Entry-Level Associate Attorney – Family Law and Criminal Defense
Location: Shelbyville / Tullahoma / Murfreesboro
Job Type: Full-Time
Experience Level: Newly Licensed / Entry-Level
Compensation: Competitive and commensurate with qualifications and experience, with potential fee-split opportunities based on performance, case responsibility, and business generated.
Position Overview
The Law Firm, PC, is seeking a newly licensed or entry-level attorney who is motivated to develop into a capable, confident, and well-rounded advocate in the areas of family law and criminal defense.
This position is intended for an attorney who wants more than simply a job. We are looking for someone interested in building a long-term career, growing alongside the firm, and earning increased responsibility and compensation through initiative, dependability, preparation, and consistently high-quality work.
The Associate Attorney will work primarily on family-law matters, including divorce, child custody, parenting plans, child support, adoption, contempt, enforcement, and modification proceedings. The attorney will also assist with criminal-defense matters, including misdemeanor and felony cases, preliminary hearings, bond matters, probation violations, plea negotiations, motions, and trial preparation.
Extensive prior legal experience is not required. The firm is prepared to provide hands-on training, guidance, and mentorship to the right candidate. In return, the selected attorney must be willing to work diligently, accept constructive feedback, take ownership of assignments, and devote the time and effort necessary to develop strong legal, litigation, negotiation, courtroom, and client-management skills.
In addition to regular compensation, the position may provide opportunities for fee-split compensation on qualifying matters. Any fee-split arrangement will depend on factors such as the attorney’s role in originating, developing, or handling the matter; the amount of responsibility assumed; the attorney’s performance; fees actually collected; and the firm’s applicable compensation policies. Any such arrangement will be addressed separately and confirmed in writing.
We are particularly interested in candidates who are humble enough to ask questions, motivated enough to find answers, and dependable enough to follow through.
Primary Responsibilities
With training and supervision appropriate to the attorney’s experience, the Associate Attorney will be expected to:
- Assist with and ultimately manage family-law and criminal-defense matters from the initial client consultation through final resolution;
- Interview clients and identify relevant facts, legal issues, objectives, defenses, and potential concerns;
- Conduct legal research and apply Tennessee law to the circumstances of each case;
- Draft pleadings, motions, petitions, responses, discovery, parenting plans, marital dissolution agreements, proposed orders, settlement proposals, criminal motions, correspondence, and other legal documents;
- Prepare for and appear at hearings, arraignments, preliminary hearings, motions, conferences, mediations, settlement negotiations, plea discussions, and trials;
- Assist with developing case strategies based on the applicable law, available evidence, client objectives, and potential risks;
- Prepare clients and witnesses for depositions, mediations, hearings, preliminary hearings, and trials;
- Review financial records, communications, school records, medical records, photographs, videos, social-media content, police reports, body-camera footage, witness statements, criminal histories, and other evidence;
- Review discovery provided by prosecutors and identify factual, evidentiary, constitutional, and procedural issues;
- Communicate regularly and professionally with clients regarding case developments, deadlines, court appearances, strategy, expectations, and outstanding responsibilities;
- Negotiate with opposing counsel and prosecutors while protecting the client’s interests;
- Work cooperatively with the firm’s attorneys, paralegals, legal assistants, investigators, experts, court personnel, prosecutors, opposing counsel, mediators, and other professionals;
- Maintain accurate and organized case files, notes, calendars, billing entries, deadlines, and client communications;
- Assist with client development and professional networking as the attorney gains experience;
- Participate in case-review meetings, training, continuing legal education, and professional-development opportunities; and
- Comply with all ethical obligations, court rules, filing requirements, office procedures, and professional standards.
Family-Law Responsibilities
The Associate Attorney may assist with or manage matters involving:
- Divorce and legal separation;
- Child custody and designation of the primary residential parent;
- Parenting plans and parenting-time disputes;
- Child support and alimony;
- Contempt and enforcement proceedings;
- Modification of existing orders;
- Adoption;
- Emergency and ex parte matters;
- Orders of protection;
- Mediation and settlement negotiations;
- Property and debt division; and
- Other domestic-relations proceedings.
Criminal-Defense Responsibilities
The Associate Attorney may assist with or manage matters involving:
- Misdemeanor and felony charges;
- General Sessions and Circuit Court proceedings;
- Arraignments and preliminary hearings;
- Bond hearings and bond-reduction requests;
- Probation violations;
- Plea negotiations and settlement discussions;
- Motions to suppress and other pretrial motions;
- Discovery review and evidence analysis;
- Witness interviews and trial preparation;
- Sentencing hearings;
- Expungement and record-related matters, when applicable; and
- Other criminal-defense proceedings.
