Associate Attorney

Job Description

Job Description

McCormick Law & Consulting – Lake Bluff, Illinois
Business Litigation & Corporate Matters
Associate Attorney, 1-5 years experience

McCormick Law & Consulting is a growing, business-focused boutique law firm based in Lake Bluff, Illinois. We provide sophisticated, practical legal counsel with the responsiveness, flexibility, and direct client relationships of a small firm.

Our practice centers on representing businesses, business owners, professionals and individuals in both litigation and transactional matters. We handle complex commercial and civil disputes, contracts, business structuring, corporate governance, and related advisory matters, along with select employment, discrimination, intellectual property, real estate, and estate-planning matters.

We are seeking an exceptionally capable Associate Attorney who wants meaningful responsibility, direct client exposure, and the opportunity to help shape the continued growth of the firm.

Why This Opportunity Is Different

This position is designed for an ambitious attorney who wants to continue doing sophisticated, consequential legal work in a more personal and sustainable environment. It may be particularly attractive to someone who enjoys the substance and intellectual demands of complex legal work but is looking for an alternative to the traditional large-firm model.

Fast track to partnership. We are hiring with the firm’s long-term growth in mind, and not to fill a permanent associate seat. An attorney who demonstrates excellent legal ability, sound judgment, strong client relationships, and a meaningful contribution to the firm will have a genuine, accelerated path to partnership.

No minimum billable-hour requirement. The firm does not impose an arbitrary annual billable-hours quota. Attorneys are expected to work hard, meet the demands of their matters, and produce excellent results. Performance is evaluated based on the quality and efficiency of the attorney’s work, judgment, responsiveness, client service, initiative, and overall contribution to the firm, not simply whether a numerical billing target has been reached.

A sustainable legal career. We believe excellent attorneys should be able to build challenging and rewarding practices without sacrificing their lives outside the office. The firm supports hybrid flexibility, reasonable autonomy, and respect for personal and family commitments, while recognizing that trials, hearings, transactions, and client emergencies will occasionally require additional effort.

Meaningful responsibility. Associates receive substantive assignments, direct client contact, and responsibility for matters commensurate with their experience. This is an opportunity to develop as a lawyer, trusted adviser, and future leader of the firm, not simply to perform isolated tasks within a larger team.

Position Overview

The Associate Attorney will work primarily on business litigation, broader civil litigation, and corporate and transactional matters. The position is well suited for an attorney who has strong foundational skills in one or more of these areas and wants to develop a versatile, business-focused practice.

The successful candidate will be intellectually curious, analytically rigorous, and capable of taking ownership of assignments and matters. The attorney must be able to identify the issues that matter, communicate clearly, exercise sound judgment, and produce precise, thoughtful work.

The position offers close collaboration with the firm’s lawyers, meaningful interaction with clients, and increasing independence and responsibility as the attorney demonstrates readiness.

Primary Responsibilities

• Take ownership of litigation and transactional matters commensurate with experience
• Draft pleadings, motions, briefs, discovery, correspondence, and other litigation materials
• Participate in all phases of litigation, including written discovery, motion practice, hearings, depositions, settlement discussions, and trial preparation
• Draft and review contracts, operating agreements, corporate governance documents, compliance materials, and other business-related agreements
• Assist clients with business formation, structuring, governance, compliance, and day-to-day legal issues
• Conduct thorough legal research and translate that research into clear, practical recommendations
• Attend hearings, depositions, client meetings, and other proceedings as appropriate
• Analyze complex factual and legal issues and help develop efficient, results-oriented strategies
• Communicate professionally and effectively with clients, opposing counsel, courts, experts, and third parties
• Manage deadlines, competing priorities, and multiple matters with appropriate attention to detail
• Maintain timely and accurate time entries and uphold the firm’s standards for responsiveness and client service
• Contribute to client relationships, firm development, and the firm’s continued growth

Candidate Requirements

• Juris Doctor from an accredited law school
• Active Illinois law license
• One to five years of relevant legal experience, however new lawyers may be considered for the position as well
• Experience in commercial or civil litigation, corporate or transactional work, or another closely related practice area
• Exceptional legal writing, research, and analytical abilities
• Ability to understand complicated facts, identify the decisive issues, and develop practical legal strategies
• Sound judgment and a high standard for accuracy, preparation, and professional responsibility
• Self-motivation and the ability to work independently while recognizing when collaboration or guidance is appropriate
• Strong organizational skills and the ability to manage multiple matters and deadlines
• Excellent communication skills and a commitment to responsive, thoughtful client service
• Intellectual curiosity and an interest in developing across complementary practice areas
• A business-minded approach and a genuine interest in growing with the firm over the long term
• Indiana bar admission is a plus but is not required

Application Requirements

Please submit:

• A cover letter explaining your interest in the position
• Résumé
• A substantive legal writing sample that accurately reflects your own work

Professional references may be requested later in the hiring process.