Litigation Associate

Navigate Legal Search; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

A respected Chicago labor boutique is seeking a Labor & Employment Associate with 2+ years of litigation experience. This role focuses on representing unions in various legal matters, negotiating issues, and advocating on behalf of union members. The ideal candidate is communicative and interested in impactful representation. The firm offers a manageable billable hour expectation and opportunities for early involvement in significant cases. Interested candidates should contact us for more details or apply directly.

Qualifications

• 2+ years of litigation experience.
• Confident communicating directly with clients.
• Interest in union-side or mission-oriented representation.

Responsibilities

• Represent unions in litigation-related matters.
• Engage in negotiations and agency proceedings.
• Interact with clients and manage relationships.

Skills

Litigation experience

Client communication

Interest in union-side representation

Education

Admission to the Illinois Bar

Job description

Labor & Employment Associate (Union-Side)

Chicago | 2+ Years

A respected Chicago labor boutique representing unions and union benefit funds in meaningful, high-impact matters is seeking an associate with 2+ years of litigation experience. Labor and employment experience is not required. This is a small, focused team that believes strong advocacy can directly improve the lives of working people.

Practice Focus

The work centers on three primary areas:

• Traditional labor matters — representing unions in disputes, negotiation-related issues, and proceedings before agencies such as the NLRB
• ERISA and benefit fund litigation — protecting the integrity of multiemployer health and pension plans
• Litigation on behalf of union members and affiliated entities — federal and state court advocacy

The firm’s matters are substantive, strategic, and often carry real-world consequences for workers and their families.

What Makes This Different

• Manageable 1,750 billable hour expectation; rare nights and weekends
• Early hands-on responsibility and court exposure
• Direct interaction with union leadership and benefit fund trustees
• Collaborative, tight-knit team

Base salary range: $90,000–$120,000, depending on experience and background.

Ideal Background

• 2+ years of litigation experience
• Confident communicating directly with clients and managing client relationships
• Interest in union-side or mission-oriented representation
• Comfortable taking ownership of matters
• Must be admitted to the Illinois Bar and in good standing

This role is ideal for someone who values excellent legal work and wants that work to serve a broader purpose, without sacrificing balance.

Interested candidates are encouraged to apply or reach out for more details. You can contact [e-mail] with any questions.

This law firm is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will be considered without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or veteran status.