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Non Practicing Attorney Jobs in Washington (NOW HIRING)

... non-legal, to ensure a state-of-the-art technology platform is available to and fully exploited by ... Assisting with communications between practicing lawyers, local technology teams, and the global ...

Attorney Advisor

Washington, DC ยท On-site +1

$143K - $197K/yr

... or Non-Career SES employee in the Executive Branch * Undergo and pass a background investigation ... You must have at least 2 years of relevant legal experience as a practicing attorney, commensurate ...

Lead Counsel, Product

Washington, DC ยท On-site +1

$202K/yr

Attorneys in this organization partner cross-functionally to address complex, novel legal issues in ... Develop and deliver clear, actionable legal guidance to non-legal audiences, including product ...

Trial Attorney

Washington, DC ยท On-site

$119K - $154K/yr

DVSV's eight attorneys and two paralegals practice throughout D.C. Superior Court's divisions to ... Failure to submit the required documentation may lead to non-consideration for the position.

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Non Practicing Attorney information

What is a non-practicing attorney?

A non-practicing attorney is someone who has earned a law degree and may have passed the bar exam, but is not currently licensed to practice law or is not actively practicing as a lawyer. This could be due to a voluntary decision to pursue other careers, temporary leave, or a formal change in their professional status with the state bar. Non-practicing attorneys often use their legal training in alternative fields such as compliance, consulting, writing, or business. Their skills and legal knowledge can be valuable in many industries outside of traditional legal practice.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a non practicing attorney, and why are they important?

A Non Practicing Attorney should possess a law degree, strong legal research skills, and a thorough understanding of legal principles, even if not actively licensed to practice. Familiarity with legal research databases like Westlaw or LexisNexis, and experience with document management systems, are often expected. Excellent analytical thinking, written communication, and adaptability are standout soft skills for this role. These abilities enable Non Practicing Attorneys to provide valuable legal support, policy analysis, or compliance work in non-litigation settings.

What types of career paths are available to non practicing attorneys within organizations?

Non-practicing attorneys often find rewarding roles in fields such as compliance, contract management, legal consulting, risk assessment, and corporate governance. Many organizations value the analytical, research, and negotiation skills that attorneys bring, even if they are not actively practicing law. These professionals may work closely with legal departments, business units, or executive teams to ensure the organization operates within regulatory frameworks and mitigates potential risks. Career growth can include advancement to leadership roles in compliance, corporate strategy, or operational management.

What is the difference between Non Practicing Attorney vs Paralegal?

AspectNon Practicing AttorneyParalegal
CredentialsLaw degree, passed the bar exam, but not practicingAssociate's or bachelor's degree in paralegal studies or related field
Work EnvironmentLegal offices, courts, or corporate legal departments, but not practicing lawSupport legal teams by preparing documents, research, and administrative tasks
Usage in IndustryLegal professionals who are temporarily not practicing or seeking non-legal rolesLegal support staff assisting attorneys with case preparation

Non Practicing Attorneys have completed law school and passed the bar but are not actively practicing law, often working in support roles or transitioning careers. Paralegals assist attorneys with legal tasks but do not hold law degrees or bar admission. While both work in legal environments, their credentials and roles differ significantly.

What can I do with a non practicing attorney besides practice law?

A non-practicing attorney can pursue careers in legal consulting, compliance, legal writing, or policy analysis, leveraging their knowledge of law and critical thinking skills. They may also work in areas such as education, corporate governance, or risk management, often requiring strong research and communication abilities.

What other jobs can non practicing attorneys do?

Non-practicing attorneys can pursue roles such as legal consultants, compliance officers, legal analysts, contract managers, or paralegals, leveraging their legal knowledge and research skills. They often work in corporate settings, government agencies, or consulting firms, sometimes requiring certifications or specialized training. These positions typically involve legal research, policy review, or advising without representing clients in court.

What are the most commonly searched types of Non Practicing Attorney jobs in Washington?

The most popular types of Non Practicing Attorney jobs in Washington are:

What are popular job titles related to Non Practicing Attorney jobs in Washington?

For Non Practicing Attorney jobs in Washington, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Non Practicing Attorney jobs in Washington look for?

The top searched job categories for Non Practicing Attorney jobs in Washington are:

Infographic showing various Non Practicing Attorney job openings in Washington as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 100% Full Time. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution.

Knowledge Management Attorney - Fund Formation

Cooley LLP

Washington, DC โ€ข On-site

Other

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, PTO

This job post hasย expired today.ย Applications are no longer accepted.


