What are the responsibilities and job description for the Tax Exempt Organizations Associate – Junior Level – New York position at Davis Wright Tremaine LLP?
Davis Wright Tremaine LLP is seeking a junior ‑level associate to join its nationally recognized Tax‑Exempt Organizations (TEO) practice in New York. This position offers the opportunity to work closely with members of the firm’s nonprofit team on sophisticated matters involving nonprofit governance, tax‑exempt compliance, institutional investments, and complex nonprofit transactions. The role is ideal for a lawyer interested in developing deep expertise in the legal and regulatory framework governing nonprofit organizations and philanthropic institutions.
About The Practice
DWT’s Tax‑Exempt Organizations practice advises a broad range of nonprofit and mission‑driven clients, including major cultural institutions, foundations, healthcare organizations, and other charitable entities. The team regularly works on governance, compliance, investment oversight, and structural transactions for prominent nonprofit clients. The New York practice continues to grow as demand for advice in this area increases and as the firm’s East Coast presence expands. The group collaborates closely with attorneys across the firm, including corporate, M&A, and healthcare regulatory teams.
Responsibilities
This position offers the opportunity to build a career in a specialized and growing area of law while working closely with experienced practitioners who are leaders in the field. The associate will gain early responsibility, meaningful client exposure, and the chance to work on sophisticated matters for leading nonprofit institutions.
Davis Wright Tremaine LLP embraces diversity, equity and inclusion. It brings out the best of what each individual has to offer and inspires us to build strong and lasting connections with each other, our clients, and our communities.
We are committed to creating and cultivating a diverse workforce and inclusive environment where every employee has the right to work in surroundings that are free from all forms of unlawful discrimination. It is our policy to hire, promote, transfer, terminate, and make all employment-related decisions without regard to an employee’s sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, or related medical condition), race, color, ancestry, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, religious creed, age, marital status, physical or mental disability, genetic information, medical condition, military condition, military or veteran status or any other basis prohibited by applicable local, state, or federal laws.
Davis Wright Tremaine provides reasonable accommodations for those who need them to complete the application or recruiting process and for employees who need reasonable accommodations to perform the essential functions of their positions due to a disability or for religious reasons. If you need to request accommodation during the application or recruiting process, please email humanresources@dwt.com .
The annualized salary range for this position in New York City is $205,000 to $225,000. Actual pay will be adjusted based on experience and other job-related factors permitted by law. Full time employees may be eligible for a bonus, health insurance with an optional HSA, short term disability, long term disability, dental insurance, vision care, life insurance, Healthcare and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts, 401(k), vacation, sick time, and an employee assistance program. Additional voluntary programs include: voluntary accident insurance, voluntary life, voluntary disability, voluntary long-term care, and pet insurance. Commuter and Transit programs are also available.
About The Practice
DWT’s Tax‑Exempt Organizations practice advises a broad range of nonprofit and mission‑driven clients, including major cultural institutions, foundations, healthcare organizations, and other charitable entities. The team regularly works on governance, compliance, investment oversight, and structural transactions for prominent nonprofit clients. The New York practice continues to grow as demand for advice in this area increases and as the firm’s East Coast presence expands. The group collaborates closely with attorneys across the firm, including corporate, M&A, and healthcare regulatory teams.
Responsibilities
- Advising nonprofit organizations on governance, tax‑exempt status, and regulatory compliance
- Supporting nonprofit transactions, restructurings, affiliations, and mergers involving tax ‑exempt entities
- Drafting governance documents, policies, and transactional materials
- Assisting with endowment management and investment review for nonprofit and institutional clients, including advising on program- and mission-related investments
- Conducting legal research related to nonprofit and tax‑exempt organization issues
- Participating in client communications and helping manage ongoing client matters
- Supporting business development and client service initiatives as the firm continues to expand its East Coast exempt organizations practice
- J.D. from an accredited law school with strong academic credentials
- Admission to the New York Bar or eligibility to become admitted
- 1–3 years of relevant legal experience, ideally involving nonprofit organizations, tax ‑exempt entities, tax, or corporate transactional work
- Demonstrated interest in the nonprofit or philanthropic sector (experience with nonprofit organizations, fellowships, or relevant coursework is a plus)
- Excellent legal research, writing, and analytical skills
- Strong attention to detail and organizational abilities
- Ability to work collaboratively in a team‑oriented practice
This position offers the opportunity to build a career in a specialized and growing area of law while working closely with experienced practitioners who are leaders in the field. The associate will gain early responsibility, meaningful client exposure, and the chance to work on sophisticated matters for leading nonprofit institutions.
Davis Wright Tremaine LLP embraces diversity, equity and inclusion. It brings out the best of what each individual has to offer and inspires us to build strong and lasting connections with each other, our clients, and our communities.
We are committed to creating and cultivating a diverse workforce and inclusive environment where every employee has the right to work in surroundings that are free from all forms of unlawful discrimination. It is our policy to hire, promote, transfer, terminate, and make all employment-related decisions without regard to an employee’s sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, or related medical condition), race, color, ancestry, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, religious creed, age, marital status, physical or mental disability, genetic information, medical condition, military condition, military or veteran status or any other basis prohibited by applicable local, state, or federal laws.
Davis Wright Tremaine provides reasonable accommodations for those who need them to complete the application or recruiting process and for employees who need reasonable accommodations to perform the essential functions of their positions due to a disability or for religious reasons. If you need to request accommodation during the application or recruiting process, please email humanresources@dwt.com .
The annualized salary range for this position in New York City is $205,000 to $225,000. Actual pay will be adjusted based on experience and other job-related factors permitted by law. Full time employees may be eligible for a bonus, health insurance with an optional HSA, short term disability, long term disability, dental insurance, vision care, life insurance, Healthcare and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts, 401(k), vacation, sick time, and an employee assistance program. Additional voluntary programs include: voluntary accident insurance, voluntary life, voluntary disability, voluntary long-term care, and pet insurance. Commuter and Transit programs are also available.
Salary : $205,000 - $225,000