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What is a litigation associate and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
3 min read
Quoted Experts
Andrea Schneider,
Jennifer Brobst
introduction image

There are some very good arguments for becoming a litigation associate, particularly if you're the type of person who loves a good argument. As a litigation associate, you'll get the chance to prepare and argue cases in court. You'll function as an integral part of the legal team. This means you'll support all aspects of litigation.

Some of the tasks you can expect to do in this job include conducting research, drafting and preparing pleadings, collecting evidence, managing discoveries, defending depositions, and managing the client database. You may also coordinate and supervise the work of outside experts.

To excel as a litigation associate, you'll need excellent people skills. You should also be good at analytical and research skills, know how to collect and interpret facts, and have strong writing skills. Working as a litigation associate can be demanding, as it requires long hours of intense research and preparation for court appearances.

Litigation associates are entry-level to mid-level attorneys. Therefore, to get a job as a litigation associate, you'll need to obtain a law degree and pass the state bar examination. Most states also require attorneys to have received their Juris Doctorate degree from a law school that is accredited by the American Bar Association.

What general advice would you give to a Litigation Associate?

Andrea SchneiderAndrea Schneider LinkedIn Profile

Professor of Law, Marquette University

Take every opportunity to network and volunteer. Make connections with leaders in your local and state bar organizations and those who lead legal service organizations in your area. Think about how your skills can be used in a variety of ways, and make connections throughout the community.
ScoreLitigation AssociateUS Average
Salary
7.9

Avg. Salary $112,116

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability Level
10.0

Growth Rate 10%

Growth Rate 0.3%

Diversity
2.5
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.31%

Asian 6.49%

Black or African American 5.68%

Hispanic or Latino 7.91%

Unknown 4.39%

White 75.22%

Gender

female 47.64%

male 52.36%

Age - 45
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 45
Stress Level
10.0

Stress level is very high

7.1 - high

Complexity Level
10.0

Complexity Level is advanced

7 - challenging

Work Life Balance
4.9

Work Life balance is fair

6.4 - fair

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Litigation Associate career paths

Key steps to become a litigation associate

  1. Explore litigation associate education requirements

    Most common litigation associate degrees

    Doctorate

    55.6 %

    Bachelor's

    39.9 %

    Master's

    3.5 %
  2. Start to develop specific litigation associate skills

    SkillsPercentages
    Litigation28.49%
    Law Firm11.02%
    Legal Research5.58%
    Commercial Litigation4.98%
    Discovery Motions3.25%
  3. Complete relevant litigation associate training and internships

    Accountants spend an average of 1-2 years on post-employment, on-the-job training. New litigation associates learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a litigation associate based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real litigation associate resumes.
  4. Research litigation associate duties and responsibilities

    • Lead and assist in out-of-court resolution of actions including settlement negotiations, mediation, and arbitration.
    • Manage all aspects of motion practice and discovery in class and institutional actions involving residential mortgage-backed securities investments.
    • Represent immigrants in deportation proceedings, federal litigation and appeals.
    • Participate in complex commercial litigation group, with matters involving insurance, entertainment, products liability, utilities and investment banking.
  5. Prepare your litigation associate resume

    When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your litigation associate resume.

    You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a litigation associate resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

    Choose From 10+ Customizable Litigation Associate Resume templates

    Build a professional Litigation Associate resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your Litigation Associate resume.
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    Litigation Associate Resume
  6. Apply for litigation associate jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for a litigation associate job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

    1. Browse job boards for relevant postings
    2. Consult your professional network
    3. Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
    4. Watch out for job scams

How Did You Land Your First Litigation Associate Job

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Average litigation associate salary

The average Litigation Associate salary in the United States is $112,116 per year or $54 per hour. Litigation associate salaries range between $68,000 and $182,000 per year.

Average Litigation Associate Salary
$112,116 Yearly
$53.90 hourly

What Am I Worth?

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How do litigation associates rate their job?

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Litigation Associate reviews

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A zippia user wrote a review on Feb 2019
Pros

As a civil litigation defense attorney I love the fact that every day is different. I enjoy assisting clients who have a problem to solve that problem in the most cost effective way, and how to avoid such problems in the future. I like that I basically set my own work schedule (other than court dates).

Cons

Billing hours. Unscrupulous opposing counsel. Occasional biased judges who do not follow the law.


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Litigation Associate jobs by state

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.