Associate Attorney - Bankruptcy

The Mortgage Law Firm•Temecula, CA

1d•$120,000 - $150,000

About The Position

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, promptly, and in accordance with applicable federal and local bankruptcy requirements. The position reports to the Senior Managing Attorney and may be based in the firm's Dallas, Texas; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; or Temecula, California office, or be fully remote. It requires strong bankruptcy knowledge, including experience with bankruptcy hearings, practical legal judgment, disciplined portfolio management, and responsive client service in a high-volume creditors' rights environment. The role includes managing creditor bankruptcy cases and portfolios; analyzing filings and docket activity; developing case strategies; drafting and filing pleadings; representing creditors in contested matters and adversary proceedings; evaluating plans; and negotiating case resolutions. The attorney attends and prepares for hearings and court appearances, oversees work product and provides direction and training to support staff, responds to client questions, conducts legal research, tracks developments in bankruptcy law and practice, and records billable time. Other legal and professional responsibilities may be assigned by the Senior Managing Attorney or firm leadership.

Requirements

Juris Doctor degree from an accredited law school.
Active bar license in good standing in at least one of California, Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas, or Washington; California is preferred.
At least five years licensed to practice law in at least one of the qualifying states listed.
Experience representing creditors in bankruptcy proceedings; experience representing mortgage lenders, servicers, financial institutions, investors, or other secured creditors is preferred.
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.

Nice To Haves

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 ability and willingness to obtain additional federal court admissions as business needs require.

Responsibilities

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 for issues affecting client 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, identify actionable events, and communicate and address them promptly.
Maintain accurate, 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.
Draft, review, revise, and file bankruptcy motions, objections, responses, proofs of claim, notices, declarations, briefs, stipulations, proposed orders, and other pleadings and documents.
Represent creditors in contested matters and adversary proceedings involving lien rights, claim treatment, dischargeability, 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.
Review payment histories, loan documents, security instruments, assignments, title information, escrow records, fees, advances, and other records 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.
Attend bankruptcy hearings, status conferences, mediations, evidentiary proceedings, trials, and other court appearances as required.
Prepare for hearings by reviewing dockets, pleadings, evidence, client objectives, anticipated arguments, and requested relief.
Provide instructions and supporting materials to local appearance counsel when used, and confirm counsel is prepared for scheduled appearances.
Communicate hearing results and resulting deadlines or action items promptly to clients and internal teams, and ensure appropriate coverage for assigned hearings and court obligations.
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 bankruptcy staff with direction regarding legal requirements, deadlines, and strategy.
Maintain and improve state-, district-, and judge-specific templates and guidance 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.
Serve as a legal point of contact for assigned matters and respond promptly to client questions, escalations, and requests for legal analysis.
Explain legal risks, options, recommendations, and case developments in practical terms to 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.