Associate Attorney

Associate Attorney Real Estate & Community Association Law Smith Knowles PLLC | Ogden, Utah | $90,000$125,000 DOE

Smith Knowles PLLC is hiring an Associate Attorney to join our real estate and community association practice. This is a substantive role with early responsibility you'll be in court, in front of clients, and on the drafting end of complex work alongside experienced partners who actually mentor.

What the work looks like

HOAs are effectively small cities governance, contracts, finances, enforcement, disputes, real property, employment-adjacent issues, and statutory compliance all live under one roof. Our practice spans HOA and condominium governance counsel, association collections, real estate litigation, and transactional work including declarations, amendments, and CC&Rs. We represent boards across Utah and Idaho, which means recurring institutional clients and a steady mix of litigation, counseling, and drafting not the same matter on repeat.

You will:

• Draft pleadings, motions, contracts, declarations, amendments, and client correspondence
• Conduct legal research on Utah and Idaho HOA, condominium, nonprofit corporation, and real property law
• Manage discovery and depositions
• Appear in court on hearings and trials, with first-chair opportunities as you progress
• Work directly with senior partners on active matters from day one

Who we're looking for

• J.D. from an accredited law school
• Active Utah or Idaho bar license
• 25 years of experience in a law firm, clerkship, or related legal setting
• Strong writing, clear thinking, and the temperament to work with board members and opposing counsel professionally
• Interest in becoming a genuine subject-matter expert in a specialized practice area

What we offer

• Salary: $90,000$125,000 depending on experience
• 1,600 billable hour expectation we mean it about work/life balance
• Health insurance premiums covered for employee
• 401(k) with employer match
• Paid holidays and PTO
• CLE budget and bar dues paid
• Structured mentorship: weekly case reviews with a supervising partner, direct partner access on every matter, and a clear development plan from your first 90 days forward
• In-office role at our Ogden office. We invest heavily in mentorship and find it works best in person you'll learn faster sitting near the partners you're working with than you would on a screen.

To apply

Send a resume, cover letter, and three professional references to ...