Careers at Morris Laing Law Firm
Morris Laing is honored to be nominated as one of the Wichita Business Journal’s Best Places to Work. To appreciate the significance of the firm’s hiring philosophy, one need only look at the caliber of our existing talent. Throughout our 80+ year history, the firm has sought to hire only the most qualified individuals — bright and motivated men and women capable of fulfilling and developing the practice areas which best satisfy the needs of our clients.
In prospective associates, the firm looks for the skills and desire to engage in the private practice of law, the motivation to improve one’s self professionally and personally, and the commitment to serve the client over the long term, with timely and superior legal services.
We seek a similar level of desire and commitment from prospective members of our staff. Candidates for secretarial positions and support personnel must be highly motivated and demonstrate proficiency in the necessary skills of the job.
Current Openings
Associate Attorney – Garden City, KS
POSITION OVERVIEW
The core of this role focuses on public sector representation and municipal court prosecution. The successful candidate will serve as a trusted advisor to local government entities and step immediately into the courtroom, managing an active docket. While 1 to 3 years of experience is preferred, we are fully prepared to train and mentor an exceptional, highly diligent recent law school graduate who possesses a strong work ethic and the independence to work through complex problems. This position is on a partnership track.
PRIMARY PRACTICE AREAS
· Public Sector Representation & Counsel: Serve as legal counsel for local municipalities and school districts. This includes attending board and council meetings, advising public officials on governance, statutory compliance, open records/meetings laws, and administrative matters.
· Municipal Court Prosecution: Act as the city prosecutor, managing municipal court dockets, handling arraignments, negotiating plea agreements, and conducting bench trials.
· General Civil Litigation & Family Law: Handle a variety of general civil litigation matters from intake through trial, including a portfolio of domestic relations and family law cases (divorce, custody, and support proceedings).
CANDIDATE QUALIFICATIONS
· Education: Juris Doctor (J.D.) from an ABA-accredited law school. Top ½ of law school class rank is preferred.
· Licensure: Admission to the Kansas bar, or eligibility for immediate admission via reciprocity or the next scheduled bar examination.
· Experience: 0 to 3 years of legal practice.
CORE COMPETENCIES & PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES
· Diligence, Hard Work & Responsiveness: A strong driver to master complex files, thoroughly prepare for court, and dedicate the effort necessary to serve our public and private clients seamlessly. This includes the vital ability to turn around high-quality work product in a prompt, efficient fashion.
· Independence & Problem-Solving: The ability to analyze legal issues critically, navigate procedural hurdles, and find solutions independently before seeking partner validation.
· Communication Skills: Exceptional oral advocacy and written communication skills, with the ability to speak confidently before public boards, interact professionally with court staff, and connect authentically with the Garden City community
· Flexibility & Reliability: The ability to work in a fast-paced environment, and the adaptability to switch gears seamlessly between advisory work and courtroom advocacy, backed by the steadfast reliability that partners and clients can depend on.
COMPENSATION, BENEFITS & CAREER ADVANCEMENT
We believe in rewarding the hard work and dedication of our attorneys with a comprehensive compensation package designed to support their long-term personal and professional well-being.
· Financial & Advancement: Competitive base salary commensurate with experience, a structured bonus schedule, profit sharing, and a direct, transparent track to partnership.
· Health & Wellness: Comprehensive health insurance, dental insurance, vision insurance, and long-term disability insurance.
· Retirement Planning: 401(k) retirement savings plan.
· Relocation Assistance: The firm will provide relocation expense reimbursement for the successful candidate to ensure a seamless transition to the Garden City community.
· Additional Perks: A variety of other fringe benefits and professional development support.
Pay: $80,000.00 – $100,000.00 per year
CLERKSHIP PROGRAM
The firm treats its summer clerkship program as a key pathway to associate hiring, often extending offers to clerks who have proven themselves. The program is designed to expose summer law clerks to the private practice of law, while providing them an opportunity to advance their education and further develop the skills acquired in law school. The program gives the firm an opportunity to observe and evaluate each clerk’s skills and interaction with firm attorneys.
The clerkship program generally runs from mid-May to mid-August. Candidates are expected to have completed at least one year of law school, and must rank in the top-one third of their class.
For further information regarding career opportunities, please contact:
Human Resources Manager
Jennifer Captain
300 N. Mead, Suite 200
Wichita, KS 67202-2745
Phone (316) 262-2671