Traditional Labor Associate - New York, NY or Philadelphia, PA

Job Description

Job Description

Labor Management Relations · 2–5 Years Experience · NY or PA Bar Required

The Labor & Employment group of a major, national Am Law 100 firm is expanding its traditional labor management relations practice. This is a rare entry point for a junior-to-mid-level associate to secure immediate, substantive front-line experience on a sophisticated, multi-market platform that actively protects its partner track.

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The Work

You will step directly into a specialized traditional labor practice, handling high-stakes management-side representations across the region. Unlike standard junior litigation roles that confine you to document review, you will take an active role in:

• First- or second-chairing labor arbitrations.
• Prosecuting and defending unfair labor practice (ULP) charges directly before the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB).
• Advising clients through collective bargaining negotiations and strategic union avoidance initiatives.
• Assisting with complex wage and hour class and collective actions, particularly those intersecting with unionized workforces.

Who This Is For

You are a labor and employment associate with two to five years of dedicated experience who wants less time in the library and more time on your feet.

Widening the Funnel: While the core of this role requires traditional labor experience, the firm recognizes that first-class advocates can adapt. If you are a commercial litigator with deep administrative agency experience, or an employment litigator who has touched NLRB matters and wants to pivot fully into traditional labor management relations, this platform provides the structure and cross-office support to transition your practice.

The Platform

This firm is defined by a highly collaborative, cross-office model that eliminates the typical "silo" culture of large national firms. They operate a modern hybrid structure requiring three days per week in the office, deliberately balancing face-to-face team collaboration with real individual autonomy. For an associate looking for a clear, predictable partnership trajectory without sacrificing work-life balance, this is a distinct culture.

Compensation and Benefits

In alignment with local transparency requirements, the anticipated initial salary range for this position is $225,000 – $300,000, dependent on market location (New York or Philadelphia), skills, and class-year alignment.

This base salary represents only one piece of a highly competitive total rewards structure, which includes:

• Productivity and discretionary performance bonuses
• Comprehensive healthcare, life, accident, and disability insurance
• 401(k) retirement plan with firm contributions
• A robust professional development and mentorship framework built for lateral integration

Apply in Confidence

This search is being managed with strict confidentiality by an outside recruitment firm. Your current firm will not be contacted, and your materials will never be shared with the hiring committee without a formal briefing and your explicit, prior authorization.

To explore this opportunity or discuss the market landscape in confidence, please reach out to initiate a conversation.

Confirm before publishing

• Inferences Made:
  • Firm Tier: I identified the employer as a "major, national Am Law 100 firm." This matches Faegre Drinker's true market tier without revealing the name.
  • Funnel-Widening: The original brief is quite specific about traditional labor experience (arbitrations, NLRB, collective bargaining). I broadened the funnel slightly to capture sharp employment litigators or agency-heavy commercial litigators, but framed it carefully so candidates know they must be ready to commit to a traditional labor path.
• Candidate Promises / Expectations:
  • Partner Track: The source explicitly stated "partner-track associate," so highlighting the protection of the partnership trajectory is verified.
  • In-Office Expectation: The 3-day in-office policy was framed transparently as a tool for collaboration rather than a rigid mandate, staying true to the source's language.
• Anonymity Concerns:
  • Fingerprinting Risk: Low to Moderate. While traditional labor is a boutique practice area, the fact that this role is open in either New York or Philadelphia for a massive national firm with a $225k–$300k scale provides excellent cover. Several Am Law 100 firms fit this exact footprint in these two markets, making it difficult for a reader to guess the specific firm without reaching out to you first.