Learn Family Law With an Experienced Attorney Beside You
Law school teaches you how to analyze legal problems. It does not fully prepare you to manage a contested divorce, develop case strategy, guide a client through a crisis, or make judgment calls when the facts are difficult.
You will not be handed a stack of files and told to figure it out.
Early-career attorneys are paired with an experienced attorney who works directly with them as they learn to manage cases. That includes observing how experienced lawyers approach strategy, client counseling, drafting, negotiation, and courtroom preparation; seeing the work demonstrated; and receiving coaching and feedback as they begin handling greater responsibility themselves.
The goal is to help you develop sound judgment, practical skills, and confidence through observation, demonstration, supervised experience, and direct coaching.
Our attorneys focus on practicing law: advising clients, developing strategy, drafting pleadings, negotiating resolutions, preparing for hearings and trials, and advocating in court. They are not expected to spend their days screening leads, conducting routine intake consultations, or pursuing client payments. Intake, administrative, and legal-support teams handle that infrastructure so attorneys can concentrate on learning and practicing law.
What You Will Do
You will work on a family law caseload with support from an assigned experienced attorney, legal assistants, and attorneys across the firm.
Your work will include:
- Working directly with an experienced attorney assigned to mentor you
- Observing how cases are evaluated, planned, and managed
- Participating in strategy discussions and client meetings
- Conducting legal research
- Drafting pleadings, motions, declarations, and correspondence
- Assisting with discovery and case preparation
- Receiving coaching on client counseling, drafting, negotiation, hearings, and trial preparation
- Preparing for mediations, hearings, and trials
- Appearing in court as your experience and readiness develop
- Communicating consistently with clients
- Learning and using the firm’s case-management systems
- Reviewing your work and decisions with an experienced attorney
- Taking on increasing responsibility as your judgment and skills develop
The goal is not to keep you in a permanent supporting role. The goal is to help you develop the practical skills and professional judgment needed to manage family law cases independently.
What We Are Looking For
Applicants may be active members in good standing of the Washington State Bar Association, attorneys transferring from another jurisdiction, or recent law graduates awaiting Washington bar results.
Employment may begin only after the candidate is admitted to the Washington State Bar.
The strongest candidates will have:
- Zero to three years of legal experience
- A genuine interest in family law and courtroom advocacy
- Strong legal research and writing skills
- The ability to communicate clearly with clients and colleagues
- Professional judgment, personal accountability, and responsiveness
- The emotional maturity to work with clients facing difficult circumstances
- A willingness to accept feedback and use established systems
- The discipline to prepare thoroughly and meet deadlines
- An interest in building a long-term legal career in Bellevue and the Eastside community
Family law, litigation, judicial-clerkship, clinical, or courtroom experience is useful but not required.
Spanish-language ability is useful but not required.
Compensation and Expectations
The base-salary range for this position is:
$90,000–$120,000 per year
Placement within the range will depend on admission status, prior legal experience, relevant family law or litigation experience, demonstrated writing and advocacy skills, and readiness to assume responsibility for client matters.
Attorneys are expected to complete 1,500 credited hours annually. Up to 100 hours of approved pro bono work may count toward that requirement.
Additional performance-based compensation is available for collected attorney revenue attributable to work above 1,500 credited hours annually.
This position does not include relocation reimbursement or retention bonuses.
Time Away From Work
Attorneys manage their own schedules rather than requesting vacation and holidays in the traditional manner. They may schedule time away as needed, provided client obligations, court deadlines, and the annual credited-hour requirement are met.
Benefits
Benefits include:
- Medical insurance
- Dental insurance
- Vision insurance
- Retirement benefits
- Payment of Washington State Bar dues
- Prepaid, unlimited continuing legal education through NBI
- Direct mentorship from an experienced attorney
- Legal-assistant and administrative support
- Partnership-track opportunity
- Opportunities for increased responsibility as experience develops
Why Bellevue
Bellevue offers the opportunity to begin a family law career in a large and active legal market while working within a firm that provides direct mentorship and established systems.
The Eastside serves a broad range of families and presents opportunities to work on matters involving significant assets, complex parenting issues, business interests, and high-conflict disputes. For an early-career attorney, that creates exposure to sophisticated legal work and meaningful courtroom experience.
The position also provides the opportunity to build a professional reputation in Bellevue and the broader Eastside community while developing within a statewide family law firm.
To Apply
Apply through the form on this page or send a résumé, cover letter, and writing sample to:
In your cover letter, explain why you are interested in family law, why you want to practice in Bellevue, and what you hope to learn during the next stage of your career.