JUNIOR ASSOCIATE ATTORNEY Transportation and Infrastructure Law

Kaplan Kirsch LLP • Washington, DC

3d

About The Position

The firm is hiring a full-time Junior Associate Attorney for its Transportation and Infrastructure Law practice. The role is based in New York, San Francisco, Denver, Los Angeles, or Washington, DC. The associate will be a key member of the Rail, Transit, Highways, and Infrastructure practice and may support related environmental, energy, tribal, and real estate matters. The work may involve litigation and transactions, including drafting pleadings for judicial and administrative proceedings, conducting legal research, drafting legal memoranda, and drafting and negotiating contracts and operating agreements. The associate will work directly with partners, counsel, senior associates, and clients, gaining hands-on experience and working collaboratively across the firm’s practice areas.

The firm is a national boutique law firm serving clients including state and local governments, transit agencies, airports, nonprofit organizations, and Native American tribes. Its work addresses complex projects involving transit, rail, real estate, land use, infrastructure, project financing, airports, renewable energy, environmental, conservation, and tribal law. The firm emphasizes meaningful client work, associate development, mentoring, collaboration, and a path toward partnership. The annual expectation is 1,600 billable hours; approved pro bono hours count toward that target without limit. The start date is flexible, with a target period from November 2026 through February 2027.

Requirements

• 1 to 3 years of relevant transactional, administrative law, or litigation experience, or a judicial clerkship.
• Exceptional writing, analytical, research, and advocacy skills.
• Ability to interact successfully with clients and colleagues.
• Ability to adapt quickly in a dynamic, fast-paced work environment, multitask, and manage deadlines.
• Comfort working independently and as part of a team.
• Initiative, action orientation, sound delegation, and interest in personal improvement.
• Curiosity and passion for the firm's clients and work.
• Law degree from an accredited law school, with academic excellence and leadership.
• Admission to practice in a U.S. jurisdiction.

Nice To Haves

• Admission to practice in California, New York, Colorado, or Washington, DC.
• Experience in the rail, transit, highways, or infrastructure sector.
• 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 involving federal grant funding.
• An entrepreneurial mindset and a collegial, team-focused approach to practicing law.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, including the ability to listen attentively, engage actively, and communicate complex matters effectively.

Responsibilities

• Serve as a key member of the Rail, Transit, Highways, and Infrastructure practice.
• Support related environmental, energy, tribal, and real estate matters as needed.
• Work directly with partners, counsel, senior associates, and clients on litigation and transactional matters.
• Draft pleadings in judicial and administrative litigation proceedings.
• Conduct legal research and draft memoranda of law.
• Draft and negotiate contracts and operating agreements.
• Manage multiple matters and deadlines, take initiative, and contribute independently and as part of a team.

Benefits

• Medical insurance
• Dental insurance
• Vision insurance
• Health savings account (HSA)
• Flexible spending account (FSA)
• Short-term disability insurance (STD)
• Long-term disability insurance (LTD)
• Group term life insurance
• 401(k)
• Flexible paid time off
• Parental leave
• Coverage of some public transportation costs
• Bonus compensation for associates who exceed minimum billable targets
• Approved pro bono hours count without limit toward the annual billable-hours target

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree