Careers

With over 80 attorneys maintaining a tradition of excellence in offices in Washington, D.C., Denver, Colorado, and Austin, Texas, we bring big firm legal skills with a small firm approach.

As a mid-sized communications, energy, and technology law firm based in Washington, D.C., Wilkinson Barker Knauer, LLP provides the quality of representation and client base typically associated with a large firm, while maintaining the personal style of a smaller firm. To sustain and enhance these unique qualities, the firm seeks candidates who have balanced excellence in law school with solid professional and personal achievements.

WBK is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of gender, age, racial or ethnic background, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, disability, or veteran status. The ideal candidate will also bring a strong work ethic, team‑oriented ethos, and a healthy, perhaps even irreverent, sense of humor. We look forward to meeting you.

Read the Five Pillars of WBK.

Lateral Openings
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Lateral Openings

At such time as there are lateral openings at the firm, that information will be posted here.

 

Associate Openings
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Associate Openings

At such time as there are associate openings at the firm, that information will be posted here.

Administrative Openings
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Legal Administrative Assistant

Washington, DC
To be considered for this position, please submit your cover letter, resume, and salary requirements HERE.

Description:

Wilkinson Barker Knauer, LLP seeks a Legal Administrative Assistant for its Washington, DC office. This is a non-exempt position with a 37.50 hour work week and the need for occasional overtime. Once trained, the Legal Administrative Assistant will be afforded the opportunity to work remotely two days each week, as approved by the Human Resources Manager. We provide competitive compensation and benefits and foster an enjoyable, good-natured, supportive work environment. If you are a self-starter with a keen intellect, an entrepreneurial spirit, and a good sense of humor, there is no better place to work.

Responsibilities:

This position reports to the Human Resources Manager and provides high-level administrative support to a number of attorneys The following is not a comprehensive list of responsibilities. Responsibilities may be added or changed at any time with or without notice, as deemed necessary by the Firm.

  • Maintain attorneys’ calendars by planning and scheduling meetings, both in person and virtual, and travel logistics.
  • Assist with legal pleadings, presentations, summaries, and electronic filings with
  • Maintain and update attorney contacts and filing systems, both paper and
  • Circulate conflict check emails; monitor responses, open new matters, and assist with preparation of engagement letters.
  • Properly record attorney time entries and adhere to all related
  • Assist with monthly client billing
  • Undertake occasional research
  • Provide back-up coverage to the Receptionist, as
  • Prepare check requests for expense and travel reimbursements and maintain Excel document summary of reimbursement submissions.
  • Draft and type general correspondence, memos, charts, tables, graphs, etc. Proofread drafts for spelling, grammar, and format consistency, making changes when Responsible for the accuracy and clarity of final copies.
  • Format documents, convert pdfs to Word, and create Tables of Content and Tables of
  • Maintain accurate records of professional memberships, bar associations, and related attorney activities.
  • Prepare news and regulatory update emails for distribution to

 

Qualifications:

The following traits and qualities will help to ensure success in this position:

  • Ability to maintain strict
  • Excellent communication skills – articulate and practices excellent listening, verbal, written, and oral communication Must be able to convey ideas and findings, both verbally and in writing, to a wide variety of audiences.
  • Strong work ethic; work equally well independently, as well as in groups, under high-pressure situations and with little or no supervision.
  • Strong attention to detail and organizational
  • Success in this position requires the ability to balance day-to-day work challenges, accommodate multiple demands, shifting priorities, and rapid change.
  • Job ownership – a strong desire to see things through and take pride in the results

 

Requirements:

  • Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university preferred; experience in a law firm or professional services environment will be considered in lieu of a degree;
  • 10-15 years of law firm experience preferred;
  • Experience (and proficiency) in Microsoft Office Suite required. Experience with document management systems (e., NetDocs or similar platform), Salesforce, and legal timekeeping and expense platforms (i.e., LMS) strongly preferred.

Compensation and Benefits:

Compensation is based on years of experience; the range for this position is $75,000-$90,000 annually. Staff are eligible for a discretionary bonus based on their performance during the preceding 12 months. In addition to compensation and bonuses, full-time staff are eligible for the following benefits: medical, dental, and vision insurance; life insurance; long term disability insurance; accidental death or dismemberment insurance; short term disability insurance; travel insurance; a 401(k) plan; profit sharing (once eligible); parental leave; vacation/personal leave; pre-tax payment/contributions for transportation, parking, and dependent care; and a health savings account (if enrolled in a high deductible medical plan). All benefits listed above are subject to change at the discretion of the Partnership.

