Associate Attorney

Job Description

Job Description

Practice excellent law. Have a life, too. At Brighter Day Law, we believe you shouldn't have to choose between doing meaningful legal work, earning well, and having a life outside the office. We built our practice intentionally around that idea. Our attorneys average approximately 1,000 billable hours per year, well below the traditional law firm model, while still having the opportunity to earn competitive compensation through a transparent quarterly bonus structure. We believe preparation beats chaos, clear expectations beat guesswork, and excellent legal work doesn't require burnout. If you're an experienced attorney looking for a place where you can do good work, continue growing, and still have a life when the workday ends, we'd like to meet you.

Why Attorneys Choose Brighter Day Law Approximately 1,000 billable hours annually. We don't believe a 2,000-hour lifestyle is necessary to practice excellent law.

$90,000 to $105,000 base compensation, depending on experience.

Quarterly performance bonuses with a transparent formula and meaningful earning potential.

Remote or hybrid flexibility after onboarding for attorneys who can reliably attend in-person hearings and trials in Middle Tennessee.

Hands-on mentorship and coaching as you grow your practice.

Systems and support designed to make case management more predictable and efficient.

Ongoing professional development and coaching for attorneys who want to continue sharpening their practice.

Health, dental, and vision insurance.

401(k) with employer contributions.

Generous PTO.

CLE and professional development support.

Disability and life insurance.

Total annual compensation typically ranges from approximately $97,000 to $127,000+, depending on quarterly collected fee receipts. We'll explain exactly how the bonus works during the interview process, including a real-world example.

The Kind of Attorney We're Looking For We're looking for a mid-career, Tennessee-licensed attorney with at least three years of litigation experience in family law and/or estate planning and probate. A background concentrated in either area is welcome, and so is a background split across both. But experience on paper isn't the whole story.

You May Be A Great Fit Here If You: Are confident in your legal judgment without needing to be the loudest person in the room.

Believe preparation is one of the best ways to reduce stress, for yourself and your clients.

Can pursue a reasonable resolution without being afraid to litigate when litigation is necessary.

Communicate clearly and professionally with clients, opposing counsel, courts, and colleagues.

Like having strong systems and support around you while still maintaining meaningful autonomy.

Be willing to collaborate, ask questions, and share what you know.

Take feedback seriously and see continued growth as part of being a good attorney.

Understand that family law clients are often experiencing one of the most difficult periods of their lives and deserve both sound legal strategy and steady guidance.

Bring good judgment to ambiguity, are naturally curious enough to ask thoughtful questions when something is unclear, and stay steady rather than waiting for a perfect answer.

Want to build a sustainable legal career, not simply survive the next year.

What Practicing at BDL Looks Like You'll manage a caseload built around family law and estate planning or probate matters as assigned, from initial consultation through resolution. Our approach is straightforward: We don't believe every family law matter needs to become a war. We pursue practical, thoughtful resolutions when they're appropriate. At the same time, we prepare thoroughly for court when that's what the client's circumstances require. You'll have responsibility for your cases and your clients, but you won't be expected to figure everything out alone. We provide mentorship, defined systems, and clear expectations to help attorneys stay ahead of deadlines and case requirements rather than operating in crisis mode. The goal isn't to eliminate the difficult parts of practicing law. It's to build an environment where you can handle them well. Work arrangement Following onboarding, attorneys may work remotely or in a hybrid capacity, provided they can reliably attend assigned in-person hearings, mediations, and trials in Middle Tennessee. We're open to full-time or part-time arrangements and are willing to discuss the structure that makes sense for the right attorney.

Compensation $90,000 to $105,000 base salary, depending on experience. Attorneys also participate in a transparent, performance-based quarterly bonus structure based on collected fee receipts. Typical total annual compensation ranges from approximately $97,000 to $127,000+, depending on performance and collected fees. We'll walk you through the bonus formula during the interview process so you know exactly how compensation works.

Interested? If you're looking for a legal practice where you can do meaningful work, continue becoming a better attorney, earn well, and still have a life outside the office, we'd like to hear from you.

Please submit: An up-to-date resume. A thoughtful cover letter explaining your interest in BDL and how your experience aligns with the role. Three relevant writing samples. We review applications carefully and will contact selected candidates to schedule an interview. Compensation:

$90,000 - $105,000 yearly Responsibilities:

Manage cases from start to finish:

Oversee a caseload of family law and/or estate planning and probate matters, from intake through resolution.

Counsel clients and develop strategy:

Review the facts, financial information, applicable law, and practical considerations to provide sound legal advice and develop an effective case strategy.

Communicate with clients:

Keep clients informed about their options, timelines, risks, and next steps while providing steady, professional guidance.

Prepare for settlement and litigation:

Pursue reasonable resolution when appropriate while thoroughly preparing matters for hearings and trial when necessary.

Appear in court and mediation:

Represent clients in mediations, hearings, and trials with preparation, professionalism, and composure.

Draft legal documents:

Prepare pleadings, agreements, orders, wills, and other legal documents accurately and on time.

Manage your caseload:

Monitor deadlines, maintain organized files, and follow firm and court requirements.

Work as part of a team:

Collaborate with attorneys and support staff to keep cases moving and clients supported.

Qualifications:

Active Tennessee law license.

Mid-career attorney with at least three years of litigation experience in family law and/or estate planning and probate.

Strong organizational and case management skills.

Excellent written and verbal communication.

Sound legal judgment and professional discretion.

A collaborative approach to working with attorneys and support staff.

About Company Brighter Day Law helps families navigate difficult transitions with preparation, integrity, and steady legal guidance across Tennessee and Colorado. We're building a different kind of law firm, one where excellence doesn't depend on exhaustion, where attorneys have meaningful support around them, and where doing good work and having a sustainable career aren't competing goals. We take the work seriously. We just don't believe you have to take it home with you every night.