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Associate Lawyer Jobs in Decatur, IL (NOW HIRING)

Busey

Trust & Estate Settlement Advisor

Decatur, IL · On-site

$98K - $127K/yr

Maintain contact and communicate regularly with Advisors, beneficiaries, attorneys, accountants and ... In addition, eligible associates may take advantage of pre-tax health savings accounts and flexible ...

All JobsAssociate Lawyer JobsAssociate Lawyer Jobs in Decatur, IL

Associate Lawyer information

See Decatur, IL salary details

$44.6K

$104.9K

$167.3K

How much do associate lawyer jobs pay per year?

As of Jul 15, 2026, the average yearly pay for associate lawyer in Decatur, IL is $104,912.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $77,600.00 and $126,100.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are the typical responsibilities of an Associate Lawyer during their first year at a law firm?

During their first year, Associate Lawyers often focus on conducting legal research, drafting documents such as briefs and contracts, and supporting senior attorneys in case preparation. They may attend client meetings, participate in discovery processes, and observe court proceedings to gain practical experience. Collaboration is key, as associates frequently work in teams with partners, paralegals, and other support staff. This period is crucial for developing legal writing skills, understanding firm procedures, and building professional relationships within the firm.

What does an Associate Lawyer do?

An Associate Lawyer is a junior attorney who works at a law firm under the supervision of more experienced lawyers, such as partners. Their responsibilities typically include conducting legal research, drafting legal documents, meeting with clients, and representing clients in court or negotiations. Associate Lawyers often specialize in a particular area of law and work towards gaining experience and building a reputation in the legal field. Over time, they may have the opportunity to become partners in the firm.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as an Associate Lawyer, and why are they important?

To thrive as an Associate Lawyer, you need a law degree (JD or equivalent), bar admission, and strong legal research, writing, and analytical skills. Familiarity with legal research databases (such as Westlaw or LexisNexis), document management systems, and case management software is typically required. Excellent communication, attention to detail, and time management are crucial soft skills for building client relationships and managing workloads. These skills and qualities are essential for delivering sound legal advice, meeting deadlines, and advancing within a competitive legal environment.

What is the difference between Associate Lawyer vs Paralegal?

AspectAssociate LawyerParalegal
Required CredentialsLaw degree, bar admissionPost-secondary education, certificate or diploma often sufficient
Work EnvironmentLaw firms, corporate legal departmentsLaw firms, legal departments, government agencies
Job ResponsibilitiesLegal research, client advising, drafting legal documents, court appearancesLegal research, document preparation, case organization, client communication

Associate Lawyers and Paralegals both work in legal settings, but Associate Lawyers have completed law school and are licensed to practice law, handling more complex legal tasks and client representation. Paralegals support lawyers with research and document preparation but do not have a license to practice law. The roles often overlap in research and administrative tasks, but Associate Lawyers take on more advanced responsibilities and client interactions.

What job categories do people searching Associate Lawyer jobs in Decatur, IL look for? The top searched job categories for Associate Lawyer jobs in Decatur, IL are:
What cities near Decatur, IL are hiring for Associate Lawyer jobs? Cities near Decatur, IL with the most Associate Lawyer job openings:
Associate Lawyer jobs near you
Survey Manager/Professional Land Surveyor

Survey Manager/Professional Land Surveyor

Chastain & Associates LLC

Decatur, IL • On-site

$120K - $150K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Life, Retirement, PTO

Re-posted 23 days ago

Job description

CHASTAIN AND ASSOCIATES

Land Surveyor – Survey Project Manager

Full Time | Decatur, IL | $90,000 – $125,000 Annually

About Chastain and Associates

Chastain is a civil engineering and surveying firm focused on transportation, site development, and infrastructure. We build places where people live, work, and move — and we invest in the people who build them with us. That means competitive pay, real flexibility, a path to grow, and a team that has your back.

Role Summary

We’re looking for an experienced Land Surveyor to take on a Project Manager role on our Decatur office. You’ll run a wide range of survey projects — boundary, topographic, ALTA/NSPS, right-of-way, construction staking — and serve as the go-to person for clients, agencies, and field crews. This role comes with a path to senior management for the right candidate. We prefer Decatur-area candidates but are open to relocation.

Responsibilities

  • Lead boundary, topographic, ALTA/NSPS, construction staking, and as-built surveys across commercial, residential, and infrastructure projects.
  • Direct field crews — review data, check calculations, and keep quality high from field to final deliverable.
  • Prepare plats, legal descriptions, and easement documents in line with Illinois statutes and local requirements.
  • Be the main point of contact for clients, title companies, attorneys, and agencies on your projects.
  • Process field data and produce deliverables in Civil 3D and Trimble Business Center (TBC).
  • Research deed records, plats, and public land survey records to establish and resolve boundary conditions.
  • Support project scoping, proposals, and scheduling; help solve complex boundary and title challenges.
  • Mentor junior surveyors and crew members and help prepare them for licensure.

Qualifications

Experience

7+ years of land surveying experience at a U.S. firm, with solid hands-on work in boundary, topographic, ALTA, and construction surveys, subdivision platting, right-of-way, transportation, and utility corridor work are a plus. Crew chief or project lead experience matters.
Education

Associate or Bachelor’s degree in Surveying, Geomatics, or Civil Engineering preferred.

Licensure

Illinois PLS required (out-of-state PLS with a path to reciprocity may be an acceptable alternative). Additionally, Indiana licensure, as well as licensure in neighboring states is desired as well.

Software & Tools

Experience and proficiency with Autodesk Civil 3D and Trimble Business Center (TBC), and with Trimble GPS/GNSS equipment and data collectors is all preferred, familiarity with these systems is essential. Experience with Bentley OpenRoads Designer (ORD) or MicroStation knowledge is a plus. Microsoft 365 proficiency expected.

People Skills

You can manage client relationships, communicate clearly with engineers and attorneys, and lead a small team while still rolling up your sleeves on complex deliverables.

Growth & Development

  • As Survey Project Manager you’ll take on increasing ownership of client relationships, project budgets, and team direction as you grow with the firm.
  • Mentorship from registered land surveyors and senior firm leadership on every project, with regular feedback and a genuine interest in your advancement.
  • Exposure to a wide project mix — ALTA/NSPS, boundary, subdivision platting, right-of-way, infrastructure corridors — so you build depth across survey disciplines, not just one niche.
  • The opportunity to build and own your client relationships over time, with a view toward associate or principal-level responsibilities for the right candidate.

What We Offer

  • 401(k) with generous company match and annual pay increases.
  • PTO based on total industry tenure.
  • Four medical insurance plan options, plus medical reimbursement and dependent care benefits.
  • Company-paid dental insurance and short-term/long-term disability coverage.
  • Employee and employee-plus-family life insurance options.
  • 7 paid holidays plus 1 floating holiday.
  • Relocation assistance available.
  • Cell phone reimbursement, annual boot allowance, and Verizon wireless employee discount.
  • Sam's Club and Costco membership reimbursement.

We review applications on a rolling basis — apply today. Don't meet every requirement? We encourage you to apply anyway. Chastain is committed to building a diverse, inclusive, and authentic workplace, and you may be the right fit for this or another role on our team.

Chastain and Associates LLC is an equal opportunity employer. All applicants will be considered without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran, or disability status.