Associate / Attorney - Litigation

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

Job summary

Watts & Associates Recruitment is partnering with a prestigious AM Law 50 firm to hire a Litigation Associate in Washington, DC. The role targets 3+ years of experience, cross-border exposure and an opportunity to handle sophisticated, high-value matters.

You will draft motions, manage complex disputes, coordinate discovery, and collaborate with partners and clients on strategy, with substantial ownership and professional growth available.

Qualifications

• 3+ years of relevant experience in litigation.
• Substantive experience relevant to Litigation Associate.
• Strong drafting, analytical, communication and matter-management 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 practical litigation strategies.
• Coordinate discovery, witness preparation and hearing or trial preparation.
• Work closely with partners and clients on matter strategy and execution.

Skills

Drafting skills

Analytical ability

Strong communication

Matter management

Education

JD from a Top 50 US law school

Job description

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

Watts & Associates is working discreetly with a highly regarded AM Law 50 multi-office law firm seeking a 3+ years 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 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 Litigation Associate with:

• 3+ years of relevant experience, consistent with the seniority sought for this search.
• Substantive experience relevant to 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

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.

Confidential Application Process

All applications and discussions will be handled in strict confidence.