1

Contract Attorney Jobs in Rutherfordton, NC (NOW HIRING)

Poverty Law Attorney

Hendersonville, NC ยท On-site

$65K - $118K/yr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

Poverty Law Attorney Hybrid remote work schedule: 3 days in office/field and 2 days remote Base office in Hendersonville Position Status: Full-Time FLSA Status: Exempt Pisgah Legal Services (PLS) is ...

Poverty Law Attorney

Hendersonville, NC ยท On-site

$65K - $118K/yr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

Poverty Law Attorney Hybrid remote work schedule: 3 days in office/field and 2 days remote Base office in Hendersonville Position Status: Full-Time FLSA Status: Exempt Pisgah Legal Services (PLS) is ...

Criminal Law Attorney

Forest City, NC

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

King Law is seeking to hire a Criminal Law Associate Attorney who is passionate about representing clients facing some of the most challenging times in their lives. About King Law King Law is a ...

Criminal Law Attorney

Forest City, NC ยท On-site

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

King Law is seeking to hire a Criminal Law Associate Attorney who is passionate about representing clients facing some of the most challenging times in their lives. About King Law King Law is a ...

Associate Attorney

Forest City, NC ยท On-site

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

We accept resumes for the position of Associate Attorney, for any firm locations, on an ongoing basis and encourage interested candidates to submit their resume at any time. About King Law King Law ...

Consultation Attorney

Forest City, NC ยท On-site

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Retirement

  • PTO

Consultation Attorney - King Law Offices About King Law King Law Offices, PC, is a well-established and respected law firm that has been passionately serving clients throughout North Carolina, South ...

Family Law Associate Attorney

Gaffney, SC ยท On-site

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

King Law is seeking to hire a Family Law Associate Attorney who is passionate about representing clients facing some of the most challenging times in their lives; the position is based out of the ...

Consultation Attorney

Forest City, NC

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Retirement

  • PTO

Consultation Attorney -- King Law Offices About King Law King Law Offices, PC, is a well-established and respected law firm that has been passionately serving clients throughout North Carolina, South ...

Family Law Associate Attorney

Shelby, NC ยท On-site

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

King Law is seeking to hire a Family Law Associate Attorney who is passionate about representing clients facing some of the most challenging times in their lives; the position is based out of the ...

Family Law Associate Attorney

Gaffney, SC ยท On-site

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

King Law is seeking to hire a Family Law Associate Attorney who is passionate about representing clients facing some of the most challenging times in their lives; the position is based out of the ...

Attorney

Columbus, NC ยท On-site

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • PTO

King Law is seeking an Associate Attorney to join our team of legal professionals; the position is based out of the firm's Morganton, NC office. King Law is a general practice firm, with 14 locations ...

Attorney

Columbus, NC

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • PTO

King Law is seeking an Associate Attorney to join our team of legal professionals; the position is based out of the firm's Morganton, NC office. King Law is a general practice firm, with 14 locations ...

Contract Attorney information

See Rutherfordton, NC salary details

$45.5K

$104.3K

$175K

How much do contract attorney jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 15, 2026, the average yearly pay for contract attorney in Rutherfordton, NC is $104,262.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $78,300.00 and $121,600.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is the difference between Contract Attorney vs Staff Attorney?

AspectContract AttorneyStaff Attorney
CredentialsJuris Doctor (JD), licensed to practice lawJuris Doctor (JD), licensed to practice law
Work EnvironmentTemporary, project-based, often remote or on-siteFull-time, permanent, typically office-based
Employer & Industry UsageLaw firms, corporations, government agencies for specific projectsLaw firms, legal departments, courts for ongoing legal work
Common Search & ComparisonYesYes

Contract Attorneys are hired for specific projects or durations, offering flexibility and specialized expertise. Staff Attorneys hold permanent positions within organizations, providing ongoing legal support. Both roles require a JD and legal licensure but differ mainly in employment type and work setting.

What is a contract attorney?

A contract attorney conducts research, prepares legal documents, and represents clients in a court of law. Contract attorneys are not permanent employees of law firms; they handle cases on behalf of law firms on a case-by-case basis. Much like standard attorneys, contract attorneys may specialize in a specific legal area, such as corporate law, family law, or criminal law. Law firms expect contract attorneys to uphold the same legal standards as traditional attorneys.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a contract attorney?

To thrive as a Contract Attorney, you need a solid understanding of contract law, strong legal research abilities, and a Juris Doctor (JD) degree with bar admission. Proficiency with legal research databases such as Westlaw or LexisNexis, and familiarity with document management systems, are typically required. Exceptional attention to detail, negotiation skills, and clear written and verbal communication distinguish top performers in this field. These skills are crucial for drafting, reviewing, and interpreting complex contracts while protecting clients' interests and minimizing legal risks.

What are the typical challenges a contract attorney faces when managing multiple clients or cases simultaneously?

Contract Attorneys often juggle several assignments from various clients or law firms, which can present challenges in time management, prioritization, and maintaining clear communication. Each client may have different expectations, document management systems, and deadlines, making it essential to stay organized and proactive in scheduling. Developing strong project management skills and using legal technology tools can help Contract Attorneys efficiently track tasks, ensure confidentiality, and meet deliverables across diverse projects.

What are the most commonly searched types of Attorney jobs in Rutherfordton, NC?

The most popular types of Attorney jobs in Rutherfordton, NC are:

What job categories do people searching Contract Attorney jobs in Rutherfordton, NC look for?

