Associate Attorney (Family Law

This is not a job listing. It is an opportunity listing.

If you are an experienced family law attorney who can already run a file from intake to judgment without someone looking over your shoulder, and you’re looking for a place where that competence is met with real trust and real upside — keep reading. If you want to be managed, this isn’t the place, and you can keep scrolling.

I’ve practiced family law for four decades and built The Smart Law Group into a firm I’m proud of. I’m not looking for someone to train. I want a colleague, not a project — an attorney I can hand a matter to and not worry about how they are handling that case, but also someone who is willing to work together to get the best result for the client because it is still a team effort.

Who I’m Looking For

A family law attorney who has done this work and done it well. I'm not necessarily looking for someone that has been an attorney for a long time, but you should be able to run your own files, handle your own hearings, and manage difficult clients without being carried. What I need from you is the ability to execute independently and the seasoned instinct that only comes from having actually litigated cases.

• A licensed Michigan attorney in good standing.
• Demonstrated family law experience — you can point to matters you’ve run and closed yourself.
• Comfortable in court and comfortable with difficult clients, on your own.
• Someone who wants a long-term future here, not just a landing spot.

Why This Opportunity Is Different

Most firms only want to fill a gap. I want a "partner" in the work... someone I can rely on while I also run the business. You will take real ownership of your files and your future here. We will strategize as equals — experienced lawyers comparing judgment, not a senior telling a junior what to do. For the right person, there is no artificial ceiling on what you can become here.

There is real upside well beyond a starting salary. Let’s have a conversation about what that could look like.

Compensation

Salary range: $85,000 – $120,000, commensurate with experience and proven ability, plus an interest in revenue generated. This is a starting point, not a ceiling. For an attorney who can carry a real caseload, the compensation conversation is one I’m glad to have openly and generously.

The following reflects the range of benefits available that we may offer; the specific package will be discussed during the interview process:

• Health insurance
• Vision insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid time off and paid holidays
• Flexible schedule and remote-work flexibility
• Continuing legal education (CLE) and bar dues covered
• Performance-based bonus/compensation
• Pet insurance (checking to see if you are paying attention, but this is negotiable.)

Who are you?

Tell me who you are and what you want to build. A few questions worth answering: