-world issues such as classification, compensation, or multi-state compliance, with outcomes or changes resulting from your guidance
Experience working across multiple jurisdictions. You are comfortable navigating competing state requirements and applying them in practice
What Could Set You Apart:
Experience with California law and PAGA claims
Experience related to the securities industry
INTERNAL APPLICANTS ONLY: Current home-based associates: While this role is posted as hybrid, if selected and accepted, you may retain your home-based status. Edward Jones intends in good faith to continue offering the role as home-based, though future business or regulatory needs may require on-site work.
Candidates that live within a commutable distance from our Tempe, AZ and St. Louis, MO home office locations are expected to work in the office four days per week effective June 1, 2026. Before June 1, 2026, candidates that live within a commutable distance from our Tempe, AZ and St. Louis, MO home office locations are expected to work in the office three days per week, with preference for Tuesday through Thursday.
