Cato Institute
Legal Associate
Join to apply for the
Legal Associate
role at
Cato Institute .
Do you want to take the lead on drafting
amicus
briefs filed in the U.S. Supreme Court and defending individual liberty? The Cato Institute invites applicants with a law degree to apply for our entry‑level (typically 0–2 years of legal experience) Legal Associate Program at the Robert A. Levy Center for Constitutional Studies. Legal associates are given the independence and trust to take the initiative at every stage of the brief‑writing process—including developing arguments, communicating with party counsel, researching, and drafting.
Legal associates receive intensive, one‑on‑one training and feedback to develop their legal writing skills. Cato
amicus
briefs are routinely filed in the U.S. Supreme Court, federal appellate courts, and state supreme courts. The job is an ideal training for a career in pro‑liberty litigation.
In addition, legal associates assist in other projects such as editing the
Cato Supreme Court Review
and researching and writing for other Cato strategic initiatives. Associates are fully immersed in the intellectual life of the Cato Institute and have opportunities to meet and assist scholars in a wide range of issue areas.
Applicants are encouraged to take the bar exam before beginning employment, though this is not a requirement. Employment will begin in Summer 2026—dates flexible and partly dependent on when current associates depart—and last for one year. This is a very competitive process, so applicants are also encouraged to apply for internships with Cato at https://www.cato.org/intern/.
Applicants should email a cover letter, resume, writing sample, and (unofficial) law school transcript to Laura Bondank‑Harmon at
lbondank@cato.org . Please indicate in your cover letter if you may have access to outside funding, whether through your law school or elsewhere. We will accept applications on a rolling basis, but earlier applications will be considered sooner, and slots may fill up.
This is a hybrid position in Washington, DC.
The starting salary for the Research Associate position is $84,601.
About Cato The Cato Institute is a public policy research organization—a think tank—dedicated to the principles of individual liberty, limited government, free markets, and peace. Its scholars and analysts conduct independent, nonpartisan research on a wide range of policy issues. Founded in 1977, Cato owes its name to
Cato’s Letters , a series of essays published in 18th‑century England that presented a vision of a society free from excessive government power. Those essays inspired the architects of the American Revolution. And the simple, timeless principles of that revolution — individual liberty, limited government, free markets, and peace — animate Cato’s research to this day.
The Cato Institute is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
Benefits
Medical, dental, and vision insurance
Employer contribution to a Health Savings Account (HSA)
Generous vacation and sick days
Paid parental leave
Employer‑provided life and disability insurance
401(k) employer match
Transit/ Parking benefits
Pet discount plan
Applicants must be currently authorized to work in the United States on a full‑time basis. This position does not offer visa sponsorship.
Seniority level
Entry level
Employment type
Full‑time
Job function
Legal
Think Tanks
Referrals increase your chances of interviewing at Cato Institute by 2x.
#J-18808-Ljbffr
Legal Associate
role at
Cato Institute .
Do you want to take the lead on drafting
amicus
briefs filed in the U.S. Supreme Court and defending individual liberty? The Cato Institute invites applicants with a law degree to apply for our entry‑level (typically 0–2 years of legal experience) Legal Associate Program at the Robert A. Levy Center for Constitutional Studies. Legal associates are given the independence and trust to take the initiative at every stage of the brief‑writing process—including developing arguments, communicating with party counsel, researching, and drafting.
Legal associates receive intensive, one‑on‑one training and feedback to develop their legal writing skills. Cato
amicus
briefs are routinely filed in the U.S. Supreme Court, federal appellate courts, and state supreme courts. The job is an ideal training for a career in pro‑liberty litigation.
In addition, legal associates assist in other projects such as editing the
Cato Supreme Court Review
and researching and writing for other Cato strategic initiatives. Associates are fully immersed in the intellectual life of the Cato Institute and have opportunities to meet and assist scholars in a wide range of issue areas.
Applicants are encouraged to take the bar exam before beginning employment, though this is not a requirement. Employment will begin in Summer 2026—dates flexible and partly dependent on when current associates depart—and last for one year. This is a very competitive process, so applicants are also encouraged to apply for internships with Cato at https://www.cato.org/intern/.
Applicants should email a cover letter, resume, writing sample, and (unofficial) law school transcript to Laura Bondank‑Harmon at
lbondank@cato.org . Please indicate in your cover letter if you may have access to outside funding, whether through your law school or elsewhere. We will accept applications on a rolling basis, but earlier applications will be considered sooner, and slots may fill up.
This is a hybrid position in Washington, DC.
The starting salary for the Research Associate position is $84,601.
About Cato The Cato Institute is a public policy research organization—a think tank—dedicated to the principles of individual liberty, limited government, free markets, and peace. Its scholars and analysts conduct independent, nonpartisan research on a wide range of policy issues. Founded in 1977, Cato owes its name to
Cato’s Letters , a series of essays published in 18th‑century England that presented a vision of a society free from excessive government power. Those essays inspired the architects of the American Revolution. And the simple, timeless principles of that revolution — individual liberty, limited government, free markets, and peace — animate Cato’s research to this day.
The Cato Institute is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
Benefits
Medical, dental, and vision insurance
Employer contribution to a Health Savings Account (HSA)
Generous vacation and sick days
Paid parental leave
Employer‑provided life and disability insurance
401(k) employer match
Transit/ Parking benefits
Pet discount plan
Applicants must be currently authorized to work in the United States on a full‑time basis. This position does not offer visa sponsorship.
Seniority level
Entry level
Employment type
Full‑time
Job function
Legal
Think Tanks
Referrals increase your chances of interviewing at Cato Institute by 2x.
#J-18808-Ljbffr