We appreciate your interest in our firm. Williams & Connolly seeks exceptional people with outstanding academic records who demonstrate a high degree of intellect, initiative, and creativity, and possess excellent interpersonal skills.
We encourage you to explore the rest of our site to learn more about our firm and the hiring process.
Katie Trefz
Chair, Hiring Committee
Ms. Natasha M. Zech, Esq.
Chief of Attorney Talent
Williams & Connolly LLP
680 Maine Avenue SW
Washington, DC 20024
202.434.5605
[email protected]
Williams & Connolly seeks exceptional people with outstanding academic records who demonstrate a high degree of intellect, initiative, and creativity, and possess excellent interpersonal skills.
We welcome applications for associate positions from judicial law clerks and third-year law students, as well as from attorneys who are within a few years of law school graduation.
In general, the firm likes to grow its talent from within. Lateral hiring occurs on occasion, but the vast majority of the firm’s lawyers come to the firm within a few years of graduation from law school, many after serving as judicial law clerks. With rare exceptions, all of Williams & Connolly’s partners are home grown and have committed their careers to the firm and to servicing our clients. The result is a closely knit environment in which everyone shares the same commitment to excellence.
Starting October 1, 2026, you may apply for a fall 2027 associate position by submitting your materials online via the “Apply Online” link. For additional inquiries, please email [email protected].
In-firm interviews for associate positions usually consist of in-person or virtual meetings with both partners and associates (generally five to six attorneys), although applicants are sometimes invited for more than one round of interviews.
Williams & Connolly is committed to equality of opportunity for all employees and applicants. The firm does not unlawfully discriminate on the basis of sex (including pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions), race, color, religion, age, national origin, ethnicity, gender identity or expression, disability, veteran’s status, sexual orientation, marital status, genetic information, personal appearance, family responsibilities, homeless status, matriculation, political affiliation, credit information, status as a victim or a family member of a victim of domestic violence, a sexual offense, or stalking, citizenship or immigration status, or any other characteristic prohibited by law.
The firm will accord equal employment opportunity to qualified individuals in all personnel practices, including but not limited to recruitment, hiring, training, promotion, compensation, benefits, transfers, assignments, educational opportunities, social and recreational programs, discipline and termination.
The annual salary for a first-year associate is $260,000. The associate lockstep annual salary range extends up to $475,000 and starting annual salary for a lateral hire is dependent on a variety of factors including, but not limited to, years of experience, education, and other relevant skills and qualifications. Williams & Connolly offers competitive compensation and benefit packages.
Williams & Connolly offers a flexible and comprehensive benefits package to all eligible employees. Some of the benefits available to eligible employees include the following:
Health Coverage
- Medical, Dental, Vision, and Prescription Insurance paid by the firm
Retirement
- 401(k) Savings Plan – Employee Contribution
Illness and Disability Protection
- Group Long Term Disability Insurance
- Group Long Term Care Insurance
- Voluntary Long Term Disability Insurance Buy-Up
- Voluntary Long Term Care Insurance Buy-Up
- Voluntary Accident, Critical Illness, and Hospital insurance
Life Insurance
- Group Term Life Insurance
- Group Accidental Death & Dismemberment Insurance
- Voluntary Life and Accidental Death & Dismemberment Insurance Buy-Up
- Business Travel Accident Insurance
Leisure and Time Away From Work
- Unlimited Vacation
- 18 Weeks Paid Parental Leave
- Bereavement Leave
- Jury Duty Leave
- Military Leave
- FMLA Leave
Other Services and Benefits
- Work Schedule Flexibility – Williams & Connolly has a flexible part-time policy that has allowed a number of lawyers, including both partners and associates, to adjust their work schedules in response to changing family demands. A lawyer on reduced workload generally will advance on a pro rata basis toward eligibility for consideration for promotion to partner.
- Moving Expenses – Williams & Connolly pays/reimburses moving expenses on a one-time basis for new attorneys according to a predetermined weight and mileage allowance schedule
- Bar Expenses – Williams & Connolly reimburses new attorneys for bar review course fees and bar exam fees, as well as the cost of waiving into the District of Columbia bar from an outside bar
- Mental health and wellbeing resources, including access to an Employee Assistance Program
- Transportation Flexible Spending Account funded by you with pre-tax dollars to be used to purchase SmartBenefits to ride Metro or other eligible public transportation and for reimbursement of parking expenses
- Health and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts funded by you with pre-tax dollars
- Fertility, adoption, and surrogacy benefits
- Emergency backup child/elder care
- On-site café with lunch at no charge
- Free Starbucks coffee in-house
- Smart casual dress
- On-site fitness facility
- Outside fitness center corporate discounts
- On-site parking facility
- Roof terrace
- Recreational activities with teams for softball and soccer
- Regularly scheduled social events
- Annual firm picnic
- Annual holiday party
- Annual Fourth of July celebration on roof terrace
Our Hiring Committee is chaired by Katherine Trefz. The committee includes the following members:
Williams & Connolly accepts applications throughout the year for general litigation associates.
Current judicial clerks may apply here.
Third-year law students and other attorneys may apply here.
For additional information, please email [email protected].