Associate / Attorney - Appellate Litigation

Watts & Associates Recruitment; Washington (District of Columbia); On-site; USD 305,000 - 430,000; Full time

Job summary

Watts & Associates Recruitment, on behalf of a highly regarded AM Law 50 firm, seeks a 5+ year Appellate Litigation Associate to join its Washington, DC office. The role offers sophisticated, high-stakes disputes work with meaningful responsibility and exposure to complex client matters. Candidates will draft motions and briefs, coordinate discovery, and collaborate with partners on strategy. A DC bar admission and a Top 50 law school JD are required.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of Appellate Litigation experience.
• JD from a Top 50 U.S. law school.
• DC bar admission required.
• Strong drafting and advocacy skills.

Responsibilities

• Manage key workstreams in complex disputes from investigation through resolution.
• Draft substantive motions, briefs, discovery materials and case strategy documents.
• Analyze factual and legal issues and develop litigation strategies.
• Coordinate discovery, witness preparation and hearing/trial prep.
• Work closely with partners and clients on matter strategy and execution.

Skills

Appellate litigation

Legal drafting

Case management

Legal research

Communication skills

Education

JD from a Top 50 U.S. law school

Job description

Appellate Litigation Associate | AM Law 50 | High-Stakes Disputes | $305,000–$430,000 + benefits and bonuses | Washington, DC, DC

Watts & Associates is working discreetly with a highly regarded AM Law 50 multi-office law firm seeking a 5+ years Appellate Litigation Associate to join its Washington, DC office.

This opportunity offers sophisticated litigation work with meaningful responsibility, close collaboration with experienced lawyers and exposure to complex client matters. The role is designed for a candidate who wants to deepen specialist expertise while building long-term client and practice-management capability.

Company Highlights

• AM Law 50 platform with the resources to support complex, high-value client matters.
• Established Litigation capability supported by a broader multi-office platform.
• Opportunity to work with sophisticated clients on commercially significant matters.
• Cross-practice collaboration that broadens exposure beyond a single matter type.
• Strong environment for associate development through partner interaction and progressively greater responsibility.

Why This Opportunity Stands Out

This is an opportunity to join a sophisticated practice offering:

• Complex, high-value work aligned with the advertised specialty.
• Meaningful matter ownership and increasing responsibility.
• Direct collaboration with partners and client teams.
• Exposure to a broad range of matters within the relevant practice.
• A platform for continued technical development and long-term practice growth.

The Role

The successful candidate will support and lead key components of Appellate Litigation Associate matters, including:

• Manage key workstreams in complex disputes from investigation through resolution.
• Draft substantive motions, briefs, discovery materials and case strategy documents.
• Analyze factual and legal issues and develop practical litigation strategies.
• Coordinate discovery, witness preparation and hearing or trial preparation.
• Work closely with partners and clients on matter strategy and execution.

The role offers increasing responsibility as experience, judgment and client relationships develop.

Ideal Candidate Profile

The firm is seeking a Appellate Litigation Associate with:

• 5+ years of relevant experience, consistent with the seniority sought for this search.
• Substantive experience relevant to Appellate Litigation Associate.
• Strong drafting, analytical, communication and matter-management skills.
• A JD from a Top 50 U.S. law school.
• Admission to the DC bar required.

Compensation and Benefits

The anticipated base salary range for this position is $305,000–$430,000 benefits & bonuses. Actual base compensation may depend on class year, experience, qualifications and other job-related factors.

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