Description
There are attorneys who become more experienced with each passing year. There are others who become better.
Pacific Northwest Family Law is seeking an attorney to join our Yakima office. We welcome applicants with courtroom experience from any practice area and are especially interested in litigators with family law experience. Prosecutors, public defenders, civil litigators, and attorneys with meaningful courtroom experience often make outstanding family lawyers because they already understand preparation, courtroom conduct, and professional judgment.
This position is based in Yakima but you will be part of a firm with six offices serving clients throughout Washington. Strategy and difficult cases are discussed openly within the firm. Experienced attorneys and newer attorneys alike use the collaborative nature of our firm to test legal theories and confirm strategy before talking to clients.
Our attorneys bring experience from military service, the United States Attorney's Office, decades of family law practice, appellate litigation, state committee service, and some of the nation's leading law schools like Cornell, Michigan, BYU, and Penn. We believe good lawyers become better when they work alongside other good lawyers.
Job Description
Many people assume family law is about representing clients in a messy divorce. Those same people believe that divorce is simple and too emotinally taxing to think about spending a career in. In reality, familylaw is one of the most litigation heavy practices, requiring frequent courtroom appearances, discovery techniques, and long term strategy to get the best results. Attorney advocacy in these cases affect children, parents, property, and relationships that will continue long after a court enters its final order.
At Pacific Northwest Family Law, we help our clients build their families better then before. You should expect to spend meaningful time in court. Family law offers far more courtroom experience than many practice areas, and our attorneys regularly appear at hearings, settlement conferences, mediations, and trials. Most cases ultimately resolve through negotiation or mediation, but they often do so because they have been prepared thoroughly enough that everyone understands the risks of litigation.
You will work closely with experienced legal assistants who understand family law and help keep cases moving efficiently. Attorneys are expected to focus on strategy, advocacy, client counseling, and leadership rather than carrying every administrative task themselves.
Our attorneys are not expected to build a book of business before they can succeed. The firm invests heavily in marketing and client intake so attorneys can devote their energy to practicing law. If you enjoy developing referral relationships, you will be rewarded for doing so, but your career here does not depend upon becoming a rainmaker.
Location
Yakima is not the right community for everyone, and we think it is better to say that honestly than pretend otherwise. Attorneys who enjoy smaller communities, shorter commutes, and the opportunity to become part of the fabric of a region often find they build a rewarding professional and personal life here.
If you are sick of heavy traffic and long commutes that take you away from things you would rather be doing, Yakima offers a different pace of life where you can spend more time doing what you love. Be home in time for dinner and get to that soccer game. volunteer in the community or simply take it easy when you aren't at work. The region is known for its access to outdoor recreation, from hiking and skiing to fishing and cycling, as well as a growing food and wine culture that reflects the surrounding agricultural community.
It is a place where you can build a meaningful legal career while also having the space to build a life. The Yakima office serves clients throughout Yakima, Kittitas, Klickitat, and occasionally Grant County. Some travel is part of the practice, although many courts now permit remote appearances when appropriate for the client and the court.
Qualifications
The attorney who succeeds here enjoys becoming better at the practice of law.
That attorney prepares carefully, writes clearly, and values sound judgment more than theatrics. They enjoy being in the courtroom, understand that credibility is earned over time, and recognize that excellent preparation often produces better settlements than unnecessary conflict.
We are looking for someone who is ambitious enough to pursue excellence and humble enough to keep learning. Family law experience is welcome, but it is not the only path to success here. Litigation experience is more important. We can teach family law. Professional discipline, sound judgment, and intellectual curiosity are much harder to teach.
Qualifications include:
Active membership in the Washington State Bar Association.
Approximately three to five years of legal experience preferred, although more experienced attorneys are encouraged to apply.
Litigation experience required.
Family law experience preferred but not required.
Spanish fluency is highly valued. Our firm actively serves the Spanish-speaking community through dedicated marketing, bilingual support staff, and client services, allowing attorneys who speak Spanish to use that skill every day in meaningful ways.
Compensation
The position offers a base salary between $90,000 and $120,000 depending upon experience.
Attorneys are also eligible for:
Performance bonuses for exceeding annual billing expectations.
Origination bonuses for clients you bring to the firm, regardless of who performs the legal work.
Health insurance, dental insurance, Health Savings Account contributions, 401(k), WSBA dues, CLE expenses, and a cell phone stipend.
Flexible work arrangements, provided client needs remain the highest priority.
Relocation assistance for attorneys moving to Yakima.
A retention bonus for attorneys who relocate and continue building their practice with the firm.
Our annual billing expectation is 1,500 hours. Attorneys who are on pace to meet that expectation may receive approval to count up to 100 hours of qualifying pro bono work performed through legal aid organizations toward that requirement. We believe serving the community is part of being an excellent lawyer.
Application
If this opportunity sounds interesting, we encourage you to reach out even if you are not actively looking for a new position.
Please send your resume, cover letter, and writing sample to [email protected]. If you have been practicing for one year or less, please also include your law school transcript.
Applications will be handled confidentially.
