Associate Attorney

About Symmes Law Group

Symmes Law Group PLLC is a remote-first consumer law firm serving clients throughout Washington State. Founded in 2010 by attorney Richard J. Symmes, the firm has built a reputation for exceptional personal service, rapid responsiveness, and results.

We operate on a flat-fee first model with some hourly litigation across Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 bankruptcy, debt settlement, foreclosure mediation, estate planning and probate, short sale negotiations, flat-fee real estate purchase and sale, and surplus funds recovery. Our team is lean, efficient, and technology-forward. This is not a traditional law firm environment — it is a well-run legal business with strong systems and a loyal client base.

The Opportunity

We are seeking our first associate attorney to join the firm. This is a high-autonomy, substantive role for an experienced attorney who can hit the ground running. You will inherit a fully prepped caseload supported by two experienced remote legal assistants, and serve as the firm's attorney review layer for routine matters — freeing the principal to focus on complex cases and client development.

This role is ideal for someone who wants to do excellent consumer legal work without the pressure of billable hour quotas, business development targets, or big-firm bureaucracy. Sales, customer service and tech experience is a plus as well as a genuine interest in helping people through difficult situations and being able to do so efficiently and with compassion.  

What You Will Do

•      Appear at Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 meetings of creditors (341 hearings)

•      Review and approve bankruptcy petitions, schedules, and plans prepared by the legal assistant team

•      Appear at surplus funds recovery hearings in King County Superior Court and surrounding courts

•      Supervise and approve debt settlement negotiations and creditor agreements

•      Conduct initial consultations for Chapter 7, debt settlement, and estate planning matters

•      Review wills, trusts, powers of attorney, and probate documents

•      Review deeds and draft flat-fee purchase and sale agreements, short sale and loan modification assistance

•      Communicate with clients on case status, strategy, and next steps

•      Work remotely with rare in-office appearances at our Seattle office (Westlake Ave N).

•      Handle daily client consultations and convert leads into clients and be responsive to client inquiries daily. 

What You Will NOT Do

•      Build your own caseload — cases come to you fully prepped by an experienced support team

•      Handle billing, collections, or administrative tasks — the VA team manages these

Qualifications

•      Active Washington State Bar license (required)

•      3 to 5 years of experience in consumer bankruptcy, Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 (required)

•      Familiarity with Western District of Washington bankruptcy court procedures (strongly preferred)

•      Experience in estate planning, real estate law, or debt settlement (preferred)

•      Comfortable working remotely and managing workflow through practice management software

•      Strong written communication skills — you will be approving and overseeing client-facing correspondence

•      Self-directed and organized, able to manage multiple active matters simultaneously

•      Sales, customer service, and real estate experience a plus 

•      If there is interest and experience in Chapter 11 bankruptcy, Consumer Litigation, student Loan discharge in bankruptcy through the adversary/attestation process that is a plus 

Compensation & Benefits

Base Salary - $95,000 – $125,000 DOE (send salary requirements)

Health Insurance Stipend after probationary period - $500 – $700/month

Malpractice Insurance Covered by firm

Remote First — home based, Zoom/phone primary, some office or court appearances may be needed. Open to fully remote for the right candidate.

Our Culture

Client reviews of Symmes Law Group consistently highlight one thing above all else: responsiveness and personal care. The right associate will share that value — not in a nights-and-weekends-always way, but in a genuinely client-first, communicative way. You do not need to work like a solo attorney. You just need to treat clients the way you would want to be treated and be capable of communicating options and converting qualified leads into clients by demonstrating your knowledge of how the firm can assist.

How to Apply

Send the following to symmeslaw@gmail.com with the subject line "Associate Attorney Application":

•      Resume

•      Cover letter explaining your bankruptcy experience and why this role appeals to you and be sure to mention for favorite vacation spot.

• Applications reviewed on a rolling basis. No recruiters or staffing agencies please.