ASSOCIATE ATTORNEY - Litigation

Kaplan Kirsch LLP; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 172,000 - 186,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, and vision insurance

401(k)

Flexible PTO

Parental leave

Job summary

Kaplan Kirsch LLP is seeking a highly motivated litigation associate for its San Francisco office. This full-time position offers a collaborative work environment and the opportunity to handle important legal matters, primarily for public and private entities.

The ideal candidate will have 3 to 4 years of litigation experience, strong legal skills, and the ability to manage a dynamic workload. A law degree and U.S. admission are required.

This role includes a competitive salary between $172,000 and $186,000, alongside comprehensive benefits.

Qualifications

• 3 to 4 years of relevant experience litigating under federal and state laws.
• High comfort level in both independent and team settings.
• Admitted to practice in a U.S. jurisdiction (Colorado or California preferred).

Responsibilities

• Be a key member of the litigation team handling various legal matters.
• Work on litigation and non-litigation matters as needed.
• Interact directly with partners and clients from day one.

Skills

Legal research

Writing skills

Analytical skills

Advocacy skills

Communication skills

Education

Law degree from an accredited law school

Job description

Description

We are looking for a highly motivated, creative, and collaborative attorney to join our unique law firm as a litigation associate. Our clients are predominantly states, local governments, Native American tribes, airports, transit agencies, and non‑profit organizations. Operating outside the Big Law model, our collegial and collaborative firm enables our Associate Attorneys to gain momentum in their careers and further their professional development through meaningful involvement on public and private projects that benefit communities across the United States.

In this role, you will:

Be a key member of our litigation team, which handles matters arising from all areas of the Firm’s practice, including environmental, energy, transportation, airport, transit, land use, and Native American work. Although you will spend most of your time on litigation matters, you will also be expected to work on non‑litigation matters involving regulatory and administrative law issues across the Firm’s practice areas, as needs arise and opportunities allow. Working directly with partners and clients, you will have a significant impact from day one while building valuable experience for the long term.

Requirements

• Having 3 to 4 years of relevant experience litigating issues under federal and state regulatory and administrative laws.
• Demonstrating exceptional legal research, writing, analytical, and advocacy skills, and the ability to successfully interact with clients and colleagues.
• Adapting quickly in a dynamic, fast‑paced work environment to successfully multi‑task and manage deadlines to proactively complete assignments.
• Having a high comfort level in working both independently and in a team setting.
• Taking initiative by being action‑oriented, immediately responsible for your client, delegating intelligently, and seeking opportunities for personal professional improvement.
• Showing academic excellence and leadership, having achieved a law degree from an accredited law school.
• Being admitted to practice in a U.S. jurisdiction (admission in Colorado or California, or willingness to become admitted in one of those states, preferred).

You Will Stand Out From Other Candidates If You

• Have an entrepreneurial mindset with a collegial, team‑focused approach to the practice of law.
• Possess excellent communication and interpersonal skills and attentively listen, actively engage, and effectively communicate complex matters.
• Have experience in court hearings, trials, and discovery matters.

Why consider us?

We are a fast‑growing national boutique law firm devoted exclusively to helping public and private clients solve problems involving the nation’s most complex and high‑profile projects in land use, infrastructure, project financing, airport, rail, transit, renewable energy, environmental, conservation, and tribal law. Our litigators practice at the highest levels, including litigating high‑stakes trials, appeals, cases before the U.S. Supreme Court, and before administrative tribunals. Associates will work closely with our seasoned lawyers—many of whom have served at the highest levels of government and the nonprofit world—and gain hands‑on experience quickly. Our firm prides itself on complex and collaborative work that does not always fit neatly within traditional practice group boundaries, and associates will regularly work with colleagues across multiple practices and sectors within the Firm.

Many of our practice groups, partners, and associates have been recognized by leading legal directories such as Chambers & Partners, Best Lawyers, and Law360, reflecting the Firm’s outsized achievements and national recognition. The work we do is rewarding, and we are tremendously proud of the superior client service our team is able to provide.

We focus on our colleagues as well as our clients. We believe that professional life can be more enjoyable and rewarding when you work with a great team, know that your contributions make a difference, and can pursue a fulfilling career without compromising personal responsibilities and choices.

We are also proud to be recognized for creating opportunities for our associates to learn and grow. We believe in maintaining a clear, supportive path toward partnership, and our collective mentoring approach has resulted in a significant number of internal promotions.

Position details

This is a full‑time position to be located in Denver, San Francisco, or Washington D.C. We have an annual expectation of 1 600 billable hours for our associates, which includes an unlimited amount of approved pro‑bono hours. The salary range is $172,000 – $186,000, commensurate with experience. We offer medical, dental, vision, HSA, FSA, STD, LTD, group term life insurance, 401(k), flexible PTO, and parental leave. The Firm will also cover some public transportation costs.

We are actively committed to fostering the principles of diversity, inclusion, and equal employment opportunity. We do not discriminate against applicants or employees on the basis of age, race, color, religion, creed, national origin, ancestry, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sex, sexual orientation, sexual identity, disability, marital status, military status, or any other status protected by federal, state, or local law.

If you need reasonable accommodation at any point in the application process, please do not hesitate to reach out by emailing [e-mail].