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First Year Lawyer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Jobot

Junior Attorney

San Diego, CA · Remote

$40 - $45/hr

Why join us? ----- As a First Year Associate / First Year Attorney in our company, we are able to offer: * An hourly rate between $40-45/hr! * Medical, dental and vision coverage! * 401k! * Work from ...

Jobot

Junior Attorney

Bakersfield, CA · Remote

$40 - $45/hr

Why join us? ----- As a First Year Associate / First Year Attorney in our company, we are able to offer: * An hourly rate between $40-45/hr! * Medical, dental and vision coverage! * 401k! * Work from ...

Jobot

Junior Attorney

San Jose, CA · Remote

$40 - $45/hr

Why join us? ----- As a First Year Associate / First Year Attorney in our company, we are able to offer: * An hourly rate between $40-45/hr! * Medical, dental and vision coverage! * 401k! * Work from ...

Jobot

Junior Attorney

Moreno Valley, CA · Remote

$40 - $45/hr

Why join us? ----- As a First Year Associate / First Year Attorney in our company, we are able to offer: * An hourly rate between $40-45/hr! * Medical, dental and vision coverage! * 401k! * Work from ...

Jobot

Junior Attorney

Santa Clarita, CA · Remote

$40 - $45/hr

Why join us? ----- As a First Year Associate / First Year Attorney in our company, we are able to offer: * An hourly rate between $40-45/hr! * Medical, dental and vision coverage! * 401k! * Work from ...

Jobot

Junior Attorney

Modesto, CA · Remote

$40 - $45/hr

Why join us? ----- As a First Year Associate / First Year Attorney in our company, we are able to offer: * An hourly rate between $40-45/hr! * Medical, dental and vision coverage! * 401k! * Work from ...

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First Year Lawyer information

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$47K

$100.6K

$138K

How much do first year lawyer jobs pay per year?

As of Sep 7, 2026, the average yearly pay for first year lawyer in the United States is $100,626.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $79,000.00 and $103,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a first year lawyer?

First year lawyers, often called associates, are attorneys in their initial year of practicing law after graduating from law school and passing the bar exam. They typically work at law firms, corporations, or government agencies under the supervision of more experienced attorneys. Their duties include legal research, drafting documents, assisting with case preparation, and learning about various areas of law. The first year is a critical time for developing practical legal skills, building professional relationships, and understanding workplace expectations in the legal field.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a first year lawyer?

To thrive as a First Year Lawyer, you need a Juris Doctor (JD) degree, bar admission, strong legal research and writing skills, and foundational knowledge of relevant law. Familiarity with legal research databases like Westlaw or LexisNexis, document management systems, and proficiency in Microsoft Office are typically required. Exceptional attention to detail, time management, and the ability to communicate clearly with clients and colleagues help new lawyers stand out. These skills and qualities are vital for delivering accurate legal work, meeting deadlines, and building a strong professional reputation early in your career.

What are some typical challenges first year lawyers face when transitioning from law school to legal practice?

First year lawyers often encounter challenges such as managing heavy workloads, adapting to billable hour requirements, and learning to apply legal theory to real-world cases. Additionally, they must quickly develop strong organizational skills and become comfortable with client communication and court procedures. Support from more experienced colleagues and participating in firm training programs can help ease this transition and set the stage for professional growth.

What is the difference between First Year Lawyer vs Law Clerk?

AspectFirst Year LawyerLaw Clerk
CredentialsJuris Doctor (JD), bar admissionJuris Doctor (JD), often bar-eligible
Work EnvironmentLaw firms, corporate legal departments, government agenciesCourts, law firms, government offices
Employer & Industry UsageLegal industry, client-facing rolesJudicial chambers, legal research
Common Search & ComparisonYesYes

First Year Lawyers typically work in law firms or corporate settings, focusing on client work and legal research after passing the bar. Law Clerks usually assist judges or attorneys with research and drafting, often before or during bar admission. While both roles require a JD, First Year Lawyers are more client-facing, whereas Law Clerks focus on research and judicial support.

What to expect as a first-year lawyer?

