Deferred Associate Litigation Training Program

The Institute for Justice (IJ) is excited to announce a new opportunity for new lawyers with deferred start dates from their future employer. Our Deferred Associate program offers new attorneys the opportunity to use this time to gain meaningful training and experience in public interest litigation.

Can you tell me more about IJ?

IJ is the country s leading public-interest law firm in the areas of economic liberty, free speech, private property rights and educational choice. Our attorneys work on cutting-edge constitutional cases, fight to end government abuses in key areas such as civil forfeiture and qualified immunity, and champion individual rights.

Our culture is collaborative intellectual, and fun. We have a shared commitment to our mission and to our individual clients, ordinary people who want to pursue their vision of the American Dream without government interference. Each member of our staff is recognized for the integral part they play in the fulfillment of that mission. We tackle challenging legal issues with sharp legal creativity, an entrepreneurial spirit, and a can-do attitude. Together, we celebrate every win along the way and recover quickly from setbacks.

What will deferred associates do during their time with IJ?

Deferred Associates will assist litigation teams with cutting edge legal research, writing and strategy. Examples of the projects include research for cases and amicus briefs, big-picture research on case areas, and helping teams identify potential clients.

What is IJ looking for?

We are looking for recent law school graduates who have deferred start dates from their law firms. Ideally, candidates should have excellent writing and communication skills, relish the opportunity to create real-world impact, and an interest in both constitutional law and IJ s mission.

To apply, please submit a resume, a cover letter stating your interest in the program along with your anticipated full-time start date, and a writing sample. The writing sample should be from a legal brief or memo demonstrating complex legal reasoning.