The top searched job categories for Contract Attorney jobs in Rutherfordton, NC are:

What cities near Rutherfordton, NC are hiring for Contract Attorney jobs?

Cities near Rutherfordton, NC with the most Contract Attorney job openings:

Infographic showing various Contract Attorney job openings in Rutherfordton, NC as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 88% Full Time, 11% Part Time, and 1% Contract. Highlights an 77% Physical, 13% Hybrid, and 10% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $104,262 per year, or $50.1 per hour.

Poverty Law Attorney

Pisgah Legal Services

Hendersonville, NC โ€ข On-site

$65K - $118K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Posted 17 days ago


Job description

Poverty Law Attorney

Hybrid remote work schedule: 3 days in office/field and 2 days remote

Base office in Hendersonville

Position Status: Full-Time

FLSA Status: Exempt


Pisgah Legal Services (PLS) is a community-based non-profit legal aid agency governed by a local Board of Directors. Located in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Western North Carolina (WNC), Pisgah Legal Services provides free civil legal assistance to low-income people in WNC. The organization currently has offices in Asheville, Brevard, Burnsville, Cashiers, Hendersonville, Highlands, Marshall, Morganton, Newland, and Rutherfordton. With over 120 dedicated staff, including more than 30 attorneys plus program staff, and an active group of 200 volunteer attorneys, the program provides free services to nearly 28,000 people per year to meet their basic needs, primarily in the poverty law areas of housing, public benefits, domestic violence prevention, health care, immigration, and consumer law.

PLS is seeking a full-time N.C. licensed attorney to handle general poverty law cases primarily in the areas of housing law, including eviction defense, and domestic violence prevention, including domestic and family law cases. Legal aid experience preferred. Passion for promoting justice and overcoming barriers facing low-income people, being a creative and zealous attorney and a team-player and demonstrated commitment to achieving lasting results for clients and low-income communities are all important. The Poverty Law attorney position advocates for clients in our service region with a variety of legal issues, balancing cases that focus on landlord/tenant law, domestic violence law and other poverty law areas as needed.

Responsibilities
  • Commitment to PLS’ mission, values and vision.
  • Represent and advise clients in judicial and administrative hearings in landlord/tenant, domestic violence and family law, consumer, public benefits, community economic development, and other poverty law areas as needed.
  • Work in and travel to rural locations and attend court.
  • Conduct client interviews with trauma-informed approach; advise and represent clients in Small Claims, District, Superior courts, and administrative proceedings as appropriate. (This may include representation, preparation for self-representation, obtaining continuances for assessment, and referring cases to other attorneys.)
  • Document all work and communications in Legal Server case management software.
  • Organize and conduct outreach and educational presentations.
  • Establish branch office(s) within service area.
  • Develop and maintain community relationships including other non-profit agencies, government officials, government employees, community leaders and others.
  • Travel within our service area and also to meetings or conferences in other parts of NC.
  • Adhere to program priorities and case handling policies, procedures, and standards of practice, as well as the highest professional and ethical standards.
  • Keep abreast of developments in the law and disseminate information to staff, volunteer attorneys and the public.
  • Work with volunteers, including volunteer attorneys, on a regular basis.
  • Assist in fundraising and outreach in coordination with PLS Development Team.

Qualifications
  • N.C. licensed attorney
  • Demonstrated commitment to serving low-income people and communities.
  • Demonstrated skills at socio-economic and cultural sensitivity and ability to assist upset or ill people.
  • Excellent writing and verbal communication skills.
  • Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to work well with teams and independently.
  • Ability to work with low-income clients and communities within a multi-ethnic/ multi-cultural environment.
  • Ability to effectively collaborate with coworkers and clients face to face and in meeting settings.
  • Fluency in Spanish would be an asset.
  • Possess valid driver’s license.


Salary/ Benefits

Salary ranges from $65,690 – $118,243 depending on experience. Additional bilingual language skills that are applicable to this role may qualify for up to an additional $3k upon completing a language assessment test.

Our salary scale is predetermined based on the years of relative professional work experience that qualify for this position to ensure equity in pay. Pisgah Legal Services is a Living Wage Certified Employer.

Employees are eligible for medical, dental, vision and life insurance coverage the 1st of the month following the start date. Pisgah Legal Services (PLS) pays 100% of the Employee and 50% of the Dependent Cost for Aetna Medical and Dental coverage. PLS pays 50% of the Employee Coverage Cost for Aetna Vision coverage. PLS pays 100% of Long-Term & Short-Term Disability Coverage, Life Insurance Coverage of 5x base salary + an additional $15,000 Life & AD&D Coverage. 401k Retirement Plan after 6 months of employment. Additional Fringe Benefits includes Pet Insurance, Paid Parental Leave, Paid Bereavement Leave, 13.5 Company Holidays, 22 Paid Leave Days, Paid Sabbatical Leave for eligible staff, Employee Assistance Program for entire household and a great working environment with work life balance!

To Apply

Submit your online application with resume and cover letter through our Career Center located at https://www.pisgahlegal.org/jobs.

PLS invites all applicants to include in their cover letter a statement about how your unique background and/or experiences might contribute to the diversity, cultural vitality, and perspective of our staff and legal services practice.

Pisgah Legal Services is committed to creating a diverse, inclusive environment and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status.

As an Equal Opportunity Employer, we will provide reasonable accommodations to qualified persons with disabilities. Prospective and current employees are encouraged to discuss ADA accommodations with our Human Resources department.