Associate Attorney- Employment Law, Education

Lippes Mathias LLP; Buffalo (NY); On-site; USD 110,000 - 160,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401(k) and profit‑sharing

Parental leave

Long‑term disability

Life/AD&D insurance

Job summary

Lippes Mathias LLP, based in Buffalo, NY, seeks an Employment Associate with 2–8 years of experience to focus on serving educational institutions, including K-12 districts, charter schools, colleges, and universities.

The role covers HR and employment counseling, employment agreements, investigations, and regulatory compliance, with a path to build a practice and client relationships under senior mentorship.

Qualifications

• J.D. from an accredited law school and admission to the New York State Bar.
• Strong client-service orientation with a desire to develop business over time.
• Excellent analytical, communication, and writing skills.

Responsibilities

• Provide employment and education law counsel for K-12 districts, charter schools, colleges, and universities.
• Advise on HR, employment policies, investigations, and related employment matters.
• Engage in wage/hour, discrimination, harassment, and regulatory compliance issues.

Skills

Client-service orientation

Analytical skills

Communication skills

Writing skills

Multitasking

Discretion with confidential info

Education

J.D. from an accredited law school

Job description

• A firm that will invest in your development, not just your billable hours?
• A place where you can build meaningful client relationships and grow your practice with the support of experienced colleagues?
• A culture where collaboration is the norm and your contributions are recognized from day one?

Let Us Introduce Ourselves

Lippes Mathias is one of the nation's 200 largest law firms, with 400 professionals across 17 offices nationwide, including 230 attorneys. We have built a full-service business law practice with a national footprint and deep roots in each community we serve by investing in people who want to grow alongside the firm.

Joining our team means stepping into a culture that prioritizes accessible leadership, meaningful development opportunities, and a work environment that respects your life outside the office. Support for our employees is something we take very seriously. In fact, "supportive" was the top word our employees used to describe our work environment on a recent anonymous survey.

As an associate attorney, you'll have access to Lippes Mathias' Wayfinder Academy, a meticulous and strategic associate development program where you'll learn first‑hand from experienced attorneys at the firm about all aspects of building and maintaining a successful legal practice, with an emphasis on business‑side essentials like billing and business development.

We want to see you grow and succeed here at Lippes Mathias. As an associate, you'll meet regularly with our director of engagement to give feedback on your experience, and through our mentorship program, you'll be assigned an experienced attorney mentor at the firm who can advise in all areas of navigating the life of a practicing attorney.

We are proud to be recognized year after year through peer and client nominations by The Best Lawyers in America, U.S. News – Best Lawyers, Super Lawyers, and Chambers USA.

If you've been looking for a firm where the quality of the culture is surpassed only by the quality of the work, you may have found it.

Why You'll Love Working Here

We offer competitive pay, a year-end bonus opportunity, and a comprehensive benefits package that includes:

• Immediate eligibility for 401(k) and profit‑sharing plan
• Paid parental leave
• Long‑term disability (firm‑paid)
• Life/AD&D insurance

For roles at our downtown locations, firm‑arranged parking is available. We also keep the break room stocked with complimentary snacks and beverages.

About the Role

The Buffalo office of Lippes Mathias LLP is seeking an ambitious attorney with 2-8 years of experience for an Employment Associate position with a focus on serving educational institutions. The Buffalo office's Employment and Education Practice Teams cover a broad array of matters affecting K‑12 school districts, charter schools, independent schools, colleges, and universities, including HR and employment counseling, preparation of employment agreements and policies, workplace investigations, administrative claims and investigations, and litigation. The subject matters are also inclusive of all areas within the labor and employment field, including wage and hour, discrimination and harassment, restrictive covenants, labor relations, employee discipline, and regulatory compliance, as well as education‑related issues involving faculty and staff employment, governance, and institutional policies.

New Associates have immediate access to clients. Strong communication skills, legal advocacy skills, and writing skills are required. Experience in administrative hearings, workplace investigations, school law matters, or other comparable court or agency proceedings is preferred.

What We're Looking For

• A J.D. from an accredited law school and admission to the New York State Bar
• A client‑service orientation and a desire to develop business over time
• A self‑starter with strong analytical and communication skills who is comfortable managing multiple matters simultaneously
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail
• Ability to manage competing priorities and meet deadlines in a fast‑paced environment
• Ability to handle confidential information with discretion
• Strong communication skills, legal advocacy skills, and writing skills
• Experience in administrative hearings, workplace investigations, school law matters, or other comparable court or agency proceedings is preferred.

Compensation

Salary range: $110,000-$160,000/year depending on experience. This is a good-faith estimate for the position based on location and minimum criteria. Actual compensation may vary based on experience and other job‑related factors as permitted by law.

To learn more about Lippes Mathias, visit our recruiting website: https://www.lippescareers.com/