Legal Associate Jobs in New York
Legal associate jobs in New York are among the most active in the country, concentrated in corporate law, litigation, financial services regulation, and real estate across a market that ranges from entry-level staff attorneys to senior associates at major firms. Most hiring is centered in Manhattan, with additional demand in Brooklyn and White Plains, where firms like Skadden, Sullivan and Cromwell, and Cleary Gottlieb maintain large associate ranks. The most in-demand specialties include mergers and acquisitions, securities litigation, and commercial real estate transactions. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
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Showing 5 of 741+ Legal Associate jobs
General Information
Location
New York, New York
Working Schedule
Full-Time
Work Arrangement
Hybrid
Relocation Assistance Available
No
Posted Date
16-Jun-2026
Job ID
18458
Description and Requirements
The Team You Will Join
In Government & Legal Affairs, you'll be an engaged and trusted partner - empowered to deliver innovative solutions, influence public policy, and achieve results that enable MetLife’s growth and protect its global interests. Applying a commercial and contemporary mindset, you'll advocate for what’s possible, overcome challenges, and embrace different perspectives. If you also pride yourself on acting with accountability, transparency, and respect, apply to join our Government & Legal Affairs team today.
The Opportunity
The Legal Administrative Associate provides administrative and operational support to attorneys across the Government and Legal Affairs (GLA) department, ensuring smooth day-to-day operations and effective communication in the New York office. Guided by our purpose – always with you, building a more confident future – and our New Frontier strategy focused on stronger growth, attractive returns, and all-weather performance, this is an exciting opportunity to work in a department that offers exposure to multiple areas within Government and Legal Affairs and enables meaningful contributions by improving workflows, solving problems independently, and enabling the team to deliver high-quality service.
Key Responsibilities
- Provide administrative support to a team of attorneys
- Manage calendars and prioritize meetings based on business need
- Proactively identify issues and implement solutions with an ownership mindset
- Coordinate communication among executive assistants and stakeholders at all levels
- Support special projects, events, and meetings, exercising judgment to make decisions within the scope of responsibilities
Required Qualifications
- High school diploma or equivalent
- 2–3 years of administrative experience supporting multiple attorneys, with a demonstrated ability to manage time, priorities, and confidential information independently
- Proficiency in Microsoft 365 (Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneDrive) and SharePoint and related legal or document management tools, with the capability to learn new systems
- Strong written and verbal communication skills, organizational, time management, and multitasking abilities in a fast-paced environment
- Familiarity with AI-powered tools and the ability to leverage emerging technologies to improve efficiency, streamline administrative tasks, and support day-to-day operations
Preferred Qualifications
- Suggested 3+ years of experience delivering high-level executive support to senior leaders
- Demonstrates a proactive, solution-focused work style with strong prioritization, organization, proofreading skills, and the ability to anticipate leader needs while handling multiple deadlines and shifting priorities
- Familiarity with AI-powered tools and the ability to leverage emerging technologies to improve efficiency, streamline administrative tasks, and support day-to-day operations
- High attention to detail with a focus on accuracy, quality, and timely execution
Location Expectation: This is a hybrid role requiring a minimum of 3 days per week in office.
Compensation
- The expected salary range for this position is $54,200 - $71,000. This role may also be eligible for annual short-term incentive compensation and stock-based long-term incentives. All incentives and benefits are subject to the applicable plan terms.
Benefits We Offer
Our U.S. benefits address holistic well-being with programs for physical and mental health, financial wellness, and support for families. We offer a comprehensive health plan that includes medical/prescription drug and vision, dental insurance, and no-cost short- and long-term disability. We also provide company-paid life insurance and legal services, a retirement pension funded entirely by MetLife and 401(k) with employer matching, group discounts on voluntary insurance products including auto and home, pet, critical illness, hospital indemnity, and accident insurance, as well as Employee Assistance Program (EAP) and digital mental health programs, parental leave, paid time off, paid holidays, volunteer time off, tuition assistance and much more!
About MetLife
Recognized on Fortune magazine's list of the "World's Most Admired Companies", Fortune World’s 25 Best Workplaces™, as well as the Fortune 100 Best Companies to Work For®, MetLife, through its subsidiaries and affiliates, is one of the world’s leading financial services companies; providing insurance, annuities, employee benefits and asset management to individual and institutional customers. With operations in more than 40 markets, we hold leading positions in the United States, Latin America, Asia, Europe, and the Middle East.
