Careers

Litigation Associate | Seattle preferred; Portland or California considered

Bradley Bernstein Sands LLP (“BBS”) is hiring an experienced litigation associate. BBS, with offices in Seattle, Portland, San Francisco, and Los Angeles, handles complex, high-stakes matters for clients across the country, frequently working with or opposite the largest firms in the country. We staff those cases leanly and deliberately, which means the lawyer we hire will have significant litigation responsibility.

An ideal candidate is:

• a lawyer with three to six years of experience in complex civil litigation, ideally at a well-respected large firm or litigation boutique;

• ready to own substantial pieces of substantial cases — taking and defending depositions, arguing motions, directing discovery strategy, and working directly with clients;

• an excellent writer with sound judgment about what actually persuades a court;

• an enthusiastic and curious litigator who is willing to dive into legal challenges that are new to them;

• experienced in using AI to more effectively and efficiently solve client problems;

• a supportive, kind, and collaborative teammate who is invested in participating in and supporting a healthy firm culture; and

• admitted to practice in Washington, or eligible for prompt admission by motion under Washington APR 3(c).

We imagine placing this position in Seattle, but will also consider candidates based in California or Portland who are admitted in Washington or who can be admitted promptly by motion. BBS does not have a required number of “in office” days, and hybrid arrangements are welcomed.

The billable expectation for this role is 1,300 billable hours a year.

We have intentionally created a law firm where it is possible for our attorneys to both work on the most interesting and challenging litigation matters while also retaining space for time with family, on pro bono matters, and volunteering to make their communities stronger.  Fewer hours does not mean a smaller role.  We staff matters with two or three lawyers where a national firm would assign six or eight, which means our associates argue the dispositive motions and take the depositions that decide the case rather than waiting several more years for the opportunity.  Attorneys who exceed 1,300 hours qualify for automatic bonuses, but 1,300 is a genuine expectation, not a floor we quietly expect you to clear.

Protecting the culture we have built is one of our highest priorities, and it factors into every hiring decision we make.  BBS attorneys work hard and hold each other to a high standard, but they are also humble, generous with their time, quick to step in on someone else’s matter, and genuinely invested in each other’s success.  We hire for that as deliberately as we hire for traditional credentials.

We hold multiple in-person retreats annually to refine our offerings to clients, discuss strategic initiatives, and connect with each other in person. We also sponsor and host a yearly summit with our BBS fellows.

Compensation and benefits.

We set associate compensation by reference to prevailing national firm scale, adjusted for our billable expectation.  We are glad to discuss specific numbers early in the process.  Associates are also eligible for automatic and discretionary bonuses as well as bonuses for originating work.  BBS attorneys are also eligible for high quality health, dental, and vision insurance, 401(k), and paid parental leave.  Expenses related to bar dues, CLEs, and other professional and business development are also covered.