No matter their field of practice – leading “White Shoe” firms, international law firms or domestic mid-tier and boutique firms – lawyers in New York City must be prepared for an intense workload. Long hours, an oversaturated market and emotionally taxing cases all put significant strain on law firm associates.
Interviews conducted as part of the After the JD longitudinal survey offer more in-depth and complex analyses than quantitative trends alone can. Read on to uncover their strategies.
New York City
New York law firms provide an exciting and challenging legal career experience. New attorneys should expect to manage high-profile domestic and international deals on an immediate basis and are expected to pursue long-term paths to partnership.
Labor and Employment Law Division attorneys represent the City against various federal and state legal claims stemming from its role as an employer, such as First Amendment retaliation; gender, race, age and disability discrimination; civil service issues and wage and hour litigation. An ideal candidate would possess strong legal writing and oral advocacy abilities and be admitted in good standing in New York state law practice.
The Assistant Corporation Counsel will assist the NYPD Monitor with the ongoing development, implementation and compliance with various policing reforms; working to ensure that NYPD policies, training practices and practices are carried out according to plan. Applicants should be flexible enough to work from home on limited occasions.
Washington D.C.
As the nation’s capital, Washington DC attracts an array of lawyers that specialize in issues spanning virtually every practice area imaginable – ranging from government investigations and antitrust litigation, through corporate regulatory compliance issues and intellectual property matters to patent prosecution and intellectual property litigation.
Therefore, DC law firms tend to specialize in government-facing work and regulatory practices, such as the creation and enforcement of financial sector or healthcare industry rules. Litigation tends not to be their main area of focus although there may be exceptions.
Young attorneys seeking an exciting and hands-on legal career, The Hill offers young attorneys an unparalleled opportunity to gain exposure to complex policy and legal issues in an engaging, direct manner. To secure Hill opportunities early, taking advantage of externships and summer jobs early is key; DC firms generally favor post-clerkship candidates over new hires which makes breaking into this market even harder for young attorneys.
Los Angeles
No matter is too complicated for an experienced Los Angeles employment law lawyer. From employee accidents at work to lawsuits over high-level executive terminations, an employment attorney in Los Angeles can provide invaluable assistance. To ensure optimal service delivery, the best employment lawyers typically specialize in only one area of law; any representation that practices multiple areas should raise red flags.
County Counsel has an established mentoring program, and each of their 18 Divisions specialize in different aspects of law and provide internship opportunities. Interns gain valuable experience in public service through participation in commission and client meetings, court hearings, and depositions. The Los Angeles Office’s attorneys are also dedicated to their community and have participated in pro bono legal work for public interest organizations. Furthermore, this office regularly hosts community and student seminars on topics like employment law, public pension funds and workers’ compensation. Attorneys joining this firm enjoy close-knit colleagues and experience both litigation and non-litigation matters in Los Angeles.
San Francisco
San Francisco District Attorney’s Office offers exciting, meaningful, and sophisticated work for attorneys (both paid and volunteer), paralegals, investigators, financial analysts, IT technicians and students. Widely considered one of the country’s premier prosecution agencies with an outstanding reputation for excellence, integrity and innovation; our Office attracts top candidates.
Duane Morris attorneys in San Francisco specialize in complex litigation on matters such as privacy, consumer class actions, environmental law and insurance coverage. Furthermore, Duane Morris represents its clients during federal, state and local criminal investigations involving allegations of fraud or violations of securities laws or regulatory agencies.