Job description

Knowledge Management Attorney - Fund Formation

Cooley is seeking a Knowledge Management Attorney to join the Practice Engineering team within the Innovation department.

Position summary: As a leading technology law firm, Cooley is determined to become a leader in the digital practice of law. Cooley is committed to enhancing client satisfaction and delivery of legal services through high-quality software and next-generation technology. The Knowledge Management Attorney will ensure that the design and implementation of document automation software and pipelines aligns with underlying legal processes. This role is responsible for the creation of standard forms, guidance and training materials for assigned practice group(s). The Knowledge Management Attorney will work closely with product engineers and product managers to create and maintain data models to effectively model and capture practice group workstreams. They will also monitor legal, market, trade association and regulatory developments. Specific duties and responsibilities include, but are not limited to, the following:

Position responsibilities:

  • Working with practice group leadership and with assistance from attorneys in the assigned practice group, identify, draft and maintain standard forms, precedent and guidance materials

  • Coordinate and monitor the collection, deployment, and maintenance of standard forms and practice group knowledge across Cooley's software portfolio

  • Serve as a subject matter expert and resource for practice group attorneys, the Practice Engineering team, the Practice Innovation teams, and other parties consulting on the creation and deployment of new tools, processes, and data products to assign practice group and its clients

  • Prepare high-quality thought leadership materials for attorneys and clients regarding Cooley practice group services and software

  • Partner with product managers and practitioners to prioritize form collection, template automation, and automated testing based on business value, user feedback, and regulatory requirements

  • Assist with automation efforts for practice group work product and processes

  • Develop automated testing methodologies to support seamless and efficient deployment of updated legal language via digital platforms

  • Assist with usability and accessibility testing to ensure legal software enhances user experience for attorneys, clients, and business professionals

  • Identify potential risks and vulnerabilities within legal work product produced in part with AI-powered and deterministic software applications, collaborating on proactive mitigation strategies.

  • Promote continuous learning across the group in the needs of the assigned practice group and the impact of solutions delivered to-date

  • Foster strong working relationships between practitioners, QA, software engineering, legal engineering, and operations to enhance collaboration across departments

  • All other duties as assigned or required

Skills and experience:

Required:

  • After orientation at Cooley LLP, exhibit proficiency in the Microsoft Office suite, iManage and other firm applications

  • Ability to work extended and/or weekend hours, as required

  • Ability to travel, as required

  • 4+ years of experience as a practicing attorney, preferably with a large law firm

  • Active member in good standing or registered in-house counsel of the bar(s) in all jurisdictions from which you regularly work, as well as the jurisdiction in which your assigned office is located, if applicable

  • Juris Doctor(ate) or non-US equivalent

  • Strong analytical skills with attention to detail for identifying defects and inconsistencies

  • Demonstrated commitment to structuring forms and templates for minimal and ease-of-maintenance

Preferred:

  • In-depth industry knowledge, including familiarity with the major players in the designated practice area

  • Ability to solve problems relating to both technical issues and situations involving the coordination of practicing attorneys, technical resources, business stakeholders

  • Ability to manage a portfolio of complex projects and open-ended investigations

  • Self-starter willing to raise issues and propose solutions in advance of asks from the practice

Competencies:

  • Strong leadership in shaping software testing processes

  • Excellent communication and collaboration skills across technical and legal teams

  • Ability to effectively assess risks and propose solutions to systematically reduce risk

  • Comfortable working in a fast-paced legal technology environment with cross-functional teams

  • Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to translate technical concepts to legal professionals and senior executives

  • Ability to influence and collaborate with multiple stakeholders across various departments (legal, IS, etc.)

  • Ability to work effectively in a highly matrixed team environment

  • Outstanding communication skills

Cooley offers a competitive compensation and excellent benefits package and is committed to fair and equitable employment practices.

EOE.

The expected annual pay range for this position with a full-time schedule is $225,000 - $320,000. Please note that final offer amount will be dependent on geographic location, applicable experience and skillset of the candidate.

We offer a full range of elective benefits including medical, health savings account (with applicable medical plan), dental, vision, health and/or dependent care flexible spending accounts, pre-tax commuter benefits, life insurance, AD&D, long-term care coverage, backup care for children and/or adults and other parental support benefits. In addition to elective benefit options, benefited employees receive firm-paid life insurance, AD&D, LTD, short term medical benefits as well as 21 days of Paid Time Off ("PTO") and 10 paid holidays each year. We provide generous parental leave and fertility benefits. New employees will attend a detailed benefit orientation to learn more about our many benefits and resources.