Family Law Associate Attorney

Job Description

Job Description

Family Law Associate Attorney

Vijay Law — Downtown San Jose

About the Firm and the Position

Vijay Law is an established San Jose trial practice — high-conflict family law, domestic violence restraining orders, and criminal defense. The firm was founded by Vijay Dinakar, a trial attorney with more than 18 years of experience.

This position will help lead the firm's growing family law division.

What You Will Do

•     Run your own caseload of high-conflict family law matters — custody, support, property division, and dissolution litigation.

•     Be in court. You will argue RFOs, handle law-and-motion, and appear at settlement conferences from the start, and first-chair contested hearings and DVRO trials as soon as you are ready — in most cases within the first year. You will see more courtroom time here in a year than in several at a large firm.

•     Draft pleadings, RFOs, discovery, motions to compel, settlement agreements, and other filings. Strong family law writing is essential.

•     Manage discovery during the case, including propounding and responding to special interrogatories, document production, and subpoena requests.

•     Handle opposing counsel correspondence, meet-and-confer, and settlement negotiation.

•     Work with diverse clients in high-conflict cases.

•     Collaborate directly with the lead trial attorney.

Who We Are Looking For

•     Two or more years practicing California family law preferred. A newer attorney with real RFO and DVRO exposure and strong litigation instincts will be considered.

•     Experience running contested matters — you have drafted RFOs, taken and defended discovery, and been in front of a judge.

•     Active member of the California State Bar in good standing.

•     Ability to own cases, with an experienced trial attorney ready to provide assistance and mentorship.

•     Comfortable with practice-management software and AI drafting tools.

Expectations

•     100 billable hours per month, billed to clients.

•     Own an active and growing caseload.

•     Deadlines are kept, clients hear back the same day, and files are ready before the hearing — not the night before.

Compensation and Benefits

•     $130,000–$210,000 base, depending on experience. The top of the range is for attorneys with five or more years who can first-chair contested hearings and trials from day one.

•     Performance-based compensation above the billable target.

•     No origination requirement.

•     Health benefits and 401(k) with employer match.

•     PTO, holidays, sick leave.

•     State Bar dues, MCLE, and section memberships covered.

•     Downtown San Jose, steps from the courthouse.

•     On-site while you learn the practice; hybrid flexibility once you are running your caseload.

The Long Term

This is not a stopgap hire. The firm is building its family law practice around this position, and the goal is an attorney who grows with it over years, with compensation and responsibility reviewed annually and a real path forward for the right person.