Our purpose is simple - to help our colleagues, customers, communities, and the world at large create a more confident future. United by purpose and guided by our core values - Win Together, Do the Right Thing, Deliver Impact Over Activity, and Think Ahead - we’re inspired to transform the next century in financial services. At MetLife, it’s #AllTogetherPossible. Join us!
MetLife is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All employment decisions are made without regards to race, color, national origin, religion, creed, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, disability, marital or domestic/civil partnership status, genetic information, citizenship status (although applicants and employees must be legally authorized to work in the United States), uniformed service member or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law (“protected characteristics”). If you need an accommodation due to a disability, please email us at accommodations@metlife.com. This information will be held in confidence and used only to determine an appropriate accommodation for the application process.
MetLife maintains a drug-free workplace.
General Information
Location
New York, New York
Working Schedule
Full-Time
Work Arrangement
Hybrid
Relocation Assistance Available
No
Posted Date
16-Jun-2026
Job ID
18458
Description and Requirements
The Team You Will Join
In Government & Legal Affairs, you'll be an engaged and trusted partner - empowered to deliver innovative solutions, influence public policy, and achieve results that enable MetLife’s growth and protect its global interests. Applying a commercial and contemporary mindset, you'll advocate for what’s possible, overcome challenges, and embrace different perspectives. If you also pride yourself on acting with accountability, transparency, and respect, apply to join our Government & Legal Affairs team today.
The Opportunity
The Legal Administrative Associate provides administrative and operational support to attorneys across the Government and Legal Affairs (GLA) department, ensuring smooth day-to-day operations and effective communication in the New York office. Guided by our purpose – always with you, building a more confident future – and our New Frontier strategy focused on stronger growth, attractive returns, and all-weather performance, this is an exciting opportunity to work in a department that offers exposure to multiple areas within Government and Legal Affairs and enables meaningful contributions by improving workflows, solving problems independently, and enabling the team to deliver high-quality service.
Key Responsibilities
- Provide administrative support to a team of attorneys
- Manage calendars and prioritize meetings based on business need
- Proactively identify issues and implement solutions with an ownership mindset
- Coordinate communication among executive assistants and stakeholders at all levels
- Support special projects, events, and meetings, exercising judgment to make decisions within the scope of responsibilities
Required Qualifications
- High school diploma or equivalent
- 2–3 years of administrative experience supporting multiple attorneys, with a demonstrated ability to manage time, priorities, and confidential information independently
- Proficiency in Microsoft 365 (Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneDrive) and SharePoint and related legal or document management tools, with the capability to learn new systems
- Strong written and verbal communication skills, organizational, time management, and multitasking abilities in a fast-paced environment
- Familiarity with AI-powered tools and the ability to leverage emerging technologies to improve efficiency, streamline administrative tasks, and support day-to-day operations
Preferred Qualifications
- Suggested 3+ years of experience delivering high-level executive support to senior leaders
- Demonstrates a proactive, solution-focused work style with strong prioritization, organization, proofreading skills, and the ability to anticipate leader needs while handling multiple deadlines and shifting priorities
- Familiarity with AI-powered tools and the ability to leverage emerging technologies to improve efficiency, streamline administrative tasks, and support day-to-day operations
- High attention to detail with a focus on accuracy, quality, and timely execution
Location Expectation: This is a hybrid role requiring a minimum of 3 days per week in office.
Compensation
- The expected salary range for this position is $54,200 - $71,000. This role may also be eligible for annual short-term incentive compensation and stock-based long-term incentives. All incentives and benefits are subject to the applicable plan terms.
Benefits We Offer
Our U.S. benefits address holistic well-being with programs for physical and mental health, financial wellness, and support for families. We offer a comprehensive health plan that includes medical/prescription drug and vision, dental insurance, and no-cost short- and long-term disability. We also provide company-paid life insurance and legal services, a retirement pension funded entirely by MetLife and 401(k) with employer matching, group discounts on voluntary insurance products including auto and home, pet, critical illness, hospital indemnity, and accident insurance, as well as Employee Assistance Program (EAP) and digital mental health programs, parental leave, paid time off, paid holidays, volunteer time off, tuition assistance and much more!
