Contract Family Law Attorney

Contract Family Law AttorneyDevenere Law CollectiveAbout Devenere Law CollectiveDevenere Law Collective is a modern, collaborative law practice serving clients in matters that protect families, businesses, assets, and long-term wealth. Its work includes civil and business litigation, family law, trusts and estates, construction-related matters, corporate law, and intellectual property.The firm operates primarily remotely but maintains an office in downtown Houston. Attorneys work collaboratively across practice areas and may be required to attend the office for trial preparation, client preparation, team collaboration, or client meetings.The firm’s culture is intentionally collaborative and nonhierarchical. Attorneys, paralegals, case managers, and support professionals are expected to work as a team, accept constructive review, and contribute wherever their expertise is needed. The firm also values authenticity, community involvement, innovation, professionalism, and a client-centered approach.Position SummaryDevenere Law Collective is seeking an experienced Contract Family Law Attorney to manage Texas family-law matters from intake through resolution.The attorney will represent clients in divorce, custody, child support, property division, enforcement, modification, and related proceedings. Responsibilities include client counseling, case strategy, pleadings, discovery, negotiation, mediation, hearings, and trial.This role requires an attorney who combines strong courtroom advocacy with empathy, discretion, and practical judgment. Family-law matters often involve sensitive financial, parental, and personal information. The selected attorney must maintain client trust while providing candid, strategic advice through emotionally difficult disputes.The position is primarily remote, but the attorney must reside within practical traveling distance of the Greater Houston area and attend court, trial preparation, client preparation, and office meetings when required.Compensation and Contract StructureCompensation of $90–$115 per approved billable hour.Approximately 160 approved billable hours expected each month.Estimated monthly compensation of approximately $14,400–$18,400 at the expected monthly billable level.Compensation applies only to properly recorded and approved client-billable activity.1099 independent-contractor classification.No employee benefits during the contract period.Initial commitment of approximately six to eight months.Potential conversion to full-time employment based on performance, client service, cultural alignment, and firm needs.Key ResponsibilitiesFamily Law Case ManagementManage family-law matters from initial consultation through settlement, final hearing, or trial.Develop case strategies based on client objectives, applicable law, evidence, risk, and cost.Maintain control of deadlines, discovery, court dates, mediation requirements, and client commitments.Analyze financial, parental, property, and procedural issues.Provide realistic assessments of legal options and potential outcomes.Identify urgent issues requiring temporary orders, emergency relief, or expedited action.Pleadings and Legal DocumentsDraft and review petitions, answers, counterpetitions, motions, temporary orders, discovery, settlement documents, and final orders.Prepare modification and enforcement filings.Draft parentage, custody, support, conservatorship, and possession-related documents.Review financial records, inventories, appraisements, proposed property divisions, and supporting evidence.Ensure filings comply with Texas procedural requirements and court deadlines.Court, Mediation, and Trial RepresentationRepresent clients in hearings, mediations, temporary-order proceedings, final trials, and other court appearances.Prepare clients and witnesses for testimony.Develop exhibits and evidentiary presentations.Conduct direct and cross-examination.Present persuasive oral argument.Negotiate effectively while protecting client interests.Remain professional during contentious or emotionally charged proceedings.Discovery and EvidenceDraft and respond to interrogatories, requests for production, requests for admission, disclosure requests, and subpoenas.Review financial, business, property, medical, educational, and parenting-related records.Prepare for and conduct depositions.Identify discovery deficiencies and pursue appropriate remedies.Organize evidence for hearings, mediation, and trial.Coordinate efficiently with paralegals and support staff.Client CounselingGuide clients through divorce, custody, support, property, and post-judgment matters.Explain legal strategy and procedural developments in understandable language.Set realistic expectations without minimizing the client’s concerns.Maintain appropriate professional boundaries.De-escalate emotionally difficult interactions.Protect sensitive family, financial, business, and personally identifiable information.Communicate promptly regarding deadlines, court orders, settlement developments, and case risks.Collaboration and Quality ControlWork collaboratively with supervising attorneys, colleagues, paralegals, case managers, and administrative staff.Participate constructively in work-product review.Accept and incorporate feedback.Assist other team members when case demands require collaboration.Contribute to the firm’s low-ego, team-oriented culture.Treat every colleague professionally, regardless of role or title.Billing and TimekeepingMaintain accurate and contemporaneous billing records.Enter descriptive client-chargeable activity into the designated system.Meet the expected monthly billable requirement.Follow established timekeeping and billing procedures.Correct or supplement billing entries when necessary.Track work carefully to avoid lost or noncompensable time.Required QualificationsActive and good-standing Texas law license.At least five years of legal practice preferred.Strong family-law experience involving divorce, custody, child support, and related matters.Meaningful hearing and trial experience.Ability to independently manage family-law cases.Experience drafting pleadings, motions, discovery, and final orders.Strong negotiation and mediation skills.Excellent written and oral advocacy.Strong client counseling and expectation-management skills.Ability to manage sensitive and high-conflict matters.Capacity to produce approximately 160 approved billable hours per month.Ability to commit to the engagement for at least six to eight months.Ability to attend court in Harris, Fort Bend, and Brazoria Counties.Ability to attend the Houston office when needed.Strong confidentiality, discretion, and professional judgment.Willingness to collaborate with attorneys and support staff.Openness to potential full-time employment after the contract period.Preferred QualificationsExperience with complex or high-conflict divorce and custody disputes.Experience involving business interests, substantial assets, trusts, or complex property division.Enforcement and modification experience.Temporary-order and emergency-hearing experience.Deposition and contested-trial experience.Guardianship or probate exposure.Experience serving high-profile clients or handling matters subject to strict confidentiality.Experience working successfully in a remote or hybrid legal environment.Core CompetenciesTexas Family LawDivorce LitigationChild CustodyChild SupportConservatorshipPossession and AccessProperty DivisionHigh-Asset DivorceEnforcementModificationTemporary OrdersFamily Law DiscoveryDepositionsMediationTrial AdvocacyClient CounselingConflict ManagementLegal ResearchLegal WritingBilling ComplianceConfidentialityCollaborative Legal Practice
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