Associate Attorney

Underwood Law Firm, PC; Fort Worth (TX); On-site; USD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401(k)

401(k) matching

Health insurance

Vision insurance

Life insurance

Job summary

Underwood Law Firm, PC in Fort Worth seeks an associate attorney with about four years of experience to support our commercial litigation and business law practice. The role involves hands-on litigation, work on contested matters, and substantial drafting, discovery, and case strategy responsibilities.

The ideal candidate will assist businesses and institutions in complex litigation, regulatory, transactional, and advisory work, with independence and a willingness to receive detailed feedback

Qualifications

• Approx. four years of relevant legal experience.
• Strong litigation background in contested matters.
• Proficiency in drafting substantive motions and briefs.
• Ability to analyze issues, develop case strategy, and manage discovery.

Responsibilities

• Analyze litigation issues and provide practical recommendations.
• Draft and revise pleadings, motions, briefs, and discovery materials.
• Manage significant portions of matters, including discovery and deadlines.
• Prepare witnesses, deposition outlines, and trial materials.
• Participate in depositions, hearings, mediations, and trials.
• Coordinate with clients, experts, and opposing counsel.
• Draft and revise commercial agreements and related documents.
• Maintain organized matter files and meet deadlines.
• Collaborate with firm attorneys to provide business-focused legal counsel.

Skills

Litigation experience

Drafting motions

Case strategy

Client communication

Independent work

Education

Juris Doctor

Job description

$120,000-$160,000 per year, commensurate with experience, with eligibility for performance-based bonuses

Job Description

Underwood Law Firm's Fort Worth office is seeking an associate attorney with approximately four years of experience to work with members of the firm's commercial litigation and business law practice.

This position requires meaningful, hands-on litigation experience. The successful candidate will have worked directly on contested matters and be prepared to contribute substantively from the outset, including analyzing litigation issues, developing case strategy, handling discovery, and drafting motions and briefs. First-chair trial experience is not required, but the candidate should understand the progression of a case and have experience working closely with experienced litigators through multiple stages of litigation.

The associate will represent businesses, financial institutions, and other organizations in complex litigation, regulatory, transactional, and business-advisory matters. The practice includes commercial and contract disputes, banking and lending matters, construction litigation, fraud and fiduciary-duty claims, regulatory proceedings, cybersecurity and data-breach matters, workplace issues, and outside-general-counsel services.

The ideal candidate will be a careful, disciplined lawyer who takes ownership of assignments, identifies issues before they become problems, and produces precise, polished work. The position is best suited for an attorney who can work with a high degree of independence while remaining receptive to detailed direction, established drafting preferences, and rigorous review.

Responsibilities

• Analyze complex procedural, evidentiary, and substantive litigation issues and provide practical, well-supported recommendations;
• Draft and revise pleadings, motions, briefs, dispositive motions, discovery requests and responses, and other litigation documents with close attention to strategy, accuracy, organization, and persuasive presentation;
• Manage significant portions of matters, including written discovery, document review, case calendars, procedural requirements, and deadlines;
• Prepare witnesses, deposition outlines, hearing materials, mediation submissions, trial materials, and other case-specific work product;
• Prepare for and participate in depositions, hearings, mediations, arbitrations, and trials;
• Work closely with clients and senior attorneys to evaluate claims, defenses, damages, legal risk, and litigation strategy;
• Investigate facts, interview witnesses, and coordinate effectively with clients, experts, consultants, vendors, and opposing counsel;
• Assist clients with commercial disputes involving contracts, lending relationships, construction projects, business operations, and related matters;
• Support regulatory and administrative matters, including agency investigations, inspections, audits, citations, and examinations;
• Assist with cybersecurity incidents, data-breach response, internal investigations, and related compliance matters;
• Review, draft, and revise commercial agreements, policies, procedures, and other business documents;
• Communicate directly with clients regarding case developments, risk assessments, and recommended courses of action;
• Maintain complete, accurate, and organized matter files and ensure compliance with court rules, procedural requirements, and internal deadlines; and
• Collaborate with attorneys and staff across the firm to provide practical, responsive, and business-focused legal counsel.

Qualifications

• A Juris Doctor degree from an accredited law school;
• An active license to practice law in Texas and good standing with the State Bar of Texas;
• Approximately four years of relevant legal experience, with a strong preference for candidates at or near the fourth-year level;
• Meaningful litigation experience, including substantial involvement in contested matters and direct experience working with litigators through multiple stages of a case;
• Demonstrated experience drafting substantive motions and briefs, managing discovery, analyzing case strategy, and preparing for depositions, hearings, mediations, or trial;
• The ability to independently identify legal and factual issues, evaluate available options, and recommend a reasoned course of action;
• Excellent legal research, analytical, and persuasive writing skills;
• Exceptional attention to detail and the ability to produce accurate, polished work that conforms to matter-specific requirements and established drafting standards;
• The judgment and experience to manage multiple matters, competing deadlines, and changing priorities with limited day-to-day supervision;
• The ability to receive detailed feedback, incorporate revisions carefully, and apply guidance consistently to future assignments;
• Effective written and verbal communication skills and the confidence to communicate directly with clients and other professionals;
• A practical, solutions-oriented approach to legal and business issues;
• The ability to work independently while collaborating effectively with attorneys, clients, and professional staff; and
• A willingness to take ownership of assignments and assume meaningful responsibility for matters and client relationships.

Experience in commercial or business litigation is strongly preferred. Experience involving financial institutions, construction-related claims, regulatory proceedings, cybersecurity matters, or business transactions is beneficial but not required. First-chair trial experience is not required; however, this position is not intended as an entry-level training role, and candidates should be prepared to contribute substantively to active matters upon joining the firm.

• 401(k);
• 401(k) matching;
• Health insurance;
• Vision insurance; and
• Life insurance

About the Opportunity

This position offers an experienced associate the opportunity to work closely with experienced attorneys on sophisticated legal and business matters across a variety of industries, including clients in financial services, agriculture, construction, healthcare, telecommunications, and real estate, providing the associate exposure to both litigation and advisory work.

The successful candidate will assume meaningful responsibility from the outset, communicate directly with clients, deepen courtroom and deposition experience, and continue developing the judgment necessary to become a trusted advisor to businesses and institutions.

Underwood Law Firm is an equal opportunity employer.