Associate (Construction)

McNees Wallace & Nurick; Pittsburgh (Allegheny County); On-site; USD 110,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

McNees Wallace & Nurick LLC is seeking an Associate for our Real Estate, Construction and Procurement Group. This role focuses on construction law within a collaborative team, offering opportunities to handle sophisticated matters and grow your practice.

Ideal candidates have a JD, PA Bar admission or eligibility to waive, and 2+ years of construction law experience, with exposure to real estate development or procurement matters preferred. A law firm background is highly valued.

Qualifications

• JD from an accredited law school.
• PA Bar admission or eligibility to waive.
• 2+ years of construction law experience.
• Prior law firm or corporate legal setting preferred.

Responsibilities

• Case Management: own matters from start to finish.
• Legal Research & Analysis to support case strategies.
• Document Drafting: contracts, pleadings, agreements with precision.
• Client Communication: proactive updates and guidance.
• Negotiation & Advocacy: represent clients effectively.
• Collaboration: work with senior attorneys across practice areas.
• Compliance & Ethics: uphold professional standards.
• Financial Responsibility: assist retainers and receivables.
• Continuous Learning: stay current with CLE and law developments.

Skills

Legal writing

Legal research

Communication

Teamwork

Education

Juris Doctor (JD)

Pennsylvania Bar admission

Tools

Westlaw

LexisNexis

Job description

About McNees Wallace & Nurick LLC

Joining McNees Wallace & Nurick LLC means becoming part of a team that values your voice, your growth, and your impact on clients, colleagues, and the communities we serve. Since 1935, McNees has been a trusted, client-focused law firm delivering practical, results-driven legal solutions with integrity and a client-first philosophy. We are a full‑service firm with more than 170 attorneys and 350 professionals, committed to excellence across a wide range of practice areas and industries.

At McNees, we are guided by our core values of authentic relationships, excellence, growth, and balance to foster collaboration and innovation. We support your success through mentorship, leadership development, and continuous learning opportunities. Our commitment to community runs deep, with a strong tradition of stewardship through pro bono work, charitable initiatives, and civic engagement. We also prioritize flexibility and well‑being with a family‑focused culture, reasonable revenue‑hour expectations, and technology that drives efficiency.

If you’re looking for an opportunity to do meaningful work with people who value integrity and collaboration, you’ll feel at home at McNees.

Associate – Real Estate, Construction and Procurement Group

McNees, Wallace & Nurick is actively seeking an Associate to join our Real Estate, Construction and Procurement Group with a focus on construction law. This is an excellent opportunity for an associate with construction law experience who is looking to grow their practice while working on sophisticated matters within a collaborative team.

Responsibilities

• Case Management: Take ownership of assigned matters from start to finish – review, analyze, and develop strategies to achieve successful outcomes.
• Legal Research & Analysis: Conduct thorough research using all available resources to support case strategies and provide well‑informed advice.
• Document Drafting: Prepare, review, and finalize contracts, pleadings, agreements, and other legal documents with precision and attention to detail.
• Client Communication: Serve as a trusted advisor by maintaining regular, proactive communication with clients about case progress and next steps.
• Negotiation & Advocacy: Represent clients effectively in negotiations and work toward favorable resolutions whenever possible.
• Collaboration: Partner with senior attorneys and colleagues across practice areas to deliver comprehensive legal solutions.
• Compliance & Ethics: Uphold the highest standards of professional conduct, including adherence to state bar requirements and firm policies.
• Financial Responsibility: Assist in setting retainers, managing payment schedules, and ensuring timely collection of receivables for assigned cases.
• Continuous Learning: Stay current with legal developments and complete all required Continuing Legal Education (CLE) to maintain bar membership.

Requirements

• Juris Doctor (JD) degree from an accredited law school.
• Admission to the Pennsylvania Bar (or eligibility to waive in).
• 2+ years of construction law experience required, with exposure to real estate development, contracting, or procurement matters strongly preferred.
• Prior experience in a law firm or corporate legal setting.
• Strong analytical, writing, and communication skills.
• Self‑motivated, driven, and detail‑oriented professional.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and work effectively in a collaborative, team‑oriented environment.

About McNees

Headquartered in Harrisburg, Pa., McNees operates offices across Pennsylvania, Maryland, Ohio, and Washington, D.C., providing a broad regional footprint and diverse opportunities for collaboration. We are ranked among the NLJ 500, Best Law Firms, and Best Lawyers, and are nationally recognized for excellence in areas such as construction litigation and energy law.

Our attorneys deliver tailored strategies to businesses, individuals, and organizations across industries, including real estate, energy, healthcare, banking and finance, insurance, construction, and technology. We also have a strong presence in public sector law, advocating for clients in regulatory and legislative matters at all levels of government.

Our services span corporate law, real estate and construction, labor and employment, litigation, tax, intellectual property, energy and environmental, estate planning, and public sector law, complemented by affiliated businesses such as Apollo Communications (strategic marketing and PR), Keystone Municipal Solutions (municipal consulting), and Pine Street Land Company (title and settlement services).

Equal Opportunity Employer

McNees offers an engaging work environment, robust opportunities for professional development, challenging and rewarding career paths, and competitive compensation. McNees is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Employment decisions are made without regard to any trait protected by law.