Washington Associate Attorney

About the role

• The Associate Attorney supports The Mortgage Law Firm's Washington practice located in Vancouver, WA and may be in office or remote. The position manages assigned legal matters involving judicial and nonjudicial foreclosure, foreclosure-related litigation, bankruptcy, title and post-sale issues, evictions, loss mitigation, lender defense, and other creditor-rights matters. The attorney prepares and reviews legal work, appears in court and other proceedings, advises internal teams on Washington law and procedure, and provides responsive service to clients. This role requires sound legal judgment, strong file ownership, timely communication, and the ability to manage competing deadlines in a high-volume practice. The Associate Attorney works closely with the Senior Managing Attorney, attorneys, operations leaders, paralegals, clients, courts, trustees, vendors, and other business partners to deliver accurate, compliant, and practical legal solutions.

What you'll do

Case Management and Legal Strategy

• Manage multiple Washington matters through all assigned stages, including judicial foreclosures, contested and uncontested matters, mediations, with clear ownership of deadlines, strategy, documentation, and next steps.
• Complete initial file intake, identify legal and procedural issues, and develop a practical strategy for each assigned matter.
• Research and analyze Washington statutes, court rules, case law, local requirements, client directives, investor requirements, and the facts of each matter.
• Identify title, lien, probate, bankruptcy, documentation, standing, service, sale, or post-sale concerns and recommend an appropriate course of action.
• Maintain accurate and complete case notes, calendars, status reporting, and supporting documentation in firm and client systems.
• Escalate material legal, compliance, client, deadline, or reputational risks to the Senior Managing Attorney promptly

Legal Drafting, Review, and Proceedings

• Prepare timely, accurate, and well-supported pleadings, motions, briefs, declarations, discovery, correspondence, settlement documents, notices, and other legal work product.
• Review, audit, edit, and approve legal work prepared by paralegals and other support staff before filing, recording, or transmission, as appropriate.
• Attend and represent clients at court hearings, mediations, settlement conferences, trials, oral arguments, trustee-sale related proceedings, and other required appearances.
• Coordinate with local counsel, opposing counsel, trustees, courts, title companies, process servers, auction vendors, and other third parties when required.
• Ensure filings, appearances, service, notices, and client reporting are completed within applicable deadlines and documented accurately.
• Accurately record billable time and other required activity contemporaneously.

Washington Practice Support

• Serve as a Washington legal resource for attorneys and operations teams handling foreclosure, bankruptcy, title, eviction, litigation, and post-sale matters.
• Provide clear legal guidance to paralegals and operational staff while distinguishing legal decisions from administrative or business processes.
• Monitor changes in Washington law, court requirements, and industry practices that may affect the firm's work, and communicate needed updates to leadership and impacted teams.
• Assist with developing, reviewing, and maintaining Washington procedures, templates, training materials, and quality controls.
• Support training and continued development of attorneys, paralegals, and staff on Washington-specific legal requirements and recurring issues.
• Participate in internal file reviews, client audits, quality initiatives, corrective action planning, and process-improvement efforts.

Client Service and Collaboration

• Act as a primary legal contact for assigned matters and provide timely, clear, and professional communication to clients and internal teams.
• Explain legal risks, options, and recommendations in practical terms that support informed decision-making.
• Respond promptly to client requests, escalations, scorecard concerns, and requests for legal analysis.
• Maintain productive working relationships across the firm and contribute to a responsive, accountable, and service-focused culture.
• Participate in client meetings, internal meetings, training, and continuing legal education as required.
• Perform other legal and professional responsibilities assigned by the Senior Managing Attorney or firm leadership.

Qualifications

• Juris Doctor degree from an accredited law school.
• Active Washington State Bar license in good standing.
• Minimum of eight years licensed to practice law in Washington State.
• Ability to practice, if needed, from the firm's Vancouver, Washington office..
• Experience managing legal matters, deadlines, client communications, and written work product with limited supervision.
• Strong legal research, analysis, drafting, negotiation, advocacy, and oral communication skills.
• Ability to appear in Washington state and federal courts and before other tribunals, as required.
• Ability to travel for court appearances, client meetings, training, and other business needs.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Word, Outlook, Teams, Adobe Acrobat, legal research platforms such as Westlaw, electronic filing systems, and time-billing or case-management software.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Experience with Washington nonjudicial foreclosure, creditor-rights litigation, bankruptcy, evictions, title, real property, loss mitigation, or mortgage servicing matters.
• Experience representing mortgage lenders, servicers, trustees, investors, or other financial-services clients.
• Experience reviewing and guiding paralegal or support-staff work product.
• Experience handling contested matters, discovery, dispositive motions, hearings, trials, appeals, or settlement negotiations.
• Working knowledge of title review, lien priority, post-sale marketability, probate, and related real-property issues.

PHYSICAL AND WORK REQUIREMENTS

• Full-time, in-office, hybrid, or fully remote position located in Vancouver, Washington.
• 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 STATEMENT

This 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.