junior Litigation Associate

JUNIOR LITIGATION ASSOCIATE

Alexandria, VA | Full-Time, In-Office

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COMPENSATION

Base: $165,000–$205,000 (varies by class year; federal clerkship experience increases starting base)

Total Compensation: $215,000–$264,000 at ~2,000 billable hours (base + quarterly production-based payments)

Bonus: Separate year-end bonus paid on top of total compensation above

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WHY THIS ROLE

An elite plaintiff-side defamation and reputation management boutique in the DC metro area is seeking a junior associate — and this role is substantively different from what BigLaw offers at the same level. The firm operates at the top of a specialized, high-demand niche: its attorneys hold Band 1 rankings in defamation and reputation management, and its clients include Fortune 100 executives, hedge fund principals, professional sports teams, and other high-profile individuals navigating reputational crises. The firm's non-hierarchical structure means work is staffed by ability, not class year — junior associates take real ownership of matters early and interface directly with sophisticated clients and media from the start. The compensation model is uniquely performance-tied: base salary is supplemented by quarterly payments keyed to your billable hours, reaching Cravath-equivalent total comp at approximately 2,000 hours — with more above that.

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ABOUT THE ROLE

Junior associates research, draft case-strategy memos and demand letters, prepare witnesses and deposition materials, and engage directly with clients and reporters — always positioning matters for trial. The practice is split roughly evenly between plaintiff-side defamation and commercial litigation.

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REQUIREMENTS

Experience: 1–3 years litigation experience (class of 2023–2025), or recent federal clerk

• Strong academic record

• Demonstrated legal writing ability

• High EQ and composure under pressure; able to hold your own with sophisticated, high-profile clients in crisis

• Comfortable in a fast-paced, non-hierarchical environment with early case ownership

Preferred:

• Background in media/journalism, entertainment/streaming, or crypto

Tech Stack: Westlaw, LexisNexis, AI-assisted legal research tools

Bar Admission: Not specified

Visa Sponsorship: Not available

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LOGISTICS

Location: Alexandria, VA (DC metro area)

Work Policy: In-Office — full-time on-site

Billing Target: ~2,000 hours/year (the level at which quarterly performance payments bring total comp to Cravath-equivalent; additional upside above that)

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