Legal Associate

Cato Institute; Washington (District of Columbia); Hybrid; USD 86,000 - 106,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

401(k) with employer match

Paid parental leave

Vacation/Sick leave

Job summary

The Cato Institute invites applicants with a law degree to apply for our entry level Legal Associate Program at the Robert A. Levy Center for Constitutional Studies. The role covers drafting and editing amicus briefs for the U.S. Supreme Court and other courts, with intensive training and mentorship.

The position is hybrid in Washington, DC, starting in Summer 2027 with a starting salary of $96,000 and opportunities to work on related policy projects and scholarship programs.

Qualifications

• Must have a law degree ( JD ) and be eligible to work in the United States.
• Typically 0–2 years of legal experience for this entry level program.
• Strong writing, research, and briefing skills for Supreme Court work.

Responsibilities

• Draft amicus briefs for the U.S. Supreme Court and other courts.
• Develop legal arguments and communicate with party counsel.
• Research, edit, and draft briefs; contribute to related projects.

Skills

Legal research

Legal writing

Amicus briefs

Oral advocacy

Education

Juris Doctor (JD)

Tools

Legal research tools

Job description

Description

Do you want to take the lead on drafting amicus briefs filed in the U.S. Supreme Court and defending individual liberty? The Cato Institute invites applicants with a law degree to apply for our entry level (typically 0-2 years of legal experience) Legal Associate Program at the Robert A. Levy Center for Constitutional Studies. Legal associates are given the independence and trust to take the initiative at every stage of the brief-writing process. This includes developing arguments, communicating with party counsel, researching, and drafting.

Legal associates receive intensive, one-on-one training and feedback to develop their legal writing skills. Cato amicus briefs are routinely filed in the U.S. Supreme Court, federal appellate courts, and state supreme courts. The job is ideal training for a career in pro-liberty litigation.

In addition, legal associates assist in other projects such as editing the Cato Supreme Court Review and researching and writing for other Cato strategic initiatives. Associates are fully immersed in the intellectual life of the Cato Institute and have opportunities to meet and assist scholars in a wide range of issue areas.

Applicants are encouraged to take the bar exam before beginning employment, though this is not a requirement. Employment will begin in Summer 2027 - dates flexible and partly depend on when current associates depart - and last for one year. This is a very competitive process.

This is a hybrid position in Washington, DC.

The starting salary for the Research Associate position is $96,000

Company Overview:

The Cato Institute is a public policy research organization-a think tank-dedicated to the principles of individual liberty, limited government, free markets, and peace. Its scholars and analysts conduct independent, nonpartisan research on a wide range of policy issues.

Founded in 1977, Cato owes its name to Cato's Letters, a series of essays published in 18th-century England that presented a vision of a society free from excessive government power. Those essays inspired the architects of the American Revolution. And the simple, timeless principles of that revolution - individual liberty, limited government, and free markets - turn out to be even more powerful in today's world of global markets and unprecedented access to information than Jefferson or Madison could have imagined. Social and economic freedom is not just the best policy for a free people, it is the indispensable framework for the future.

The Cato Institute is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Benefits

All Cato employees are offered the following benefits:

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• Employer contribution to a Health Savings Account (HSA)
• Generous vacation and sick leave
• Paid parental leave
• Employer-provided life and disability insurance
• 401(k) with employer match
• Transit/Parking benefits
• Pet discount plan

Applicants must be currently authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis. This position does not offer visa sponsorship.