Junior Litigation Associate

Hiring: Junior Litigation Associate (Post-Clerkship Role) — Infrastructure & Public Sector Law

A boutique public-sector and infrastructure law firm (headquartered in Denver, with offices in New York, San Francisco, and Washington, D.C.) is seeking a Junior Litigation Associate to join in Fall 2026.

• This role is specifically designed for a current or recent judicial law clerk transitioning into private practice. The firm focuses on mission-driven legal work in regulatory and infrastructure matters and prioritizes alignment with public-sector mission over compensation expectations.

Role Details:

Title: Junior Litigation Associate (Post-Clerkship)

Seniority: 0–3 years (directly out of judicial clerkship preferred)

Start Date: Fall 2026

Work Model: Hybrid (3 days in-office / 2 days remote)

Locations: Denver (HQ), New York, San Francisco, Washington, D.C.

(Candidates must be based in or willing to relocate to one of these offices)

Practice Areas:

• Airports / Aviation
• Rail & Transit
• Real Estate & Land Use
• Infrastructure Development
• Renewable Energy
• Environmental & Conservation Law
• Project Finance
• Tribal Law

Core Responsibilities:

• Drafting briefs, pleadings, motions (trial & appellate — federal and state)
• Conducting legal research supporting regulatory and litigation strategy
• Preparing witness outlines for depositions, trials, and administrative hearings
• Managing discovery (requests, responses, privilege logs, evidentiary review)
• Supporting cross-practice matters and pro bono initiatives (unlimited approved hours)
• Client-facing work with public-sector entities (government agencies, transit authorities, tribes, airports, etc.)

Must-Have Qualifications:

• JD from an accredited U.S. law school with strong academic performance
• (Law review, moot court, or equivalent preferred; T20 strongly preferred; Harvard & Stanford explicitly valued)
• Completed or currently completing a judicial clerkship
• (Federal district/appellate strongly preferred; state clerkships considered)
• Admission to practice in CO, NY, CA, or DC (must align with at least one office jurisdiction)
• Exceptional legal writing ability (clerkship-level writing sample required)
• Exposure to at least one relevant practice area through clerkship, internship, or coursework
• Experience with discovery management and witness preparation
• Strong communication skills and ability to work directly with public-sector clients
• Mission-driven mindset, collaborative approach, and self-direction
• Tailored cover letter required (applications without a cover letter will not be considered)

Not a Fit If You:

• Have a background exclusively in personal injury or commercial litigation without regulatory/public-sector exposure
• Are primarily motivated by BigLaw compensation expectations
• Have frequent job changes without clear progression
• Come from agency-only roles (FAA, TSA, DOT, etc.), due to transition fit concerns
• Are not barred or eligible in CO, NY, CA, or DC

Compensation:

• Candidate base $159,000 – $179,550, commensurate with experience
• Other comp Accessibility bonus for hours billed above the 1,600-hour annual target
• Billable target 1,600 hrs/yr; unlimited approved pro bono; no guaranteed bonus