Description
Associate Attorney – Consumer Bankruptcy (Open to Recent Grads or Experienced Attorneys)
Firm: Kruger & Schwartz
Location: Louisville, KY (On-site)
Position Type: Full-Time
Experience Level: Entry-Level / Recent Graduate (Bar exam sitters or newly licensed) OR Experienced (1–5+ years in Chapters 7/13)
Salary Range: $75,000-$95,000 plus per case bonus
About Our Practice
Kruger & Schwartz is a dedicated boutique consumer bankruptcy law practice serving the greater Louisville metro area. We concentrate in helping individuals and families navigate financial hardship through Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 bankruptcy reorganizations. We pride ourselves on offering compassionate, high-quality legal representation during some of our clients' most stressful moments.
Whether you are a newly licensed attorney looking for a supportive environment to learn a highly rewarding practice area from the ground up, or an experienced bankruptcy practitioner looking for a lean, efficient firm with high autonomy and structural support, we have an infrastructure built for your success.
Position Overview
- For Recent Graduates: You will work directly alongside the managing partner, learning the day-to-day mechanics of consumer debtor representation, Best Case software training, and client management.
- For Experienced Attorneys: You will immediately step into a thriving caseload, managing files independently and taking on a key leadership role within our local practice operations.
Day-to-Day Responsibilities
- Client Consultations: Conduct consultations and intakes to evaluate client financial profiles, assets, income, and debt structures to identify the ideal bankruptcy chapter.
- Case Preparation: Draft comprehensive bankruptcy petitions, schedules and Chapter 13 plans using Best Case software.
- Court Appearances: Represent clients at 341 Meetings of Creditors, confirmation hearings, and adversarial proceedings (under supervision initially for grads; fully independent for lateral hires).
- Docket Management: Track strict statutory deadlines, coordinate electronic filings via CM/ECF under the Western District of Kentucky and Southern District of Indiana Local Rules, and manage an active consumer caseload.
What We Are Looking For
- We are seeking an empathetic, detail-oriented, and highly organized Associate Attorney to join our team.
- Education/Licensure: J.D. from an accredited law school. Must be admitted to the Kentucky Bar (or awaiting recent bar exam results).
- Experience Tiers:
- Tier 1 (Entry-Level): No experience required. High technical aptitude, a deep desire to learn debtor/creditor legal frameworks, and extreme organization.
- Tier 2 (Lateral/Experienced): 1 to 5+ years of active experience handling Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 files, attending 341 meetings, and navigating the Western District of Kentucky and Southern District of Indiana electronic filing systems.
- Exceptional Empathy: Consumer bankruptcy clients are frequently under intense financial and psychological stress. You must possess the emotional intelligence to deliver complex legal realities with kindness and clarity.
- Attention to Detail: Absolute precision when building out financial schedules and asset calculations within Best Case.
What We Offer
- Competitive Compensation: Base salary scaled dynamically to your experience tier, paired with an aggressive per-case flat-dollar bonus structure that pays out directly upon court milestones.
- Health Insurance: Comprehensive health coverage plan.
- Retirement: 401(k) retirement savings plan.
- Professional Development: Paid bar association dues (KBA, LBA) and continuing legal education (CLE) credits.
- Infrastructure: Dedicated administrative and paralegal workflow support so you can focus on lawyering rather than chasing paperwork.
- Clear Career Trajectory: Opportunity for direct practice leadership, increased origination fee splits, and long-term firm equity growth for lateral hires.
