Mid-Level Associate Attorney – Family & Criminal LawThomas Hunter Legal Group, PLLC | Full-Time | Irving, TX / DFW AreaJoin a Firm Where Strategy, Advocacy, and Client Impact Matter
Thomas Hunter Legal Group, PLLC is seeking a Mid-Level Associate Attorney to join our growing legal team in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. This is a full-time, in-person role for an attorney who is ready to take ownership of family and criminal law matters, advocate confidently in court, and help clients navigate some of the most stressful moments of their lives with clarity, strategy, and professionalism.
Led by Founding Partner SaKinna Thomas, Thomas Hunter Legal Group provides experienced, hands-on legal representation to individuals and families facing complex legal challenges throughout Texas. Our work is personal, high-stakes, and deeply important to the people we serve.
We are looking for an attorney who does more than complete assignments. We need someone who can move cases forward, manage client expectations, prepare thoroughly, think strategically, and perform under pressure.
About Thomas Hunter Legal Group
Thomas Hunter Legal Group serves clients across the Dallas-Fort Worth area in matters involving family law, criminal defense, and other complex legal needs. The firm is known for practical strategy, direct client support, courtroom advocacy, and personalized legal guidance.
Our team works with clients who are often facing life-changing legal issues, including custody disputes, divorce, criminal charges, protective orders, and other urgent legal problems. That means our attorneys must combine strong legal judgment with emotional intelligence, disciplined preparation, and steady communication.
About the Role
The Mid-Level Associate Attorney – Family & Criminal Law will handle a meaningful caseload with support from the firm’s leadership and legal team. This role is ideal for an attorney with litigation experience who is ready for more responsibility, more courtroom exposure, and a stronger opportunity to grow inside a structured law firm environment.
You will work directly with clients, prepare legal strategy, appear in court, draft pleadings and motions, negotiate resolutions, and ensure cases continue moving forward without the owner or team having to constantly chase next steps.
This is not a passive associate role. The right candidate will be proactive, organized, composed under pressure, and committed to delivering excellent legal work while protecting the client experience and the firm’s reputation.
Core Responsibilities
- Manage family and criminal law matters from intake through resolution with appropriate supervision, clear communication, and consistent forward movement.
- Represent clients in court hearings, contested motions, negotiations, status conferences, plea discussions, and other legal proceedings with confidence and professionalism.
- Draft, review, and file pleadings, motions, affidavits, proposed orders, discovery, correspondence, and other legal documents with precision and attention to detail.
- Develop practical case strategies by evaluating legal issues, client goals, risks, available evidence, deadlines, and likely outcomes.
- Identify and analyze key family law issues, including custody, possession, child support, property division, protective orders, domestic violence concerns, financial disclosures, and parenting dynamics.
- Evaluate criminal defense matters by reviewing charges, evidence, police conduct, plea options, trial risk, sentencing exposure, and collateral consequences.
- Communicate with clients in a way that is clear, professional, empathetic, and controlled, especially when clients are emotional, anxious, angry, or afraid.
- Manage client expectations honestly and strategically, including helping clients understand legal risks, realistic outcomes, and when a desired course of action may not be in their best interest.
- Negotiate with opposing counsel, prosecutors, and other parties using preparation, leverage awareness, professionalism, and sound judgment.
- Maintain accurate case notes, deadlines, task updates, billing entries, file documentation, and internal communications through the firm’s case management systems and procedures.
- Collaborate with paralegals, support staff, and firm leadership to ensure legal work is completed efficiently, deadlines are met, and clients receive timely updates.
- Stay current on applicable Texas family law, criminal law, court rules, local procedures, and legal developments that impact client strategy.
What Success Looks Like
Success in this role is measured by ownership, judgment, preparation, communication, and results.
The right attorney will be able to:
- Keep cases moving without constant reminders
- Meet court deadlines and internal deadlines consistently
- Maintain accurate and organized files
- Communicate with clients in a timely and professional manner
- Prepare thoroughly for court appearances and negotiations
- Draft clear, persuasive, court-ready legal documents
- Provide realistic legal advice without overpromising
- Protect attorney time by managing client expectations effectively
- Work collaboratively with the legal team and support staff
- Handle pressure without becoming reactive, disorganized, or unprofessional
You will not be left guessing what matters. The firm values clear expectations, accountability, communication, and continuous improvement.
