Associate Attorney

Guzman Law Firm | Laredo, Texas
Starting Salary: $90,000
Work Arrangement: Full-time, in-office position. Remote work is not available for this role.

Guzman Law Firm is seeking an Associate Attorney who wants more than a job. We are looking for an attorney who wants to develop into a capable, independent litigator while helping clients navigate some of the most difficult moments of their lives.

This position is designed for an attorney who is prepared, accountable, assertive, detail-oriented, coachable, and willing to take ownership of their cases.

The Associate Attorney will initially focus on routine and non-contested court appearances, legal research and drafting, case preparation, and client communication. As the attorney demonstrates sound judgment, preparation, legal ability, and courtroom competence, the role will progressively expand into contested hearings and more complex litigation matters.

What You’ll Do

• Handle routine court appearances such as prove-ups, agreed matters, status hearings, arraignments, announcements, resets, and other appropriate hearings.
• Research legal issues and draft motions, responses, pleadings, proposed orders, and hearing outlines; prepare cases, witnesses, exhibits, and evidence for hearings and trial.
• Communicate directly with clients and prepare them for court; work closely with legal assistants to keep cases moving; identify deadlines, missing evidence, discovery issues, and other problems before they become emergencies.
• Progressively assume responsibility for contested hearings and litigation. This is an ownership position. We don’t want an attorney who waits to be told every next step. We want someone who can eventually come to the Managing Attorney and say: “Here’s the issue. Here are the options. Here’s what I recommend and why. Here’s what I need from you.”

Who We’re Looking For

The right attorney is…

• Confident enough to advocate in court without being unnecessarily aggressive.
• Highly organized and attentive to detail, logical and analytical while still possessing emotional intelligence.
• Comfortable communicating with judges, clients, opposing counsel, witnesses, and staff.
• Capable of working independently, willing to ask questions when appropriate.
• Receptive to coaching and correction, calm under pressure, and committed to moving cases forward with urgency.

We don’t expect a developing attorney to know everything.

We do expect preparation, integrity, effort, accountability, and the willingness to learn.

What Success Looks Like

Over time, you should become someone we can trust to take an assigned matter, understand the file, identify what needs to happen, prepare thoroughly, communicate with the client, appear in court, handle the matter appropriately, and report back without needing constant supervision.

The goal is progression:

Routine Attorney → Litigation Associate → Independent Litigator

As your competence grows, so will your responsibility.

Our Culture

Our motto is Relentless Representation.

Our core values are Client Focused, Confidentiality, Empathetic, Communication, Quality,
Accountability, Integrity, Personal Growth, Innovation, and Hustle.

Those aren’t words for the wall. They are the standards we expect from one another and the
standards by which we serve our clients.

This Position May Be a Good Fit If…
You want substantial courtroom experience. You want to become a stronger litigator. You take pride in being prepared. You naturally take ownership of your work. You can receive direct feedback without becoming defensive. You care about doing things correctly. You don’t need someone constantly reminding you to follow through.

And when you don’t know something, your instinct is to figure it out, research it, ask the right
question, and learn from it.

If you’re looking for a position where you can simply complete assigned tasks without taking ownership of your cases, this probably isn’t the right fit.

If you’re looking for an opportunity to develop as a lawyer, get into the courtroom, take on increasing responsibility, and become an independent litigator, we’d like to hear from you.

Compensation

Starting salary: $90,000 per year.

How to Apply

Please submit:
Your résumé and
A response of 150 words or fewer to the following question:

Tell us about a time you were given responsibility for something you did not initially know how to handle. What did you do?

Please follow the 150-word limit.