Government Contracts Associate Attorney

Job Overview

A prominent law firm seeks an experienced Government Contracts Associate to join its Chambers-ranked Government Contracts group. The position involves working on complex government contracts matters, with opportunities for growth and advancement toward partnership.

Location

• East Brunswick, NJ.

Duties

• Represent clients in bid protests and related litigation.
• Advise on cybersecurity and compliance with acquisition regulations, including FAR and DFARS.
• Draft and manage Requests for Equitable Adjustments (REAs) and claims.
• Conduct claims analysis and provide counseling under the Contract Disputes Act (CDA).
• Address federal subcontracting, dispute resolution, and compliance with flow-down requirements.
• Provide legal support for multiple award contracts and small business procurement matters.
• Collaborate on cases involving aerospace/defense, infrastructure/construction, life sciences/pharmaceutical, and manufacturing industries.

Requirements

• 4–5 years of experience in government contracts law, preferably in a law firm environment.
• Proven ability to work independently on certain legal matters.
• Strong interest in client development and legal thought leadership.

Education

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

Certifications

• Admission to the Virginia State Bar is strongly preferred.

Skills

• Expertise in bid protests, cybersecurity, and acquisition regulation compliance (FAR and DFARS).
• Proficiency in drafting REAs, claims, and handling CDA litigation.
• Strong analytical, research, and writing skills.
• Self-motivated and proactive with intellectual curiosity.
• Effective communication and collaboration abilities.

This firm has given a lot of thought to the interplay between the New York and the New Jersey legal markets. Although one of the oldest and largest in New Jersey, this firm wants to capture the Manhattan type work at Manhattan type billing rates. Although they are not quite there yet, this firm has developed a structure that enables it to base the bulk of its personnel and resources in New Jersey, and have a small New York space from which to handle the 'big city' work. An interesting plan, to be sure. Associates here raves about the reasonable hours and the immediate responsibility, many of whom deal directly with clients and handle entire cases. This is one of the few New Jersey firms where you will see the reverse commute--attorneys leaving Manhattan to take advantage of pleasant work environment and excellent training ground.