Mid-Level Employee Benefits Associate

Job Overview
A law firm is seeking a mid-level associate to join its national Employee Benefits practice. This role offers flexibility in office location, with candidates considered for various offices across the United States. The ideal candidate will have at least three years of experience in employee benefits law, including ERISA, retirement plans, executive compensation, health and welfare plans, fringe benefits, and/or mergers and acquisitions. This position provides the opportunity to work in a collaborative, team-oriented environment, addressing complex client issues with innovative solutions.

Location

• Chicago, IL

Duties

• Provide legal counsel on a broad range of employee benefits matters, including ERISA, retirement plans, executive compensation, and health & welfare plans.
• Assist clients with mergers and acquisitions, particularly with employee benefits and executive compensation issues.
• Draft, review, and negotiate employee benefits-related documents and agreements.
• Conduct legal research and offer clear, actionable advice on complex matters.
• Support clients with compliance issues and strategic planning in relation to employee benefits law.
• Work collaboratively with senior attorneys and other team members to resolve client matters.
• Develop and maintain client relationships, ensuring effective communication and exceptional service.

Requirements

• Minimum of three years of experience in employee benefits law, with a focus on ERISA, retirement plans, executive compensation, and health & welfare plans.
• Experience in mergers and acquisitions or downsizing is preferred but not required.
• Strong academic credentials and excellent legal research, writing, and communication skills.
• Ability to distill complex legal matters into simple, actionable advice for clients.
• Must possess strong interpersonal skills and be able to work effectively in a team environment.
• Proven ability to develop and maintain client relationships.
• Admission to practice law in at least one of the following jurisdictions: California, Illinois, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, or Washington, DC.

Education

• Juris Doctor (JD) from an accredited law school.

Certifications

• Admission to practice law in one of the jurisdictions listed above.

Skills

• Expertise in employee benefits law and ERISA, including retirement plans, executive compensation, and health & welfare plans.
• Strong legal writing, research, and communication skills.
• Ability to simplify complex legal issues for clients.
• Strong problem-solving skills and legal analysis.
• Ability to build and maintain strong client relationships.
• Collaborative team player with the ability to work well in a fast-paced environment.

Benefits

• Competitive salary commensurate with experience and office location.
• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance.
• Retirement plan options with employer contributions.
• Generous paid time off (PTO) and holidays.
• Flexible working arrangements, including potential remote work options.
• Professional development and continuing legal education support.

Here is a firm with a strong presence in the Midwest that is well known for its expertise in labor and employment law. The firm actually is considered a trend setter in the areas of labor and employment law, and its attorneys are well known for their abilities in this field throughout the United States. Despite this strong expertise, this firm has grown into a powerful full service firm and has strong practice groups in litigation, corporate, tax, government contracts/technology, bankruptcy, immigration, entertainment, environmental, real estate transactions, employee benefits, estate planning and other areas of law. Associates who have interviewed with this firm are impressed with the fact that the firm appears to do extremely good work and is in a serious growth mode. From our observations, the growth of this firm appears to have been very intelligent and deliberate. Despite the fact that this is a branch office, there do appear to be opportunities for significant associate advancement here.