JUNIOR ASSOCIATE ATTORNEY - Transportation and Infrastructure Law

Kaplan Kirsch LLP•New York, NY

4d•Hybrid

About The Position

We’re looking for highly motivated, creative, and collaborative attorneys to join our unique law firm. A majority of our clients are states, local governments, transit agencies, airports, non-profit organizations, and Native American tribes. Operating outside the “Big Law” model, our collegial and collaborative firm enables our Associate Attorneys to gain momentum in their careers and further their professional development through meaningful involvement on public and private projects that benefit communities across the United States. We are a fast-growing national boutique law firm devoted exclusively to helping clients solve problems involving the nation’s most complex and high-profile projects in transit, rail, real estate, land use, infrastructure, project financing, airports, renewable energy, environmental, conservation, and tribal law. While the firm is organized into these primary practice areas, we pride ourselves on complex, collaborative work that does not always respect these boundaries, and associates will regularly work with colleagues across all of our practice areas. Many of our practice groups, partners, and associates have been recognized by leading legal directories such as Chambers & Partners, Best Lawyers, and Law360, reflecting our Firm’s outsized achievements and national recognition. Associates will work closely with our seasoned lawyers—many of whom have served at the highest levels of government and the nonprofit world—and gain hands-on experience quickly. The work we do is rewarding, and we are tremendously proud of the superior client service our team is able to provide. Founded in 2003 to provide an alternative to the “business of law as usual,” our firm’s focus remains on our colleagues as well as our clients. We believe that when you enjoy working with a great team, know that your contributions make a difference, and are able to pursue a fulfilling career without hindering personal life responsibilities and choices, your professional life can and should be more enjoyable and rewarding. We are proud to be recognized for both the quality of our work and the opportunities for our associates to learn and grow. Our associates are uniquely positioned to have a significant impact for clients from day one while also gaining valuable experience and training. We believe that as an associate, you should have a path toward partnership, and our collective mentoring approach has resulted in a number of internally promoted partners.

Requirements

1 or more years of relevant transactional, administrative law, or litigation experience, or a judicial clerkship.
Exceptional writing, analytical, and advocacy skills, and the ability to successfully interact with clients and colleagues.
Ability to adapt quickly in a dynamic, fast-paced work environment to successfully multi-task and manage deadlines to proactively complete transactions.
High comfort level in working both independently as well as part of a team.
Take initiative by being action-oriented, immediately responsible for your client, delegating intelligently, and seeking opportunities for personal improvement.
Achieved a law degree from an accredited law school.
Admitted to practice in a U.S. jurisdiction (CA, NY, or DC, preferred).

Nice To Haves

Experience with matters before the Surface Transportation Board, Federal Railroad Administration, Federal Transit Administration, Federal Aviation Administration, Federal Highway Administration, or state or local transportation agencies.
Experience representing public transportation agencies.
Experience in transactional matters that include federal grant funding.
Excellent legal research and writing skills.
An entrepreneurial mindset with a collegial, team-focused approach to the practice of law.
Excellent communication and interpersonal skills and attentively listen, actively engage, and effectively communicate complex matters.

Responsibilities

Serve as a key member of our Transportation practice while also supporting related environmental, energy, infrastructure, and real estate matters as needed.
Work directly with partners, counsel, senior associates, and clients on a variety of matters, which may include tasks such as drafting pleadings in judicial and administrative litigation proceedings, conducting legal research, drafting memoranda of law, drafting and negotiating contracts, and operating agreements.