Junior Litigation Associate

Hiring: Junior Litigation Associate (Post-Clerkship Role) — Infrastructure & Public Sector LawA boutique public-sector and infrastructure law firm (headquartered in Denver, with offices in New York, San Francisco, and Washington, D.C.) is seeking a Junior Litigation Associate to join in Fall 2026.This role is specifically designed for a current or recent judicial law clerk transitioning into private practice. The firm focuses on mission-driven legal work in regulatory and infrastructure matters and prioritizes alignment with public-sector mission over compensation expectations.Role Details:Title: Junior Litigation Associate (Post-Clerkship)Seniority: 0–3 years (directly out of judicial clerkship preferred)Start Date: Fall 2026Work Model: Hybrid (3 days in-office / 2 days remote)Locations: Denver (HQ), New York, San Francisco, Washington, D.C.(Candidates must be based in or willing to relocate to one of these offices)Practice Areas:Airports / AviationRail & TransitReal Estate & Land UseInfrastructure DevelopmentRenewable EnergyEnvironmental & Conservation LawProject FinanceTribal LawCore Responsibilities:Drafting briefs, pleadings, motions (trial & appellate — federal and state)Conducting legal research supporting regulatory and litigation strategyPreparing witness outlines for depositions, trials, and administrative hearingsManaging discovery (requests, responses, privilege logs, evidentiary review)Supporting cross-practice matters and pro bono initiatives (unlimited approved hours)Client-facing work with public-sector entities (government agencies, transit authorities, tribes, airports, etc.)Must-Have Qualifications:JD from an accredited U.S. law school with strong academic performance(Law review, moot court, or equivalent preferred; T20 strongly preferred; Harvard & Stanford explicitly valued)Completed or currently completing a judicial clerkship(Federal district/appellate strongly preferred; state clerkships considered)Admission to practice in CO, NY, CA, or DC (must align with at least one office jurisdiction)Exceptional legal writing ability (clerkship-level writing sample required)Exposure to at least one relevant practice area through clerkship, internship, or courseworkExperience with discovery management and witness preparationStrong communication skills and ability to work directly with public-sector clientsMission-driven mindset, collaborative approach, and self-directionTailored cover letter required (applications without a cover letter will not be considered)Not a Fit If You:Have a background exclusively in personal injury or commercial litigation without regulatory/public-sector exposureAre primarily motivated by BigLaw compensation expectationsHave frequent job changes without clear progressionCome from agency-only roles (FAA, TSA, DOT, etc.), due to transition fit concernsAre not barred or eligible in CO, NY, CA, or DCCompensation:Candidate base $159,000 – $179,550, commensurate with experienceOther comp Accessibility bonus for hours billed above the 1,600-hour annual targetBillable target 1,600 hrs/yr; unlimited approved pro bono; no guaranteed bonus