Required Qualifications
- Licensed and in good standing to practice law in Texas
- 2–5 years of legal experience preferred
- Prior experience in family law, criminal defense, litigation, or courtroom practice strongly preferred
- Strong legal research, writing, drafting, and analytical skills
- Comfort appearing in court and advocating on behalf of clients
- Ability to manage multiple cases, deadlines, and client priorities at once
- Strong client communication and expectation-management skills
- Professional judgment and ability to evaluate legal risk clearly
- Ability to negotiate effectively and resolve conflict professionally
- Comfort using legal software, case management systems, calendars, and digital workflow tools
- Strong organizational habits and respect for systems, documentation, and deadlines
- Ability to receive feedback, adapt quickly, and perform in a fast-paced legal environment
Ideal Candidate Profile
You may be a strong fit for this role if you are an attorney who:
- Takes ownership instead of waiting to be chased
- Is confident in court but still prepares thoroughly
- Can be empathetic with clients without being controlled by client emotions
- Understands that strong legal strategy requires both advocacy and judgment
- Knows how to explain hard truths to clients professionally
- Can manage a busy caseload without letting files stall
- Writes clearly and persuasively
- Respects deadlines, systems, calendars, and internal communication protocols
- Handles pressure with maturity and professionalism
- Wants to grow with a firm that values structure, accountability, and high standards
This role is not a fit for someone who needs constant supervision, avoids court, struggles with deadlines, resists systems, or allows difficult clients to control the direction of the case.
Culture & Values
At Thomas Hunter Legal Group, we believe legal work should be strategic, client-centered, and professionally executed. Clients come to us during some of the most difficult seasons of their lives, and they deserve attorneys who are prepared, honest, responsive, and committed to protecting their interests.
Our culture values:
- Clear communication
- Professional accountability
- Strong preparation
- Client-centered advocacy
- Team collaboration
- Ownership of results
- Respect for systems and process
- Continuous improvement
- Calm, steady performance under pressure
We are building a firm where talented professionals can do meaningful work, grow their skills, and contribute to a stronger client experience.
Growth, KPIs, and Performance Standards
This role includes clear expectations and performance standards. Success may be evaluated through factors such as:
- Case movement and follow-through
- Court preparation and performance
- Deadline compliance
- Client communication responsiveness
- Quality and accuracy of written work
- File documentation and case management compliance
- Client satisfaction and professionalism
- Strategic judgment and risk analysis
- Team collaboration
- Ability to manage workload without creating unnecessary bottlenecks
High-performing attorneys will have the opportunity to expand their impact, take on greater responsibility, and grow with the firm over time.
Compensation
Compensation: $70,000–$80,000 annually, negotiable based on experience.
After an initial six-month ramp-up period, the attorney may become eligible for performance-based bonus opportunities tied to exceeding established billable hour targets, quality standards, client service expectations, and overall contribution to the firm. Bonus eligibility and structure will be reviewed with the attorney and determined by firm leadership based on role performance and firm needs.
Benefits & Perks
Benefits may include:
- Competitive salary
- Paid time off
- Professional development opportunities
- Mentorship and direct access to experienced firm leadership
- Meaningful courtroom and client-facing experience
- Collaborative legal team environment
- Opportunity to grow with an established DFW law firm
- Clear expectations and structured performance feedback
- Work that directly impacts clients and families during critical legal moments
Additional firm-specific benefits may be discussed during the interview process.
Advancement & Development
Thomas Hunter Legal Group values attorneys who want to keep improving. The firm supports professional development through mentorship, feedback, courtroom experience, case strategy discussions, and opportunities to take on increased responsibility as trust and performance grow.
For the right attorney, this role can become more than a job. It can become a long-term professional home with room for greater leadership, stronger income potential, and deeper impact.
Inclusivity & Belonging
Thomas Hunter Legal Group, PLLC is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We value diversity in all its forms and are committed to building a workplace that is inclusive, respectful, collaborative, and focused on excellence.
Job Type: Full-time
Pay: $70,000.00 - $80,000.00 per year
Benefits:
Work Location: In person
