Litigation Associate Jobs in Bethesda, MD (NOW HIRING)

Location: Alexandria, VA (DC Metro Area)
Work Arrangement: Full-Time, On-Site
Salary: $165,000–$205,000
Experience: 2nd–4th year associate, typically with approximately 1–3 years of litigation experience, or recent federal clerkship experience
Visa Sponsorship: Not available

About the Role

A highly regarded boutique litigation firm is seeking a Junior Litigation Associate to join its growing plaintiff-side practice. This is an opportunity for a 2nd–4th year associate or recent federal clerk to take meaningful ownership of high-stakes, headline-making matters much earlier than is typical at a large law firm.

The firm operates in a collaborative, non-hierarchical environment where attorneys are staffed based on ability rather than seniority. Junior associates work directly with senior partners and sophisticated clients and gain early exposure to case strategy, legal writing, witness and deposition preparation, client interaction, and trial-facing work.

Prior defamation experience is not required. The firm is looking for candidates with strong litigation fundamentals, excellent legal writing, high academic achievement, exceptional EQ, and the ability to perform effectively in high-pressure situations.

What You'll Do

• Conduct legal research and draft strategy memos that frame case theory, themes, and the ultimate case narrative, rather than focusing solely on doctrinal analysis.

• Draft demand letters to media outlets seeking corrections, retractions, and cessation of false narratives.

• Prepare witnesses and assist with deposition preparation for high-stakes defamation and commercial litigation matters.

• Engage directly with sophisticated and high-profile clients and media outlets earlier than is typical for junior associates.

• Contribute to pre-publication counseling, including engaging publishers before potentially damaging stories are published.

• Take ownership of case strategy and execution within a non-hierarchical structure where staffing is based on ability rather than class year.

• Collaborate closely with partners and fellow associates on plaintiff-side litigation positioned for trial and jury recovery.

Qualifications

• 2nd–4th year associate with approximately 1–3 years of litigation experience, or recent federal clerkship experience.

• J.D. with a strong academic record.

• Bar admission or pending admission.

• Strong, clean, solo-authored legal writing.

• Strong legal research skills.

• Ability to draft strategic, case-building memoranda beyond purely doctrinal legal analysis.

• Exceptional EQ and conversational discipline, particularly under pressure.

• Ability to work independently, exercise initiative, and take meaningful ownership of matters.

• Collaborative, team-oriented approach.

• Ability to thrive in high-stress, fast-paced environments.

• Comfortable engaging directly with sophisticated, high-profile clients.

• Willing and able to work on-site in Alexandria, Virginia.

• Comfortable with a 1,950+ billable-hour floor and a production-linked compensation model.

Preferred Background

• Federal district or circuit court clerkship experience, with federal appellate clerkship experience particularly valued.

• Litigation experience at a large law firm or plaintiff-side litigation boutique.

• Strong law school academic performance.

• Media, journalism, or newsroom-side experience.

• Entertainment or streaming industry exposure.

• Crypto or digital-asset industry exposure.

• Experience with AI-assisted legal research tools.

Why This Opportunity

Associates receive substantial responsibility early in their careers, including strategic writing, witness and deposition preparation, direct client interaction, and meaningful ownership of matters.

The firm handles high-profile, high-stakes disputes for sophisticated clients, including major companies, executives, investors, professional sports organizations, founders, journalists, and public figures. Its small-team structure provides junior attorneys with direct exposure to senior leadership and significant mentorship without the layers common at larger firms.

The compensation model also rewards production. Associates have a base compensation structure with the opportunity for increased earnings based on billable production, along with a separate year-end bonus. Clerkship experience may increase starting base compensation.

Compensation

Base salary is $165,000–$205,000, depending on class year and clerkship experience, with additional earning potential through the firm's production-linked compensation structure. The compensation model is designed to bring total compensation to Cravath-equivalent levels at approximately 2,000 billable hours, plus a separate year-end bonus.

This is a full-time, on-site position in Alexandria, VA, in the Washington, DC metropolitan area. Visa sponsorship is not available.