Mid-Level Construction & Design Associate

About the role

The Stoel Rives Real Estate practice group in the Seattle office is seeking an associate with three to five years of experience to join the team.

Responsibilities

• Provide legal counsel to real estate owners, developers, contractors, investors, and lenders, as well as architects, engineers, and suppliers.
• Assist clients with land use, design, acquisition, disposition, development, financing, risk allocation and insurance assessment, construction, leasing, and sale of commercial, residential, and agricultural properties.
• Manage discovery, take and defend depositions, and draft complex motions independently or with limited supervision.
• Prior trial, arbitration, or hearing experience strongly preferred.

Requirements

• J.D. from an accredited law school and admission in good standing to the Washington State bar (or eligibility for waiver admission).
• Three to five years of litigation experience at an AmLaw 200 firm, regional litigation boutique, or equivalent, with experience in construction, design professional liability, surety, or related infrastructure disputes.

Qualifications

• Exceptional written and oral advocacy skills, with the ability to translate complex technical and contractual issues into clear, persuasive legal arguments.
• Strong analytical and organizational skills, with the ability to manage multiple matters simultaneously in a fast-paced environment.
• Collaborative working style with the demonstrated ability to supervise junior team members and work effectively with partners, clients, and co-counsel.
• A high degree of professional judgment, client-service orientation, and commitment to quality.

Skills

• Some familiarity with standard-form construction contracts (AIA, ConsensusDocs, EJCDC).
• Key legal frameworks governing construction disputes, including mechanics' lien and bond law, performance and payment bond claims, and design professional standard of care.
• Construction scheduling, delay analysis methodologies (e.g., as-planned vs. as-built, time impact analysis), and construction cost accounting concepts.

Benefits

The firm offers a variety of training programs and retreats, a coaching and mentoring program, and a new lawyer integration program. Stoel Rives also values lawyers and business professionals with diverse backgrounds and experiences and participates in the ABA Well-Being Pledge.

Pay

The base compensation range for this position is $220,000 - $280,000, inclusive of salaries in all listed markets. Base compensation presented to an individual candidate may vary based on skills, overall experience, and market location.

Schedule

The hours expectation for this position is 1,800 billable hours and an “all-in” hours expectation of 2,050 or 2,150, depending on seniority. The billable hours expectation includes up to 50 pro bono hours. All-in hours include the billable hours expectation as well as any additional billable hours, additional pro bono hours, and investment hours.