About MetLife
Recognized on Fortune magazine's list of the "World's Most Admired Companies", Fortune World’s 25 Best Workplaces™, as well as the Fortune 100 Best Companies to Work For®, MetLife, through its subsidiaries and affiliates, is one of the world’s leading financial services companies; providing insurance, annuities, employee benefits and asset management to individual and institutional customers. With operations in more than 40 markets, we hold leading positions in the United States, Latin America, Asia, Europe, and the Middle East.
Our purpose is simple - to help our colleagues, customers, communities, and the world at large create a more confident future. United by purpose and guided by our core values - Win Together, Do the Right Thing, Deliver Impact Over Activity, and Think Ahead - we’re inspired to transform the next century in financial services. At MetLife, it’s #AllTogetherPossible. Join us!
MetLife is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All employment decisions are made without regards to race, color, national origin, religion, creed, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, disability, marital or domestic/civil partnership status, genetic information, citizenship status (although applicants and employees must be legally authorized to work in the United States), uniformed service member or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law (“protected characteristics”). If you need an accommodation due to a disability, please email us at accommodations@metlife.com. This information will be held in confidence and used only to determine an appropriate accommodation for the application process.
MetLife maintains a drug-free workplace.
See All 741+ Legal Associate Jobs in New York
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Find Legal Associate JobsLegal Associate Jobs by City in New York
Where New York roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Legal Associate Job Market in New York
A snapshot from current New York openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
- Morgan Stanley28
- Bank of China USA22
- Herbert Smith Freehills19
- Goldman Sachs18
- M&T Bank18
Top Industries Hiring
- Law & Legal Services168
- Investment & Asset Management129
- Banking & Financial Services90
- Technology & Software61
- Insurance60
What New York Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in legal associate jobs across New York.
- Juris Doctor degree from an accredited law school and active New York State Bar admission
- One to three years of experience in corporate, litigation, or transactional legal work
- Strong legal research and writing skills using Westlaw or LexisNexis
- Ability to draft and review contracts, motions, briefs, and legal memoranda independently
- Experience working within a law firm, in-house legal team, or government legal office
- Proficiency in case management software and Microsoft Office suite
Legal Associate Jobs in New York: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a legal associate in New York?
Becoming a legal associate in New York requires a Juris Doctor from an accredited law school and passage of the New York State Bar Examination, administered by the New York State Board of Law Examiners. After passing the bar, candidates complete character and fitness review before admission. Most firms hire associates directly from law school recruiting cycles, with top New York firms running formal fall on-campus interview programs targeting second-year law students at accredited schools.
How much do legal associates make in New York?
Legal associates in New York earn a median of about $68,410 a year, based on May 2025 Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, ranging from around $48,330 for the lowest 10% to over $115,720 for the top 10%. Pay rises with experience, specialty, and employer.
Which companies hire legal associates in New York?
Employers hiring legal associates in New York right now include Morgan Stanley, Bank of China USA, and Herbert Smith Freehills, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of June 2026. New York's dense concentration of Am Law 100 firms, major investment banks with in-house legal teams, and financial regulators makes it one of the deepest markets in the country for associate-level legal hiring.
Which New York cities have the most legal associate jobs?
New York, New York City, and Buffalo have the most legal associate openings in New York. Manhattan dominates because it is home to the headquarters of most major law firms and large corporate legal departments, while Brooklyn's growing tech and media sector drives demand there, and White Plains serves as a suburban hub for firms and corporations with Westchester County offices.
Are there remote legal associate jobs in New York?
Yes, but they are less common than in purely analytical fields because legal associate work often involves court appearances, in-person client meetings, and confidential document handling. About 26% of legal associate openings tied to New York are remote or hybrid as of June 2026, and the roles most likely to allow flexible arrangements are those focused on contract review, legal research, and compliance work rather than litigation or transactional closings.
How can I get hired as a legal associate in New York with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is through a summer associate program at a New York law firm, which routinely converts to full-time offers for law students who perform well. Large firms including those in the Am Law 100 with New York offices run structured summer programs for first and second-year law students. Candidates without firm experience can also move in from judicial clerkships in the Southern or Eastern District of New York, which are highly valued by Manhattan firms, or from public sector roles at the New York Attorney General's office or district attorney offices.
Where can I find and apply to legal associate jobs in New York?
You can find and apply to legal associate jobs in New York on Migrate Mate, which lists current openings tied to the New York market. Search the listings to find roles that match your practice area, experience level, and preferred location, then apply directly to the ones that fit.
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