***Required Qualifications***
Applicants must possess the following:
- A Juris Doctor degree from an accredited law school;
- Admission to practice law in Tennessee, or the ability to obtain Tennessee admission promptly;
- An active law license in good standing, with no pending disciplinary matters;
- Strong written and oral communication skills;
- Sound legal-research, analytical, and problem-solving abilities;
- The ability to draft clear, accurate, and professional legal documents;
- Strong organizational skills and careful attention to deadlines and details;
- The ability to manage multiple assignments and competing priorities;
- Professional judgment, discretion, and respect for client confidentiality;
- A willingness to accept instruction, correction, and constructive feedback;
- A strong work ethic and willingness to put in the time required to properly prepare each client’s case;
- The ability to work independently while recognizing when guidance or approval is needed;
- Professional and respectful communication with clients, coworkers, opposing counsel, prosecutors, court personnel, law-enforcement personnel, and members of the public; and
- A genuine interest in developing a long-term career with the firm.
Preferred Qualifications
The following qualifications are preferred but not required:
- One (1) years of legal experience;
- Experience obtained through a law-school clinic, internship, clerkship, externship, public-defender office, district-attorney office, or similar position;
- Demonstrated interest in family law, criminal defense, litigation, negotiation, mediation, or courtroom advocacy;
- Bilingual proficiency in English and Spanish;
- Experience drafting pleadings, legal memoranda, discovery, settlement agreements, parenting plans, criminal motions, or proposed orders;
- Familiarity with Tennessee family law, criminal law, rules of evidence, court procedures, and local court practices;
- Experience reviewing police reports, criminal discovery, financial records, or other evidentiary materials;
- Experience using legal-practice-management, document-management, billing, or electronic-filing systems;
- Connections to or familiarity with the Middle Tennessee legal community;
- An interest in professional networking and helping develop new client relationships; and
- A strong desire to gain practical courtroom and litigation experience.
The Candidate We Are Seeking
The successful candidate will be someone who:
- Is eager to learn and understands that becoming an effective attorney requires consistent effort, preparation, and accountability;
- Accepts responsibility for assigned work and follows tasks through to completion;
- Is receptive to training, mentorship, review, and constructive criticism;
- Does not hesitate to ask appropriate questions but first makes a reasonable effort to research and understand the issue;
- Treats deadlines, client concerns, court obligations, and case preparation seriously;
- Communicates promptly and professionally;
- Demonstrates compassion and patience with clients experiencing stressful, emotional, or life-changing circumstances;
- Can balance zealous advocacy with professional judgment and practical problem-solving;
- Is willing to stand beside clients during difficult family-law disputes and criminal proceedings;
- Remains organized and attentive even when managing several matters at once;
- Is comfortable appearing in court and willing to develop courtroom confidence through preparation and experience;
- Is willing to assist wherever reasonably needed in a small, collaborative law-firm environment;
- Understands that litigation and criminal-defense work may sometimes require flexibility and preparation outside standard business hours;
- Is interested in developing professional relationships and eventually generating business for the firm; and
- Wants to develop into a trusted attorney who can manage cases with increasing independence.
Training and Professional Development
The firm understands that newly licensed attorneys require practical experience, instruction, and meaningful opportunities to apply what they learned in law school.
The selected attorney will receive training and guidance in areas that may include:
- Client interviews and consultations;
- Family-law and criminal case evaluation;
- Case strategy and risk assessment;
- Pleadings, motions, and legal drafting;
- Legal research and persuasive writing;
- Discovery and evidence review;
- Police-report and criminal-discovery analysis;
- Negotiation and settlement preparation;
- Plea negotiations;
- Courtroom preparation and advocacy;
- Preliminary hearings and motion practice;
- Trial preparation;
- Professional communication with clients, prosecutors, opposing counsel, and court personnel;
- Timekeeping, billing, calendaring, and case management;
- Client development and professional networking;
- Local court practices and filing procedures; and
- Ethical and professional responsibilities.
The Associate Attorney will have opportunities for direct client interaction, courtroom appearances, mediations, negotiations, preliminary hearings, motions, plea discussions, and hands-on involvement in active cases. Responsibility and compensation opportunities may increase as the attorney demonstrates preparation, sound judgment, reliability, productivity, and the ability to produce quality work.
What We Offer
- Meaningful hands-on experience in family law and criminal defense;
- Direct mentorship and practical training;
- Opportunities for frequent courtroom appearances and client interaction;
- Experience handling both civil and criminal litigation matters;
- A professional, collaborative, and team-oriented work environment;
- Opportunities to develop litigation, negotiation, drafting, trial-preparation, and case-management skills;
- Increased responsibility and professional advancement based on performance;
- Potential fee-split opportunities on qualifying matters, subject to firm policy and a written compensation arrangement;
- The opportunity to benefit financially from matters the attorney helps originate, develop, or successfully manage;
- The opportunity to grow with an established Middle Tennessee law firm; and
- Competitive compensation commensurate with qualifications and experience.
Application Instructions
Interested applicants should submit:
- A current résumé;
- A brief cover letter explaining their interest in family law and criminal defense and why they believe they would be a good fit for the firm;
- A legal-writing sample; and
- Professional references, if available.
Application materials should be submitted to [email protected] with the subject line:
RE: Entry-Level Associate Attorney Application – [Applicant’s Name]
Pay: $60,000.00 - $75,000.00 per year
Benefits:
Application Question(s):
- Are you licensed to practice law in the state of Tennessee?
Work Location: In person
