Burakiewicz & DePriest, PLLC, a boutique plaintiff-side Washington, DC labor and employment law firm, seeks to add an attorney preferably with litigation experience and a demonstrated commitment to civil rights.  The firm represents employees and unions in a wide range of labor and employment issues, with a focus on class, collective, and multi-plaintiff litigation.  In particular, the firm routinely handles matters involving wage theft; sexual harassment; discrimination and retaliation; employee discipline; whistleblower retaliation; and union-related contract violations.  The firm’s attorneys have recovered well over $100 million on behalf of their clients.

Notable cases include:

• AFGE Local 1242 and USP Atwater, a series of union grievances for unpaid pre- and post-shift work that settled for $13.5 million, the largest FLSA recovery against the Agency to date in a similar case.
• Mixon v. Garland, a case on behalf of an employee who was raped at work, and then subsequently arrested and charged with raping her rapist. After Ms. Mixon was acquitted of the criminal charges, we won the statutory maximum amount of damages allowed under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, and are working with advocacy organizations to change the law to remove or raise the damages cap.
• White et al. v. Sessions, a class action on behalf of nearly 550 female employees of the Federal Bureau of Prisons in Coleman, Florida, alleging that the government failed to take steps to prevent inmates from egregiously sexually harassing them. The case settled for $20 million and a long list of negotiated changes designed to eradicate the sexual harassment, which the judge described as “impressive by any standard.”  Following the settlement, the changes we negotiated have been implemented in other correctional institutions and have been used as the standard to protect female workers.

Responsibilities will include all aspects of litigation, including investigating claims; preparing and responding to written discovery; depositions; brief writing; settlement negotiations; as well as witness examination during arbitrations, hearings, and/or trials.  The attorney will work directly with clients and other attorneys in the firm, often in a team environment.  The position involves travel.

The position is an opportunity to gain significant hands-on litigation experience while working on meaningful cases with a highly experienced team.  In addition to internal promotion, former associates have moved on based on their experiences with this practice group to federal judicial clerkships, as well as careers with the Department of Justice Civil Rights Division.  We are looking for an attorney who will love the job and are happy to connect candidates with alumni of our practice to discuss their experiences as an associate in our practice group.

Candidates must be motivated and possess the ability to work well on a team, but also be energetic self-starters with initiative.  The position requires outstanding research and writing skills, the ability to communicate effectively, a creative approach to litigation, and a commitment to social justice.  NO telephone calls.  Please submit a cover letter, resume, references, transcript, and independent writing sample to hiring@bdlawdc.com.  For more information about the firm, visit www.bdlawdc.com.