Associate Attorney - Bankruptcy

About the company

For decades, The Mortgage Law Firm has been a trusted name in default legal services, providing comprehensive solutions to mortgage servicers, banks, investors, and other financial institutions. Our success is built on a deep understanding of the industry, strong relationships, and an unwavering commitment to client service. We take pride in being more than just legal counsel—we are a dedicated partner to our clients, ensuring they have the resources, support, and legal guidance needed to navigate complex regulations and mitigate risk. Whether through ongoing legal representation, training sessions, or industry advocacy, we work alongside our clients to drive success.

About the role

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, timely, and in accordance with applicable federal and local bankruptcy requirements. This position reports to the Senior Managing Attorney and may be based in either the firm's Dallas, Texas, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, or Temecula, California office, or fully remote. The role requires strong bankruptcy knowledge, including bankruptcy hearings, practical legal judgment, disciplined portfolio management, and responsive client service in a high-volume creditors' rights environment.

Responsibilities

Bankruptcy Case and Portfolio Management

• 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 to identify issues affecting the client's 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 and ensure actionable events are identified, addressed, and communicated promptly.
• Maintain accurate and 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.

Pleadings, Claims, and Contested Matters

• Draft, review, revise, and file motions for relief from stay, objections to confirmation, objections to claims, responses to midterm audits and final cures, proofs of claim, notices, declarations, briefs, stipulations, proposed orders, and other bankruptcy pleadings and documents.
• Represent creditors in contested matters and adversary proceedings involving lien rights, claim treatment, discharge ability, 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 based on the client's position and objectives.
• Review payment histories, loan documents, security instruments, assignments, title information, escrow records, fees, advances, and other supporting records as necessary 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.

Hearings and Court Representation

• Attend bankruptcy hearings, status conferences, mediations, evidentiary proceedings, trials, and other court appearances as required.
• Prepare for hearings by reviewing the docket, pleadings, evidence, client objectives, anticipated arguments, and requested relief.
• When local appearance counsel is used, provide clear instructions and supporting materials and confirm counsel is prepared for the scheduled appearance.
• Communicate hearing results and resulting deadlines or action items promptly to clients and internal teams.
• Ensure appropriate coverage for assigned hearings and court obligations.

Legal Review, Quality, and Staff Support

• 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 clear direction to bankruptcy staff regarding legal requirements, deadlines, and strategy.
• Maintain and improve state-, district-, and judge-specific templates and guidance as needed 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-im