Description:

A Rewarding Legal Career Without the Traditional Law Firm Pressures

Love practicing law, but not the pressure of minimum billable-hour requirements?

At the Law Office of Sophia M. Palmer, we believe you shouldn't have to choose between a successful legal career and a fulfilling personal life.
We are an established and growing family law firm in Tacoma, Washington, seeking a talented, motivated, and dedicated Associate Attorney to join our team.
Our firm has built its reputation on providing exceptional legal representation, thoughtful litigation strategies, and zealous but reasonable advocacy. We take our responsibility to our clients seriously, but we also recognize that our attorneys are people with families, interests, and lives outside the office.
We offer a supportive, collegial environment where attorneys are encouraged to develop their skills, exercise independent professional judgment, and grow their careers without the traditional pressures of law firm culture.
No minimum billable hours. Substantial earning potential. Meaningful mentorship. A team that values your success.

The Opportunity:

We are looking for an attorney who enjoys litigation, values meaningful client relationships, and wants to be part of a collaborative and experienced legal team.
Our practice focuses exclusively on family law, including divorce, legal separation, parenting plans, child custody, child support, relocation, protection orders, adoption, minor guardianships and post-decree matters.
The ideal candidate will have three or more years of family law or litigation experience. However, we also welcome attorneys from other litigation backgrounds who have a genuine interest in family law and are motivated to develop their skills in this practice area.
Our attorneys independently manage their cases while benefiting from the support of experienced colleagues, dedicated paralegals, and knowledgeable administrative professionals.
We encourage professional autonomy while fostering a team-oriented atmosphere where collaboration, mentorship, and shared experience contribute to the success of both our attorneys and our clients.

What Makes Our Firm Different?
No Minimum Billable-Hour Requirements
We believe attorneys should be evaluated on the quality of their work, their professionalism, client service, and overall contributions, not simply the number of hours they bill. While productivity is rewarded through our bonus program, we do not impose mandatory minimum billable-hour requirements. Each attorney has the autonomy to determine their own caseload.

Exceptional Earning Potential
Our attorneys receive a guaranteed base salary along with opportunities to earn substantial additional compensation through a productivity-based bonus program.

Our bonus structure is based on individual billing and collection performance, allowing attorneys to directly influence their earning potential.

Last year, our attorneys earned between $140,000+ and $260,000+ in total annual compensation, including bonuses.

These are actual historical earnings, not hypothetical compensation projections. Individual earnings vary based on productivity, collections, and performance, and historical results are not a guarantee of future compensation.

Work-Life Balance
We understand that a rewarding legal career should complement, rather than consume, your personal life. We value flexibility, reasonable expectations, and an environment that allows attorneys to maintain fulfilling lives outside the office.

Mentorship and Professional Growth
Whether you are an experienced family law attorney or a litigator transitioning into this practice area, we are committed to your continued development. Our attorneys benefit from mentorship, collaboration, continuing education, and opportunities to strengthen their litigation, negotiation, and advocacy skills.

A Collaborative, Supportive Team
We believe the best legal work happens when talented professionals work together. Our attorneys are supported by skilled paralegals and administrative professionals who share our commitment to exceptional client service.

We foster an environment built on mutual respect, professionalism, open communication, and teamwork.

Professional Autonomy
We trust our attorneys to exercise sound professional judgment, develop effective litigation strategies, and manage their cases. At the same time, we recognize the value of collaboration and make experienced colleagues available for consultation, guidance, and support.

Meaningful Work
Family law is challenging, personal, and often emotionally demanding. It is also an opportunity to make a meaningful difference in people's lives. We take pride in helping clients navigate difficult circumstances through compassionate, practical, and effective legal representation.

What We're Looking For:
We are seeking an attorney who takes pride in their work, values professionalism, and appreciates the importance of both independent judgment and teamwork.

The Ideal Candidate Will Demonstrate:

Active membership in good standing with the Washington State Bar Association.
Preferably three or more years of family law or litigation experience.
Strong legal research, analysis, writing, negotiation, and courtroom advocacy skills.
Sound professional judgment and the ability to develop thoughtful and effective litigation strategies.
The ability to independently manage a caseload, meet deadlines, and balance competing priorities.
A genuine commitment to providing outstanding client service with compassion, professionalism, and integrity.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
Strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and a commitment to producing high-quality legal work.
The ability to work effectively both independently and collaboratively with attorneys, paralegals, and administrative staff.
A positive attitude, strong work ethic, and desire for continued professional development.
The ability to advocate zealously for clients while maintaining civility and professionalism with opposing counsel and the courts.
Experience practicing in Pierce, Thurston, King, or Kitsap Counties is preferred but not required.

Compensation and Benefits:
We believe talented attorneys deserve to be well compensated for their work while enjoying a healthy balance between their professional and personal lives.

Our compensation structure combines a guaranteed base salary with a productivity-based bonus program that rewards billing and collection performance.

Compensation:

Base salary generally starting at $80,000 annually (depending on experience), depending on experience and qualifications.
Substantial performance-based bonus opportunities tied to individual billing and collection results.
Actual total annual compensation among our attorneys last year ranged from $120,000 to $250,000, including bonuses.
No minimum billable-hour requirements.

Benefits:

SIMPLE IRA retirement plan with matching employer contributions.
Health insurance benefits or stipend.
Employer paid malpractice insurance.
Employer paid Washington State Bar Association dues.
Employer paid local bar association dues.
Employer paid continuing legal education.
Paid time off and paid holidays.
Flexible scheduling and hybrid work opportunities.
Ongoing mentorship and professional development.

Join our team:
We recognize that talented attorneys have choices about where they practice law.

If you are looking for a firm where your hard work is rewarded, your professional judgment is respected, and your personal well-being matters, we would love to hear from you.

Whether you are an experienced family law attorney looking for a better professional fit or a litigator interested in building a rewarding family law practice, we encourage you to apply.