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Associates
The firm should be of interest to individuals with outstanding
academic backgrounds who seek a challenging, diverse practice in a
collegial and informal professional setting. The firm's standards are
extremely high; we are committed to providing clients with the best
possible representation in all aspects of our practice. The firm operates
differently than most other law firms. It stresses collegiality and
informality over structure and policy. Unlike other firms, the decision to
promote associates to members does not turn on economics. If an associate
does well at the firm, he or she will become a member. As a result, one
associate's success does not depend on another's failure or on the firm's
economic circumstances at any particular time. An associate in the firm
will never have to worry that, if a colleague down the hall becomes a
member, his or her chances to become one are diminished.
This fundamental principle has a tremendous effect on how work
responsibility in the firm is allocated. With appropriate supervision,
members pass direct client relationships -- and significant case
responsibility -- to associates as early in their careers as possible.
Taking into account the needs of a particular case or client, associates
work on matters as an active member of a team. The firm rarely has the
luxury of -- or, frankly, the interest in -- having associates write
research memoranda. The work associates are assigned is almost invariably
integral to the product the firm is producing. Over the years, the firm
has found that this approach to its work and its internal relationships
results in better products, better attorney development and a more
satisfying work enviornment.
If you are interested in applying for a position, please submit (by U.S. mail only, please) a
resume, a transcript or other listing of your law school grades, a list of
references, and one or two writing samples to our attention. Bredhoff
& Kaiser, P.L.L.C. is an equal opportunity employer and is strongly
committed to diversity.
The Summer Associate Program
Each summer, Bredhoff & Kaiser, P.L.L.C. (B&K) invites a small
group of outstanding students -- usually from six to eight people -- who
have completed their second or third (pre-clerkship) year of law school to
join the firm as summer associates. Many of the firm's current attorneys
spent a summer at B&K while law students.
The summer program at B&K provides a "real-life" introduction to
the firm's practice. Summer associates receive challenging projects on
real, ongoing matters that reflect the breadth of the firm's work --
research for Supreme Court petitions and briefs, for appellate and trial
litigation, and for the legal advice and counsel that the firm's union
clients regularly request. For example, during just the past few years,
summer associates have conducted significant research into civil RICO;
criminal contempt; Congressional investigations; union merger and election
issues; First Amendment, due process, and equal protection questions;
retiree health benefits; and the independent contractor/employee
distinction under the NLRA; and summer associates have written initial
drafts of briefs in support of summary judgment and Rule 11 sanctions.
To ensure that the work of summer associates has depth as well as
variety, the firm tries to provide each summer associate with one or more
longer-term assignments in addition to the discrete, more time-sensitive
matters that they will be called upon to research during the summer. And
summer associates are always welcome to attend depositions, court
arguments, arbitration hearings, or other matters that the firm's lawyers
handle in the Washington, DC area -- particularly those in cases on which
the summer associate has worked.
It is the goal of the summer program to ensure that the experiences of
our summer associates reflect the diversity of the firm's work, and that
each summer associate leaves the firm with a well-informed, realistic
sense of how law is practiced at B&K.
One of the benefits of the firm's small size is that it offers summer
associates regular opportunities to meet and get to know the firm's
attorneys and staff. The firm at times also sponsors events outside the
office for summer associates and lawyers, including events in the
Washington legal community -- such as the annual panel discussion by
well-respected practitioners regarding the Supreme Court's labor docket --
or cultural or social events.
Successful candidates for Bredhoff & Kaiser, P.L.L.C.'s summer
associate program are selected from among hundreds of applicants based on
their outstanding academic records, writing skills, and commitment to the
firm's work. The hiring and interviewing process usually begins in late
August or early September of each year. Applicants should submit (by U.S.
mail only, please) a resume, law school transcript or other listing of
grades, one or two writing samples, and a list of references to the
attention of Ms. Devki Virk.
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