About the role- The Associate Attorney represents creditors in consumer and commercial bankruptcy matters and supports The Mortgage Law Firm's bankruptcy practice. The attorney manages an assigned caseload, protects creditor rights throughout bankruptcy proceedings, provides legal guidance to clients and firm staff, and ensures matters are handled accurately, timely, and in accordance with applicable federal and local bankruptcy requirements. This position reports to the Senior Managing Attorney and may be based in either the firm's Dallas, Texas, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, or Temecula, California office, or fully remote. The role requires strong bankruptcy knowledge, including bankruptcy hearings, practical legal judgment, disciplined portfolio management, and responsive client service in a high-volume creditors' rights environment.
What you'll doBankruptcy Case and Portfolio Management- Manage an assigned portfolio of creditor bankruptcy matters from referral through resolution, including Chapter 7, Chapter 11, Chapter 12, and Chapter 13 matters as applicable.
- Analyze petitions, schedules, statements, plans, claims, notices, motions, court orders, and docket activity to identify issues affecting the client's rights, lien position, collateral, or recovery.
- Develop and execute case strategies consistent with applicable law, client instructions, investor requirements, court rules, and firm procedures.
- Monitor bankruptcy dockets and deadlines and ensure actionable events are identified, addressed, and communicated promptly.
- Maintain accurate and timely updates in firm and client systems, including status, hearing results, deadlines, legal analysis, and next steps.
- Identify and promptly escalate material legal, compliance, client, deadline, or reputational risks to the Senior Managing Attorney.
Pleadings, Claims, and Contested Matters- Draft, review, revise, and file motions for relief from stay, objections to confirmation, objections to claims, responses to midterm audits and final cures, proofs of claim, notices, declarations, briefs, stipulations, proposed orders, and other bankruptcy pleadings and documents.
- Represent creditors in contested matters and adversary proceedings involving lien rights, claim treatment, discharge ability, avoidance actions, valuation, plan treatment, stay issues, and other matters affecting creditor interests.
- Evaluate Chapter 11, Chapter 12, and Chapter 13 plans and recommend objections, negotiated treatment, or other appropriate action based on the client's position and objectives.
- Review payment histories, loan documents, security instruments, assignments, title information, escrow records, fees, advances, and other supporting records as necessary to establish and protect claims.
- Negotiate resolutions, stipulations, adequate-protection arrangements, plan treatment, and other case-specific outcomes consistent with client authority and applicable law.
Hearings and Court Representation- Attend bankruptcy hearings, status conferences, mediations, evidentiary proceedings, trials, and other court appearances as required.
- Prepare for hearings by reviewing the docket, pleadings, evidence, client objectives, anticipated arguments, and requested relief.
- When local appearance counsel is used, provide clear instructions and supporting materials and confirm counsel is prepared for the scheduled appearance.
- Communicate hearing results and resulting deadlines or action items promptly to clients and internal teams.
- Ensure appropriate coverage for assigned hearings and court obligations.
Legal Review, Quality, and Staff Support- Review, audit, edit, and approve bankruptcy work product prepared by paralegals and other support staff before client or court submission, as appropriate.
- Answer file-level legal questions and provide clear direction to bankruptcy staff regarding legal requirements, deadlines, and strategy.
- Maintain and improve state-, district-, and judge-specific templates and guidance as needed to reflect current rules and practice requirements.
- Provide training and practical guidance to attorneys, paralegals, and staff on bankruptcy procedures, recurring legal issues, and client requirements.
- Participate in quality reviews, client audits, corrective action planning, and process-improvement initiatives affecting the bankruptcy practice.
Client Service and Legal Research- Serve as a legal point of contact for assigned bankruptcy matters and respond timely to client questions, escalations, and requests for legal analysis.
- Explain legal risks, options, recommendations, and case developments in practical terms that support informed client decisions.
- Research federal bankruptcy law, applicable state law, local bankruptcy rules, standing orders, and judge-specific requirements.
- Monitor significant legal and procedural developments affecting creditors and recommend updates to practices, templates, training, or workflows.
- Accurately record billable time and other required attorney activity contemporaneously.
- Participate in client meetings, internal meetings, continuing legal education, and other professional development activities.
- Perform other legal and professional responsibilities assigned by the Senior Managing Attorney or firm leadership.
Required Qualifications- Juris Doctor degree from an accredited law school.
- Active bar license in good standing in at least one of the following states: California (preferred), Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas, or Washington.
- Minimum of five years licensed to practice law in at least one of the qualifying states listed above.
- Experience representing creditors in bankruptcy proceedings, preferably mortgage lenders, servicers, financial institutions, investors, or other secured creditors.
- Admission to the applicable United States Bankruptcy Court or ability to obtain the federal admissions required for assigned matters.
- Strong working knowledge of the United States Bankruptcy Code, Federal Rules of Bankruptcy Procedure, local bankruptcy rules, and creditor remedies.
- Ability to manage a high-volume caseload, competing deadlines, court appearances, and client reporting requirements with limited supervision.
- Strong legal research, analytical, drafting, negotiation, advocacy, and oral communication skills.
- Proficiency with Microsoft Word, Outlook, Teams, Adobe Acrobat, legal research platforms such as Westlaw, electronic court filing systems, and time-billing or case-management software.
Preferred Qualifications - Substantial experience representing mortgage servicers, lenders, banks, credit unions, investors, trustees, or other institutional creditors in bankruptcy matters.
- Experience with Chapters 7, 11, 12, and 13 and with motions for relief from stay, plan objections, proofs of claim, contested matters, and adversary proceedings.
- Experience with mortgage default servicing, foreclosure, title, real property, loss mitigation, or related creditors' rights matters.
- Experience supervising, training, or reviewing the work of paralegals, legal assistants, or junior attorneys.
- Admission in more than one state in which the firm practices or the ability and willingness to obtain additional federal court admissions as business needs require.
PHYSICAL AND WORK REQUIREMENTS- Position maybe remote or based in the Dallas, Texas, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, or Temecula, California office of The Mortgage Law Firm.
- Regularly required to sit and use a computer, keyboard, telephone, and other standard office equipment.
- Occasionally required to stand, walk, speak, hear, and travel to court or other business locations.
- The noise level in the office environment is generally moderate.
- Reasonable accommodation may be provided to qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the position.
GENERAL STATEMENTThis job description describes the general nature and level of work performed by the person assigned to this position. It is not a complete list of every duty, responsibility, or qualification. Management may assign, modify, or reassign duties and responsibilities based on business needs. Nothing in this job description creates a contract of employment or changes the at-will nature of employment, where applicable.
The pay range for this role is:
120,000 - 150,000 USD per year (Remote (Temecula, CA, US))
