Associate Attorney

Hake & Schmitt is a small, impactful immigration law firm specializing exclusively in complex J-1 visa waivers (Exceptional Hardship, Persecution, No Objection, and Interested Government Agency) supported by targeted administrative and federal strategies. We regularly litigate APA and Mandamus actions against the federal government in District Courts across the country, and we maintain an overwhelming success rate before the Administrative Appeals Office (AAO). The Managing Partner is a Lieutenant Colonel in the U.S. Army JAG Reserves and a leading scholar on J-1 waivers, especially in the difficult area of program, policy, and foreign relations issues in J-1 waiver cases involving U.S. Government funding, such as Fulbright cases. The Mission We are seeking a sharp, aggressive, and highly disciplined Associate Attorney to take charge of our federal litigation and complex administrative docket. Our ideal candidate possesses the ability to operate autonomously and take full ownership of their docket. You will draft federal complaints, manage complex multi-agency waiver processes (USCIS, DOS, Waiver Review Division), and deliver unvarnished, objective legal advice to sophisticated clients (physicians, researchers, and academics). You will not be micromanaged, but you will have full access to the Managing Partner and be held to the highest ethical standard, expected to exercise flawless legal judgement while zealously advocating for clients. Core Responsibilities Federal Litigation: Draft flawless, heavily researched federal pleadings, including Mandamus and APA complaints, Motions for Summary Judgment (MSJ), and Preliminary Injunctions (PI). Complex Administrative Advocacy: Develop and execute J-1 hardship and persecution waiver applications, requiring deep regulatory knowledge of 8 CFR and 22 CFR. Strategic Case Management: Take absolute ownership of your docket. Manage strict federal and administrative deadlines with zero margin of error. Client Command: Communicate with clients clearly, authoritatively, and honestly. Manage client expectations and establish firm boundaries to ensure you are managing your own time well. You must be comfortable advising clients on the strategic realities of their cases, even when the news is difficult. Case Evaluation: Exercise ruthless judgment in case evaluation. Distinguish between viable federal claims and structural dead-ends, protecting the firm from unmanageable liabilities. Qualifications J.D. from an accredited law school and admitted to a U.S. state bar. 0-5+ years of substantive immigration law experience, with meaningful exposure to federal litigation (APA/Mandamus) or complex employment/waiver-based immigration practice. Candidates with strong adjacent experience (federal clerkships, removal defense with appellate work, or BIA practice) are encouraged to apply. Federal Court Admission: Admitted to, or eligible for admission to, the U.S. District Court in any state. Admission to the Circuit Courts of Appeals is a plus. Elite Writing Capabilities: Your writing must be surgical, persuasive, and grammatically flawless. (Former federal or appellate clerks are highly encouraged to apply). Operational Autonomy: You do not need a partner to outline your briefs. You know how to read the statute, CFR, map the administrative terrain, and execute the strategy independently. But you also know when to ask for help to maximize time and efficiency. Why Join Us This is not a role for an associate looking to disappear into the middle of a large firm hierarchy. It is a role for a federal litigator who wants to do substantive, high-stakes work, own their docket, and build a federal litigation footprint alongside a nationally recognized expert in J-1 waivers. Your docket will consist of federal court matters and complex administrative waivers, not document review or intake screening. You will draft the complaints, brief the motions, and develop the legal theories - not assist someone else who does. You will not be micromanaged, and you will not have to fight for meaningful work. You will be expected to deliver, and the work you deliver will be yours. Mentorship, scholarship, and supervision. You will work closely with the Managing Partner who has built a national reputation in J-1 waiver practice and federal immigration litigation, with substantive engagement on case strategy, brief review, and courtroom preparation. The role also includes opportunities to contribute to the firm’s academic writing and to supervise and mentor the firm’s law clerks on research, drafting, and case development. For associates who want to grow into senior practice, this is a role that develops both your litigation craft and your leadership skills. Compensation. Base salary $80,000 - $110,000 commensurate with experience, plus performance-based bonuses tied to litigation outcomes and origination. Please note: This position offers an Individual Coverage Health Reimbursement Arrangement (ICHRA) to qualifying employees in lieu of company-sponsored health insurance. 401K and profit sharing. After one year of service, associates become eligible to participate in an employer-sponsored retirement plan, which the firm matches employee contributions up to 4% of base salary , with a graded vesting schedule. Associates who remain with the firm long-term are also eligible for profit-sharing incentives that reward sustained contribution to the firm’s growth. Paid Time Off. Two weeks of paid vacation annually after six months of service, increasing to three weeks after five years and four weeks after ten years. The firm observes most federal holidays, and sick and personal leave is flexible to accommodate individual circumstances. Additional benefits. Paid bar dues and malpractice coverage, and a collegial small-firm work environment with direct access to senior leadership. Flexibility. Full-time in-office presence required initially, with the opportunity to transition to a hybrid or remote arrangement once you are established in the role. How to Apply Submit your resume and one writing sample (preferably a federal pleading or complex administrative brief), no cover letter required, to View email address on click.appcast.io . Please include a 1-2 sentence note describing your specific role in drafting the writing sample and the nature of any supervision or revision by others. Samples may be redacted to protect client confidentiality. #J-18808-Ljbffr Hake & Schmitt