Associate Attorney - Veterans Disability, Estates & Business Advisory

Associate Attorney – Veterans Disability, Estates & Business AdvisoryThe Law Firm of Douglas G. Jackson, P.A. – St. Petersburg, Florida

Full-Time | Substantial Remote Flexibility
Total Cash Compensation Opportunity: $90,000–$150,000+
Base Salary: $90,000–$100,000 + Monthly Performance Bonuses

The Opportunity:

The Law Firm of Douglas G. Jackson, P.A. is a versatile, community-centered law firm seeking an Associate Attorney who wants to become an excellent lawyer, trusted counselor, problem solver, and, over time, a leader within the Firm and community.

Veterans Disability will initially constitute a substantial portion of this position, and current VA accreditation is strongly preferred. Attorneys who are already VA-accredited and capable of assuming responsibility for claims, appeals, and hearings are particularly encouraged to apply.

The position is intentionally broader than Veterans Disability. Depending upon experience, interests, and Firm needs, the attorney may also develop a practice involving:

• Probate and estate planning.
• Social Security Disability.
• Business formations and transactions.
• Contracts and contract review.
• Outside/fractional general counsel services.

We are open to attorneys at different stages of their careers. An experienced attorney who can assume significant responsibility immediately may be an excellent fit. We are also willing to train an exceptional newly admitted attorney with strong writing, analytical ability, initiative, maturity, and professional potential.

We care more about judgment, aptitude, problem-solving ability, and potential than a particular number of years in practice.

What You Will Do:

This is a substantive attorney position. Responsibilities may include:

• Interviewing clients and witnesses and taking statements.
• Reviewing medical, military, administrative, business, and other records.
• Identifying legal and factual issues.
• Researching unfamiliar questions and developing recommendations.
• Creating case and matter plans.
• Developing evidence and legal strategies.
• Drafting briefs, legal arguments, correspondence, pleadings, estate-planning documents, contracts, agreements, memoranda, and other legal documents.
• Preparing clients and witnesses for hearings.
• Conducting VA Board, Social Security, and other hearings as appropriate.
• Handling Veterans Disability claims and appeals.
• Counseling probate and estate-planning clients.
• Advising businesses concerning contracts, transactions, risk, and other legal issues.
• Working collaboratively with attorneys, paralegals, case managers, and administrative staff.

We do not want an attorney who merely identifies a problem and waits for someone else to decide what happens next.

As experience develops, we want our attorneys to be able to say:

“Here is the issue. Here are the available options. Here is what I recommend and why. Here is what we should do next.”

Our goal is progressive professional development:

Learn → Recommend → Decide → Own → Lead

Veterans Disability:

Veterans Disability is an important Firm practice and is expected to be a substantial part of this attorney's initial workload.

Matters may involve service connection, secondary conditions, increased ratings, effective dates, TDIU, special monthly compensation, medical and lay evidence, supplemental claims, higher-level reviews, Board appeals, and hearings.

Current VA accreditation is strongly preferred. Prior Veterans Disability and Board hearing experience are particularly valuable.

VA accreditation is not an absolute requirement. We will consider an exceptional attorney—including a newly admitted attorney—who demonstrates the ability and commitment to develop into a strong Veterans Disability practitioner.

Who We Are Looking For:

The ideal candidate is:

• Analytical but able to make decisions.
• An excellent or developing legal writer.
• Intellectually curious.
• Organized and detail-oriented.
• Comfortable taking responsibility.
• Solution-oriented.
• Capable of developing and executing a plan.
• Comfortable interviewing and communicating with clients.
• Willing to develop hearing and advocacy skills.
• Interested in both advocacy and advisory/transactional work.
• Receptive to substantive feedback.
• Capable of working independently while recognizing when guidance is appropriate.
• Interested in increasing responsibility and professional growth.

We particularly value attorneys who are decisive without being careless, analytical without becoming paralyzed, compassionate without losing professional judgment, and independent without becoming isolated from the team.

Candidates are not expected to have experience in every practice area listed in this posting.

Compensation

Base Salary: $90,000–$100,000, depending upon experience, qualifications, VA accreditation, and ability to assume responsibility.

Attorneys are also eligible for monthly performance-based bonuses tied to collected revenue, with enhanced bonus opportunities for business personally originated by the attorney.

Total cash compensation opportunity: $90,000–$150,000+ annually.

Compensation above base salary is performance-dependent and is not guaranteed. The Firm does not intend $150,000 to operate as a ceiling for an attorney whose productivity and business development justify greater compensation.

Benefits:

The Firm currently provides:

• 100% employer-paid medical insurance for the employee.
• 100% employer-paid dental insurance for the employee.
• 100% employer-paid vision insurance for the employee.
• 3% employer 401(k) contribution, without requiring an employee contribution to receive the Firm contribution.
• 15 paid Firm holidays annually.
• 15 days of starting PTO.
• Substantial remote-work flexibility.
• Firm-provided technology and support.
• Professional-development and advancement opportunities.

Remote Work:

The Firm operates in a flexible, technology-driven environment, and attorneys may perform substantial portions of their work remotely.

Flexibility is paired with accountability. Attorneys are responsible for managing schedules, meeting deadlines, maintaining client communication, collaborating with the legal team, accurately accounting for professional time, supervising delegated work, and keeping matters moving.

In-person participation is required when appropriate for hearings, court proceedings, client meetings, Firm meetings, training, community activities, and other professional responsibilities.

Community and Professional Development:

We believe practicing law and building community are connected.

The Firm is actively involved in St. Petersburg through professional, business, civic, educational, and service organizations and programs. We encourage our attorneys, as their careers develop, to build meaningful professional relationships and find authentic ways to participate in the communities we serve.

That may include Bar and professional organizations, civic and business organizations, community service, writing, speaking, educational programs, networking, and leadership.

We want our attorneys eventually to become people whom clients, professionals, and members of the community know, trust, call, and refer.

About the Firm:

The Law Firm of Douglas G. Jackson, P.A. is a St. Petersburg-based, versatile and community-centered law firm serving veterans, individuals, families, entrepreneurs, and businesses.

Our First Counsel™ philosophy recognizes that clients' problems do not always fit neatly within a single practice area. We seek to understand the client, identify the legal issues, develop a practical plan, and help determine the appropriate path forward.

We are looking for an attorney who wants not merely another legal job, but an opportunity to develop a meaningful practice, take real responsibility, build lasting relationships, serve clients well, participate in the community, and help build the future of the Firm.

The Law Firm of Douglas G. Jackson, P.A. is an equal opportunity employer.