Build a Practice With Real Responsibility
You have enough experience to know what competent legal work looks like. You have handled clients, written motions, managed deadlines, appeared in court, and learned that family law requires more than knowing the rules.
What you may not have found yet is a firm that gives you meaningful responsibility, experienced colleagues, and enough support to let you focus on the work that actually requires a lawyer.
Pacific Northwest Family Law is hiring a mid-level attorney for its Yakima office. This role is intended for an attorney who can manage most matters with limited supervision, wants to continue developing as an advocate, and is ready to build a long-term practice in Central Washington.
What the Work Looks Like
You will manage an active family law caseload and take responsibility for moving matters from initial strategy through settlement or trial.
Your work will include:
- Advising clients about strategy, risk, and likely outcomes
- Drafting motions, declarations, discovery, and settlement documents
- Preparing for negotiation, mediation, hearings, and trial
- Appearing in court and advocating for clients
- Managing case deadlines and maintaining regular client communication
- Preparing clients and witnesses for testimony
- Working with legal assistants and administrative staff
- Consulting with experienced attorneys when a matter presents unusual or difficult issues
- Developing greater independence as your judgment and experience grow
The work is substantial, but you will not be expected to carry the administrative burden alone. Intake, billing support, scheduling, and routine administrative functions are handled by other members of the firm so attorneys can focus on legal analysis, advocacy, and client service.
The Attorney We Are Looking For
This position is designed for an attorney who is beyond the earliest stage of practice but still wants access to experienced lawyers, stronger systems, and room to improve.
Strong candidates will have:
- Approximately three to seven years of legal experience
- Meaningful family law or civil litigation experience
- Experience managing cases with limited supervision
- Courtroom, hearing, or trial experience
- Strong legal writing and oral advocacy skills
- The ability to explain difficult legal issues clearly to clients
- Sound judgment in emotionally charged or high-conflict matters
- Consistent follow-through and attention to deadlines
- A willingness to use established systems and accept professional feedback
- An interest in building a long-term practice in Yakima
Family law experience is preferred. Attorneys with substantial litigation experience in another practice area may also be considered if they have meaningful courtroom experience and a serious interest in family law.
Applicants must be active members in good standing of the Washington State Bar Association.
Spanish-language ability is useful but not required.
Compensation and ExpectationsThe salary range for this position is: $105,000–$135,000 Compensation
The base-salary range for this position is:
$105,000–$135,000 per year
Placement within the range will depend on family law experience, litigation background, courtroom ability, professional judgment, and demonstrated readiness to manage cases independently.
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 also includes:
- Reimbursement of reasonable relocation expenses up to $5,000
- A $2,500 retention bonus after six months
- A second $2,500 retention bonus after nine months
- A third $2,500 retention bonus after twelve months
Retention-bonus eligibility requires the attorney to be actively employed and in good standing on each payment date.
Independence With Support
Mid-level attorneys are expected to take ownership of their cases. That does not mean practicing in isolation.
You will have access to attorneys with substantial family law, litigation, appellate, government, and trial experience. They are available for strategic discussion, case review, and assistance when a matter becomes unusually complex.
The goal is not to supervise every decision. It is to give you the room to develop judgment while making sure experienced support is available when it matters.
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
- Legal-assistant and administrative support
- Access to experienced attorneys for case strategy and consultation
- Partnership-track opportunity
- Opportunities for increased responsibility and leadership
Why Yakima
Yakima offers the opportunity to build a visible and meaningful family law practice in a regional legal community.
The office serves clients throughout Central Washington and provides regular opportunities for courtroom advocacy, negotiation, and substantial client responsibility. For an attorney who wants to become known in the local bar and community, Yakima offers room to build a durable professional reputation.
The region also offers a lower cost of living than the Seattle area, access to outdoor recreation, and a community where an attorney can develop both professional relationships and a long-term life.
This is a role for someone who wants to do serious legal work, become more capable, and build a practice that matters to the families and communities it serves.
To Apply
Apply through the form on this page or send a resume, cover letter, and writing sample to: recruiting@pnwfamilylaw.com
In your cover letter, explain why you are interested in practicing family law in Yakima and what you want the next stage of your career to look like.