Litigation Associate

Northern VA based law firm is looking for a Litigation Associate Hours/Schedule: Full timeBenefits: Competitive benefits including Health, 401k, HSA and FSABar dues, CLE, and professional development support — and a billing structure designed to give you time for it Job Type: Direct Location Requirements: Hybrid (3 days/week in Fairfax, VA office)Rate: $150,000/year, based on experience Job Description: Litigation Associate with 5+ years of experience who is ready to own their matters — not manage tasks. You will carry a full caseload, appear in court independently, handle non-litigation employment and counseling matters, and support senior attorneys on complex cases from strategy through resolution. Responsibilities: Own a full caseload of civil litigation, business litigation, employment litigation, and employment counseling matters across Virginia, DC, and Maryland state and federal courts Appear independently at hearings, depositions, and trialsDraft and argue complex motions, including dispositive motions, with precision and without errorHandle non-litigation employment matters: counseling, contract drafting and review, severance, non-competes, and workplace investigationsThink creatively about resolution — we litigate to win, but the best outcome for a client isn't always a verdictKeep every file moving: next steps documented, clients updated proactively, systems currentDelegate actively to paralegals, law students, and interns — and make them better in the processBuild and maintain client relationships that make clients feel known, not just representedContribute to business development as the firm growsMeet a billing standard of 120 hours/month (~6 billable hours/workday, structured to leave meaningful time for professional development, community involvement, and pro bono) Qualifications:J.D. from an accredited law schoolActive Virginia Bar membership in good standing — this is a hard requirement5+ years of litigation experience with substantial federal and state court practiceReal, independent courtroom experience: hearings, depositions, and trials you ran yourselfStrong legal writing — briefs that persuade, not just informThe self-awareness to know how long a task should take and the discipline to stay within it Preferred qualifications:Active DC Bar and/or Maryland Bar (or eligible to waive in) Employment law experience — litigation and counseling side: federal and state employment law, non-compete/trade secret, severance, employment agreement drafting and review Workplace investigation experienceBusiness litigation experience: partnership disputes, business disputes, or contract litigationLabor law experienceBoth plaintiff-side and defense-side experience