Junior Commercial Disputes Associate

K&L Gates; Charlotte (NC); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid/Remote work opportunities

Health insurance

Paid time off

Job summary

K&L Gates seeks a junior Commercial Disputes Associate for the Charlotte office. Ideal candidates have 2–4 years of general commercial litigation experience across North Carolina state and federal courts. You will conduct legal research, draft pleadings and motions, and manage all discovery phases, including e-discovery while collaborating closely with senior litigators.

Candidates must possess a J.D. from an accredited law school and be admitted to or eligible for admission to the North

Qualifications

• Two to four years of general commercial litigation experience.
• Excellent legal writing and drafting skills.
• Prior judicial clerkship, law review, or journal experience encouraged.

Responsibilities

• Independently conduct legal research for litigation matters.
• Draft substantive pleadings, motions, and related documents.
• Manage all phases of discovery, including e-discovery.

Skills

Legal research

Pleading drafting

Discovery management

Legal writing

Education

J.D. from accredited law school

Tools

e-discovery

Job description

Overview

• Experience handling general commercial litigation matters in state and federal courts throughout North Carolina.
• Key responsibilities include independently conducting legal research, drafting substantive pleadings, motions, and other litigation-related documents, and managing all phases of discovery, including e-discovery.
• Candidates are encouraged to have prior judicial clerkship, law review, or other journal experience.
• The position offers active mentorship from experienced litigators, meaningful client contact, and early opportunities to assume increasing levels of responsibility.

Posting details

Lawyers — Litigation & Dispute Resolution.

Job Description

At K&L Gates, we are looking for smart, imaginative and hard-working people with diverse backgrounds, experiences and ideas to join us. Perhaps our search for talented visionaries and your search for important and impactful work lead to the same place.

We are seeking a junior Commercial Disputes Associate to join our dynamic Charlotte office. The ideal candidate will have two to four years of experience handling general commercial litigation matters in state and federal courts throughout North Carolina.

Qualified candidates should have experience independently conducting legal research, drafting substantive pleadings, motions, and other litigation-related documents, and managing all phases of discovery, including e-discovery. Excellent legal writing skills are essential.

Current and former judicial clerks are strongly encouraged to apply.

Candidates must possess a J.D. from an accredited law school and be admitted to or eligible for admission to the North Carolina Bar. Judicial clerkship, law review, or other journal experience is preferred but not required.

This position offers the opportunity to work closely with experienced litigators who provide active mentorship, meaningful client contact, and early opportunities to assume increasing levels of responsibility. The ideal candidate will be a self-starter, who can work effectively both independently and collaboratively as part of a team.

We seek candidates with strong academic credentials, exceptional written and oral communication skills, excellent legal writing abilities, and a demonstrated commitment to delivering the highest quality client service.

The compensation salary for this position will be determined during the interview process and will vary based on multiple factors, including but not limited to prior experience, relevant expertise, current business needs, and market factors.

ABOUT THE FIRM

K&L Gates is a fully integrated global law firm with lawyers located in more than 40 offices. We have experienced dramatic growth in the past decade and now rank among the largest U.S. based law firms in the world. We take pride in constantly striving for innovation, imagination and an entrepreneurial spirit. We come up with big ideas and then roll up our sleeves to get the job done, guiding our clients through their most complex issues in a variety of industry sectors and across multiple regions of the world.

The industry recognition the firm has garnered emanates from the foundation of a global community aligned on behalf of our clients. The people at K&L Gates are committed to working together to create a legacy for each other, the firm, our clients, and the communities in which we serve. We thrive in an inclusive and socially conscious environment that embraces diversity and takes a holistic approach to the career evolution of all our professionals.

Notice: We participate in E-Verify in certain Firm locations for purposes of verifying employment eligibility.

Please be advised that this position requires successful completion of a background check. In accordance with the Washington State Fair Chance Act, Los Angeles Fair Chance Ordinance, San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, the California Fair Chance Act, and applicable law qualified California and Washington State applicants with criminal history records will be considered. A criminal history will not categorically exclude a candidate from employment, and the Firm will consider relevant factors before making employment decisions based on criminal history information.

It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

BENEFITS

Depending on your eligibility, options for full-time Associates include:

• Medical/Prescription Drug Coverage (including a Health Savings Account feature)
• Pre-tax Commuting Benefits
• Dental Insurance
• Business Travel Accident Insurance
• Vision Insurance
• Pet Insurance
• 401(k) Retirement plan
• Health Advocacy Services
• Short- and Long-term Disability Protection
• Identity Protection/Restoration and Fraud Insurance
• Life Insurance (including Basic, Supplemental, Spouse, Child, and Accidental Death and Dismemberment)
• Student loan refinancing options and access to a student loan concierge service
• Paid Time Off (Generally, paid time off is undefined with 3-4 weeks usually acceptable)
• Addiction Resources
• Parental Leave (24 weeks of which 12 are paid; short-term disability may provide additional paid time off)
• Breast Milk Delivery and Lactation Support Services
• Paid Holidays (12)
• Employees also may be eligible to receive bonuses and certain expense reimbursements
• Family Building Benefits
• Pro Bono Opportunities
• Flexible Spending Accounts
• Professional Development and CLE Credit Opportunities
• Employee Assistance Program
• Bar Expense Reimbursement
• 529 Deductions
• Relocation
• Accident Insurance
• Balanced Hours Program
• Critical Illness Insurance
• Ramp-Up/Ramp-Down Program
• Hospital Indemnity Insurance
• Employee Referral Program
• Bereavement Leave
• Hybrid/Remote Work Opportunities
• Back-up Child/Elder Care and access to a caregiving concierge
• Perks including: Technology, Entertainment, and Travel Discount Program
• Wellness Program
• All other benefits (such as leaves of absence) required by law

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY

The Firm is an equal opportunity employer. It is the policy of the Firm that employment decisions shall be based on merit, qualifications and competence. Employment practices will not be influenced or affected by virtue of a person’s race (including traits associated with race, including hair texture and protective hairstyles such as afros, braids, locks, and twists), religion, creed, color, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, sex, pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, gender, parental status, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, familial status, domestic violence victim status, military and veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law. This policy governs all aspects of employment including, without limitation, recruiting, hiring, compensation, benefits, promotion, assignment, and dismissal. In addition, it is the Firm’s policy to provide an environment that is free of prohibited harassment of any kind including, without limitation, that which is based on sex, race, age, disability, ethnic background, or any other category protected by law (including the categories listed above). The Firm complies with federal and state disability laws and makes reasonable accommodations for applicants and employees with disabilities. If you require reasonable accommodation in completing this application, interviewing, or otherwise participating in the employee selection process, please contact [e-mail].