Associate

Job Description: Associate

Are you a person that embodies the principle that “excellence is a habit and not an act?”

Do you want to help companies navigate the complexities of defending against government accusations, or acquiring government approvals?

Does the thought of working on issues involving legal and operational compliance make you happy?

About Us:

We are a process-oriented, regulatory compliance law firm seeking an Associate who can support our team primarily in the areas of FDA regulated matters governing tobacco and vapor products, US Customs regulatory affairs, and business risk mitigation. This is a full-time, in-office position at our Norwalk, CT office.

We counsel and defend companies worldwide who are engaged in the business of buying and selling goods from other countries (imports/exports), and provide other regulatory guidance for a variety of consumer products. We take our culture of upholding integrity and treating people with respect very seriously, working collectively, and fostering team unity.

This is an exciting opportunity for someone who enjoys working independently, is looking for a career and not just a job, and ideally would like to be a partner one day. If you thrive in a fast-paced environment, have a strong attention to detail, and are self-driven, we want you on our team.

Role and Responsibilities:

The core mission of the Associate is to research, analyze and draft legal documents in ready-to-deliver fashion, be it for a client, government agency, or internally. Associates are expected to spend a majority of their time on client work. You are also expected to implement, improve and ensure adherence to the Firm’s policies/procedures to reflect the Firm’s high standards. To be successful in this position requires the right combination of analytical research and writing skills, confidence, humility, and an ability to follow instructions and meet deadlines.

Grooming for business development is a skill you will be taught, as is engaging in consultations, with an ability to conduct these independently after 1 year. Participation in marketing and administrative tasks is required.

If you have a strong desire to grow professionally through continuous improvement in your development as an attorney and personally, you will find this core value of our firm’s will align with yours.

Experience Sought:

Administrative law, preferably with CBP, FDA, OFAC, BIS, FTC, CPSC, FMC, or TTB, and with the Federal Register and federal regulations/statutes

Communicating directly with the various agencies and clients (phone, email, meetings)

Drafting client memos about laws and how they pertain to a client’s case and/or its business operations

Drafting government submissions, using their online portals, and responding to administrative inquiries and actions

Drafting FOIAs and drawing conclusions from responsive records to support a client’s position

“Digesting” the law and drafting concise explanatory memos, so clients understand how the law applies to them, and what they need to do to comply with the law

Comfort in speaking with clients about uncomfortable topics

Is creative and comfortable with out of the box/gray area solutions

Ability to do technical analysis and make recommendations and suggestions to partner

Know when to “pause” research and analysis to check in with partner, and confirm heading in the right/applicable directior (rather than going down a “rabbit hole”)

Complete tasks and at the same time make note of other issues that may need to be addressed in the future - Then have discipline to wait for sign-off from client before addressing those other issues

Engages in business networking opportunities, is involved with bar or other associations

Required Qualifications:

The ideal candidate for this role must possess:

License to practice law within the states of NY, NJ, CT and/or OR

Demonstrated successful drafting of legal documents, free of errors of all kinds (yes, we mean ALL kinds) be they grammatical, spelling, syntax-related, a lack of clarity, or otherwise

Strong organization and clarity in the presentation of your position and arguments in your writing

An insatiable curiosity about life

Get a kick out of thinking critically

Manage your time like a champ

A penchant for following instructions and work well with rules

No fears about asking for help and exposing a lack of clarity or uncertainty about a task to perform

Engage in a leave-no-stone-unturned level of research

An ability to distill dense information and turn it into something your next door neighbor’s kid could understand

You do not rely on ChatGPT to do your work for you

Your Core Competencies:

High level of integrity and personal accountability

Good follow through and follow up

You are self-driven, responsible for own actions, accountable to others, and professional in what you do

Coachable, willing to take feedback and do something with it

Return deliverables on or before the deadline

Can take technical information and make it usable for clients

Are not afraid to tell the government they were wrong

Can work independently and doesn’t need to be micromanaged

Able to express yourself professionally, willing to admit to mistakes, and then be ok fixing any mistakes

Think broadly/big picture

Meticulous in delivering a high-quality work product, having followed (all of the) instructions given to you

Willing to roll their sleeves up and take on multiple roles (we are a small firm)

Your Education and Background:

We are looking for candidates with at least 2 years of post-law school experience performing attorney level work, with preferences for those with experience and competency in the above listed areas. J.D. from a US law school is required.

Compensation and Benefits:

Salary range is $86,000 to $110,000 per year, paid vacation/sick time and medical benefits, 401K, and professional learning program. 11 additional paid federal holidays are provided.

To Apply:

Prepare the cover letter with no more than two paragraphs and a closing sentence. In the first paragraph explain what you believe are the 3 most important qualities needed in someone who battles with the government, and in meeting legal compliance requirements, and why you believe they are the most important qualities. In the second paragraph, explain why you think you would make a great addition to our firm.

The Clark-Esposito Law Firm, P.C. is an equal opportunity employer, and we welcome applicants from diverse backgrounds. We have worked hard to build a professional, friendly team and we are always searching for candidates who will make a great addition to our firm.