We strive to hire only the best attorneys, and the responsibility we award our associates reflects the respect we have for those to whom we extend offers. The talent of our attorneys allows us to staff cases leanly, and we look for our associates to feel a personal commitment to their matters and to take on as much responsibility as they can handle. Rather than merely following directions, our associates work with partners to craft strategies for handling matters, and it is not unusual for attorneys to take or defend depositions or to work extensively with clients in corporate transactions very early in their careers.

Furthermore, our low associate-to-partner ratio makes it possible for attorneys to find and form connections with role models and mentors among their fellow attorneys. More formally, each associate is paired with a partner who is available to help navigate the challenges of working in a law firm, including communication skills, career development, managing workload, and pursuing individual interests. We are invested in our associates’ success, and our annual reviews are clear, comprehensive, and set concrete goals for the coming year.  It is rare that associates chose to leave us, but those who have left have gone on to become Assistant United States Attorneys or in-house counsel at major companies across a broad array of industries.

Associate compensation at Friedman Kaplan is competitive with that of the largest New York firms and, like those firms, is based on an associate’s class year. For associates who join the firm from law school, the starting salary is $205,000, plus a discretionary bonus. Associates who join the firm after a judicial clerkship also receive a substantial bonus.

In addition to a generous salary and bonus, Friedman Kaplan offers a rich and diversified benefits package to all of its associates, including:

  • Relocation and bar exam expenses
  • Twenty days of paid time off
  • Six sick days
  • Subsidized health insurance for associates and their spouses, same-sex and opposite-sex domestic partners, and families
  • Firm-paid long-term disability insurance
  • Firm-paid life insurance, with access to group rates for additional coverage
  • Access to group rates for dental and vision insurance
  • Flexible spending accounts for medical and dependent care expenses
  • Participation in 401(k) and/or Roth 401(k) plans
  • Twelve weeks of paid parental leave for associates who give birth; six weeks of paid leave for all other new parents
  • Monthly TransitChek and WageWorks Pre-Tax Benefit Program
  • Partial reimbursement for purchase of iPhone or other smartphone and associated data charges
  • Use of firm laptops for business or personal travel
  • Payment of bar association membership fees and continuing legal education tuition
  • Discounted gym membership at New York Sports Club
  • Reimbursement for dinner and late-night travel home
  • Wellness Program
  • Access to group rates for pet insurance

Career Opportunities

Many of our attorneys joined Friedman Kaplan after starting their careers at large firms in New York and other cities. We offer junior associates at larger firms a smaller, more collegial environment with an equally sophisticated practice. Our associates participate in every aspect of each matter — meeting with clients, negotiating corporate transactions, taking depositions, writing briefs, arguing motions, and conducting trials. This commitment to full participation for associates carries over into firm governance, recruitment, and business development. We believe that such involvement is a key component of professional development. Read More

We strive to hire only the best attorneys, and the responsibility we award our associates reflects the respect we have for those to whom we extend offers. The talent of our attorneys allows us to staff cases leanly, and we look for our associates to feel a personal commitment to their matters and to take on as much responsibility as they can handle. Rather than merely following directions, our associates work with partners to craft strategies for handling matters, and it is not unusual for attorneys to take or defend depositions or to work extensively with clients in corporate transactions very early in their careers. Read More

We seek lawyers with many of the same stellar qualities that judges seek in their law clerks, including outstanding academic achievement and strong personal character. That is why many of Friedman Kaplan’s attorneys have been clerks to prestigious federal and state judges. Our attorneys have clerked for judges in numerous trial and appellate courts throughout the country. These have included the United States Courts of Appeals for the Second, Third, and Fifth Circuits; United States District Courts in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Massachusetts; and the New Jersey Supreme Court and New York Court of Appeals. Not surprisingly, many of the skills honed as a law clerk — including a focus on thorough legal analysis, attention to factual detail, clear written expression, and working closely with colleagues — contribute significantly to these lawyers’ success in their practice. Read More

We recognize that our superior legal services are a reflection of the entire team — lawyers and nonlawyers — pulling together to serve the clients’ needs. In keeping with this, we aim to hire individuals for nonlegal staff positions at Friedman Kaplan who not only have the skills needed for their job, but also an understanding of the importance of client service and an appreciation for the collaborative environment we have cultivated. For this reason, we look for individuals who are bright, diligent, and professional, and who also work well as part of a team. Read More

Contacts

Attorney Recruiting

Bridget Quinn 
Recruitment Coordinator 
bquinn@fklaw.com

Paralegal Recruiting

Syreeta Lee
Paralegal Manager
slee@fklaw.com

Nonlegal Staff Recruiting

Margaret Kane
Director of Personnel and Administration
mkane@fklaw.com