Resident/Associate Attorney Fall '27

Modern Family Law•San Jose, CA

3d•$83,200 - $161,700•Hybrid

About The Position

Modern Family Law (MFL), a rapidly expanding national law firm specializing in family law, is seeking 3Ls and recent graduates who will sit for the July 2027 Bar exam to participate in MFL Academy’s Residency Program in its Oakland, Petaluma, or San Jose, California offices. The role is hybrid, and candidates must sit for the Bar and plan to reside in the state where they are applying. After sitting for the Bar exam, Residency participants join MFL for training in substantive family law and courtroom advocacy. Residents receive mentorship from the MFL Learning & Development department and legal teams to support their transition to an MFL Associate Attorney position upon passing the Bar. The Resident/Associate will develop skills in client conversion and prepare to handle client matters from start to finish. The position offers a remote-first setting with office space available, with in-person attendance as required by courts and clients. Associate Attorneys have a 100-hour monthly billable requirement, direct client contact, case-management responsibilities, and the opportunity to develop litigation skills as first chair early in their careers. The firm provides access to technology for caseload management and communication, ongoing learning and development, and transparent advancement tracks and leadership opportunities. The Resident salary is $83,200. The starting Associate Attorney base salary is $135,000, with total possible earnings of $161,700. The stated salary range is $83,200–$161,700; actual pay may vary based on experience, location, and other job-related factors permitted by law.

Requirements

Be a 3L or recent graduate and register for the July 2027 Bar exam.
Hold a Juris Doctor from an ABA-accredited law school.
Attain a passing score on the MPRE before sitting for the Bar exam.
Submit a Character & Fitness application to the State Bar in a timely manner and obtain approval.
Plan to reside in the state where applying.
Submit a cover letter, law school transcript, and responses to the candidate questionnaire.
Thrive in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment while managing multiple responsibilities with attention to detail.
Be eager to learn, grow, practice, and incorporate feedback.

Nice To Haves

Experience in Family Law Clinics.
Mock Trial experience.

Responsibilities

Participate in residency training in substantive family law and courtroom advocacy after sitting for the Bar exam.
Develop client-conversion skills through training.
Study proactively, complete assignments, ask questions, and prepare to handle client matters from start to finish upon completion of the Residency.
As an Associate Attorney, maintain a 100-hour monthly billable requirement.
Have direct client contact and manage cases involving divorce, child custody, financial support, and other family-law matters.
Develop and practice litigation skills, including serving as first chair early in the career.
Work collaboratively in a respectful, growth-oriented team environment and incorporate feedback.