About Wilkinson Barker Knauer, LLP

Wilkinson Barker Knauer, LLP (WBK), one of the largest law firms in the nation dedicated primarily to the practice of communications and energy law, is ranked as a “Band 1” firm by Chambers USA (Telecom, Broadcast, and Satellite: Regulatory) and Legal 500 (Telecoms and broadcast: regulatory). WBK is the only firm to be named “Law Firm of the Year” in communications law six times by Best Lawyers Best Law Firm (2012, 2014, 2018, 2019, 2021, and 2025), and is recognized as a “Silver Band” firm for prosecution and strategy in DC and a “Bronze Band” firm in litigation and enforcement in DC in the 2026 edition of the World

 

Trademark Review 1000: The World’s Leading Trademark Professionals. The firm, with offices in Washington, DC, Denver, Colorado, and Austin, Texas, advises clients ranging from global Fortune 100 companies to small start-ups in regulatory, transactional, privacy, consumer protection, intellectual property, corporate and litigation matters involving all aspects of communications and energy law, at both the state and federal levels. To learn more about Wilkinson Barker Knauer, visit www.wbklaw.com.

WBK is a special place to work; we mean it when we say we are #notjustanotherlawfirm. With over 80 attorneys and advisors, the firm provides the quality of representation and client base typically associated with a large firm, with the personal style only a smaller firm can

deliver. Each day, we work together for both the common good of the group and the common goal of building and maintaining a nationally recognized legal practice. We highly value collaboration, supporting each other personally and professionally using our individual talents and expertise. WBK has long been committed to providing all of our team members with an environment that allows each individual to reach their full potential in their own unique

way. Our team invests in our communities with attorneys and staff devoting substantial time and energy to pro bono work, volunteerism, civic and community leadership, charitable giving, mentoring, service on nonprofit boards, teaching, and more. These activities are actively encouraged and supported throughout WBK.

WBK is an Equal Opportunity Employer: We are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of gender, age, racial or ethnic background, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, disability, or veteran status.

We look forward to meeting you.

The Application Process

Candidates should submit a cover letter, resume, transcript, and a writing sample via Paycom link.

The interview process generally consists of an initial screening interview, as well as a call-back interview to meet with other associates and partners. Candidates should bring copies of their references to the initial screening interview, as well as an updated résumé and/or transcript, to the extent information has become outdated or was not previously provided. Reasonable travel expenses will be compensated for call-back interviews, which generally last several hours in either a morning or afternoon session.

New Associates

Wilkinson Barker seeks to extend offers for permanent positions as early as possible during the fall, generally by December 1.  Based on which office they will be associated with, all new associates are required to become members of the D.C. Bar, Colorado Bar, or Texas Bar, either by examination or waiver.

Entry-level Associates typically join the firm in late August or early September, following completion of their bar exam.  The firm provides a stipend to assist with living expenses, bar preparation, and exam expenses after graduation and prior to their start date with the firm.

The entry-level salary for new attorneys is set each year at competitive levels.

In addition to compensation and bonuses, Associates are eligible for the following benefits:  medical, dental, and vision insurance; life insurance; accidental death or dismemberment insurance; short term disability insurance; long term disability insurance; travel insurance; 401(k) plan; profit sharing (once eligible); parental leave; vacation/personal leave; wireless phone service allowance; coverage of bar association dues consistent with WBK policies; pre-tax payment/contributions for transportation, parking, and dependent care; and a health savings account (if enrolled in a high deductible medical plan).  All benefits listed above are subject to change at the discretion of the Partnership.

Summer Associate Program

Wilkinson Barker Knauer, LLP posts for our Summer Associate Program in early spring each year.  This program is for candidates the summer before their final year of law school (e.g., the 2L-3L summer for students on the traditional three-year law school track). The firm also accepts applications for summer associate positions.

Law Clerk Opportunities

The hiring of law clerks is done on a case-by-case basis.

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We have used the firm for over 70 years.  They have expanded their areas of expertise with technology, but have always retained remarkable responsiveness and very high cost effectiveness.

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