A first-year lawyer typically handles legal research, drafting documents, and supporting senior attorneys. The role involves long hours, a steep learning curve, and developing skills in client communication, case management, and legal analysis. Expect to work under supervision and gradually take on more responsibility as you gain experience.
More about First Year Lawyer jobs

What states have the most First Year Lawyer jobs?

States with the most job openings for First Year Lawyer jobs include:

What job categories do people searching First Year Lawyer jobs look for?

The top searched job categories for First Year Lawyer jobs are:

First Year Lawyer jobs near you
Infographic showing various First Year Lawyer job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 73% Full Time, 23% Part Time, and 3% Contract. Highlights an 90% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 9% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $100,626 per year, or $48.4 per hour.

Junior Attorney

Jobot

San Diego, CA • Remote

$40 - $45/hr

Full-time, Contractor

Medical, Dental, Vision, Retirement

Re-posted 10 days ago

Job description

100% REMOTE Contract to Hire Entry Level Attorney / Associate Attorney Needed for Growing Firm!
This Jobot Consulting Job is hosted by: Reed Kellick
Are you a fit? Easy Apply now by clicking the "Apply Now" button and sending us your resume.
Salary: $40 - $45 per hour
A bit about us:
---------
We are a growing labor & employment law firm that is on the lookout for a fully remote contract-to-hire Entry-Level Attorney / First-Year Associate who is based in and licensed in California!
Why join us?
---------
As a First Year Associate / First Year Attorney in our company, we are able to offer:
  • An hourly rate between $40-45/hr!
  • Medical, dental and vision coverage!
  • 401k!
  • Work from home / work remotely 100%!
  • Conversion to a perm/direct hire role after 3 months!

Job Details
---------
As an First-Year Attorney / Junior Associate on our team, we are looking for:
  • CA Bar license
  • CA residence
  • Willingness to work on a contract for 3 months before conversion to a perm, direct hire role
  • JD from an accredited law school
  • Interest in employment law and/or workers' compensation

Interested in hearing more? Easy Apply now by clicking the "Apply Now" button.
Jobot is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We provide an inclusive work environment that celebrates diversity and all qualified candidates receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, national origin, age (40 and over), disability, military status, genetic information or any other basis protected by applicable federal, state, or local laws. Jobot also prohibits harassment of applicants or employees based on any of these protected categories. It is Jobot’s policy to comply with all applicable federal, state and local laws respecting consideration of unemployment status in making hiring decisions.
Sometimes Jobot is required to perform background checks with your authorization. Jobot will consider qualified candidates with criminal histories in a manner consistent with any applicable federal, state, or local law regarding criminal backgrounds, including but not limited to the Los Angeles Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring and the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance.
Information collected and processed as part of your Jobot candidate profile, and any job applications, resumes, or other information you choose to submit is subject to Jobot's Privacy Policy, as well as the Jobot California Worker Privacy Notice and Jobot Notice Regarding Automated Employment Decision Tools which are available at jobot.com/legal.
By applying for this job, you agree to receive calls, AI-generated calls, text messages, or emails from Jobot, and/or its agents and contracted partners. Frequency varies for text messages. Message and data rates may apply. Carriers are not liable for delayed or undelivered messages. You can reply STOP to cancel and HELP for help. You can access our privacy policy here: jobot.com/privacy-policy #legal #attorney #jd #juris-doctor #tier4
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About Jobot

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

Jobot is a revolutionary Recruiting Rirm that combines the latest in AI technology with our custom software, Jax, and partners it with Jobot Pros experienced recruiters to fill jobs and provide incredible service to our clients and candidates in the process. We are disrupting the Recruiting space and have grown from 0 to over 750 folks in 5 years. Jobot is committed to workplace flexibility. Come join us at the beautiful Jobot House in Newport Beach, CA or work from anywhere in the United States with strong WiFi. We have recruiters in New York, Hawaii and all over the US. We typically fly top performers to California a few times a year to enjoy the weather and celebrate in style.

Industry

Recruiting and staffing services

Company size

51 - 200 Employees

Headquarters location

Irvine, CA, US

Year founded

2018

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