In Person, Family Law Attorney

Description:

The Virga Law Firm, P.A., In-Person, Full-Time Compensation: $90,000 to $170,000 Total Compensation + Signing Bonus up to $5,000 + Relocation Assistance

Imagine waking up 12 minutes from the office, steps from some of the most beautiful beaches in the country, practicing the kind of law that actually changes lives, and being home in time to enjoy your evening. That is not a dream. That is what life looks like as an Associate Attorney at The Virga Law Firm, P.A. in Panama City Beach, Florida.

We are actively looking for an Associate Family Law Attorney with up to two years of experience and a background in family law to join our growing Panama City Beach team. This is an in-person position at a firm that has built its reputation on two things: fighting hard for families in the courtroom and taking care of the people who make that possible. If you are tired of hearing about "competitive compensation" with no real numbers, exhausted by the idea of grinding 80-hour weeks at a firm that treats you like a billing machine, or wondering if there is a better way to build a legal career, keep reading. This is the opportunity you have been looking for.

As an Associate Attorney, you will handle real family law cases from day one. That means divorce, child custody and timesharing, child support, alimony, paternity, domestic violence, modifications, and other family law matters. You will not spend your first years buried in document review or sitting on the sidelines. You will be in hearings, depositions, mediations, and trial preparation alongside experienced litigators who are genuinely invested in helping you develop into the attorney you want to become. Our attorneys mentor because they care, not because they have to, and that makes all the difference in how quickly you grow and how confident you feel walking into a courtroom.

Now let us talk about what you will actually earn, because we believe in transparency. At The Virga Law Firm, we publish real numbers because we respect the professionals we are trying to bring onto our team. For this Associate Attorney role, your base salary will range from $90,000 to $105,000 depending on experience. On top of that, you will choose one additional benefit option worth up to $15,000 annually, designed to meet you exactly where you are in life. Option A provides a $10,000 per year student loan stipend, because we know law school debt is real and we want to help you tackle it. Option B provides a $15,000 housing stipend for three years, perfect if you are relocating to the area and need help getting settled. Option C provides a $10,000 per year insurance stipend for maximum flexibility. We created these choices because no two attorneys are in the same financial situation, and we want you to feel supported from the moment you say yes.

We also want you to see where this career can take you, because this is not a dead end position. It is the start of a clear growth path at a firm that promotes from within. Our Mid-Level Family Law Attorneys with three to seven years of experience earn $110,000 to $140,000 in total compensation with a $3,500 signing bonus, and they also choose from the same flexible benefit options. Our Senior Family Law Attorneys with seven or more years of experience earn $130,000 to $170,000 with a $5,000 signing bonus, a full benefits package, and the opportunity to mentor the next generation of family law attorneys. Every level at this firm comes with the same commitment to work-life balance, guaranteed caseload, and a culture that values your contribution.

On top of your salary and chosen benefit, you will receive a $2,500 signing bonus paid after 180 days of successful employment, plus relocation assistance for candidates moving to the Panama City Beach area. You will receive 80 hours of vacation time and 80 hours of sick and personal time every year, all courthouse holidays off, and early release Fridays when KPIs are met, meaning you could be heading to the beach or spending time with the people you love by early Friday afternoon. The firm covers all continuing legal education costs including courses, conferences, and materials, so your professional development never comes out of your own pocket. You will also have access to supplemental insurance and be part of a work culture that genuinely celebrates its people through team events, holiday parties, birthday celebrations, and an employee acknowledgement system through Bonusly where you earn gift cards and other rewards just for being great at what you do.

Here is something most firms will never tell you: there is zero business development required in this role. Your caseload is guaranteed. You will never have to hunt for clients or worry about where your next case is coming from. You show up, you practice law, you serve your clients, and you go home. The average work week is 40 to 50 hours, not 60, not 70, not 80. Your commute will be about 12 minutes. You will have over 30 days off per year plus those early release Fridays. And your salary will stretch dramatically further in Panama City Beach than it ever would in Miami, Tampa, Jacksonville, or Orlando, where attorneys making the same money are spending half of it on rent and sitting in traffic for two hours a day.

We are not looking for someone with decades of experience or a perfect resume. We are looking for someone who holds Florida Bar admission or is eligible to waive in, has family law experience and a genuine passion for the practice area, brings energy and a willingness to learn, and actually wants to be in the courtroom making a difference in people's lives. If that sounds like you, we want to meet you.

The Virga Law Firm is a firm with over 100 years of combined legal experience, offices across Florida, and a team of attorneys and staff who chose to be here because the work is meaningful, the culture is real, and the life it allows them to live is something they could not find anywhere else. Our founder, Gerard Virga, built this firm because he has lived family law himself, through his own divorce and as part of a blended family, and he wanted to create something different. A place where attorneys are valued, clients are genuinely cared for, and nobody has to sacrifice their personal life to have a successful legal career.

This position will not stay open forever. If you are ready to launch your career at a firm that will invest in you, mentor you, pay you well, and let you live the life you went to law school hoping you could have, reach out today. Email your resume to careers@thevirgalawfirm.com or call (850) 818-0236. Come see why our team says there is nowhere else they would rather be.

Job Requirements:
To be considered for this position, you must be admitted to The Florida Bar and in good standing. Family law experience is required. Whether you are an attorney with a few years of experience handling custody and divorce matters or a seasoned litigator who has spent a decade or more advocating for families in the courtroom, we want to hear from you. This role is open to attorneys at the associate, mid-level, and senior level, and compensation is structured accordingly based on your experience and qualifications.

Litigation experience is required. Our attorneys are in the courtroom regularly, handling hearings, trials, depositions, and mediations on behalf of their clients. You must be comfortable advocating before a judge, presenting arguments, examining witnesses, and navigating the procedural demands of family law proceedings in Florida courts. If you chose family law because you want to be in the courtroom fighting for your clients, this is the right firm for you.

A valid Florida driver's license is required, as you will need to travel to courthouses and attend proceedings throughout the region as part of your regular caseload responsibilities.

Beyond these core requirements, we are looking for attorneys who demonstrate strong written and oral communication skills, the ability to manage a full caseload independently while meeting deadlines and maintaining attention to detail, a collaborative mindset that allows you to work effectively with paralegals, legal assistants, support staff, and fellow attorneys, genuine empathy and respect for clients who are going through some of the most difficult times in their lives, a commitment to professionalism and integrity in every interaction whether with clients, colleagues, opposing counsel, or the court, and a growth mindset with a desire to continuously improve as a legal professional and as a person.

Experience in any of the following practice areas is valued: divorce including contested, uncontested, collaborative, military, and high net worth matters, child custody and timesharing, child support, alimony, paternity, domestic violence and protective injunctions, equitable distribution, prenuptial and postnuptial agreements, modifications and enforcement of court orders, relocation, and mediation.

This is an in-person position based out of our Panama City Beach office located at 415 Richard Jackson Blvd., Suite 500, Panama City Beach, FL 32407. Candidates must be able to work on-site and be available for court appearances and client meetings as needed throughout the week.

Whether you are an associate looking for hands-on mentorship and real courtroom experience, a mid-level attorney ready to take the next step in your career at a firm that values your skills and your time, or a senior attorney who wants to practice law at a high level without sacrificing your quality of life, we encourage you to apply.

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