Associate Attorney

FLSA STATUS: Exempt SUMMARY: An employee attorney (associate) admitted to practice in the state who performs substantive legal functions in client matters.
Maintains positive contact with clients and carriers and observes confidentiality in client matters.
Participates in the firm’s marketing efforts and is responsible for client development.
May be assigned to work independently or under the direct supervision of other attorney(s) employed by the firm.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities: Essential functions are primarily job duties that incumbents must be able to perform unassisted or with some reasonable accommodation made by the employer.
PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES: 1.
Maintains membership in state bar and completes all required Continuing Legal Education requirements on an annual basis.
2.
Follows the ethical requirements as set forth by the Rules of Professional Conduct of the state and complies with all requirements of the firm's professional liability insurer.
3.
Submits timesheets daily either typed or handwritten billing a minimum 167 hours per month.
Responsible for the audit and approval of billing proformas within three (3) days of receipt of same from accounts receivable.
4.
Assumes responsible role in assisting in the collection of any receivable on assigned cases.
5.
Reviews and analyzes newly assigned and existing matters to provide legal representation until the matter is concluded.
6.
Attends depositions, court hearings, settlement conferences.
7.
Drafts all necessary documents to provide legal representation to clients and routes them through the appropriate office procedures to produce final documents.
8.
Makes sure that all documents, correspondences (i.
e.
, emails) are entered into Worldox under the appropriate matter number(s).
9.
Performs necessary legal research using all available resources including libraries and computer data systems.
10.
Formulates and issues well-founded legal opinions to clients and carriers.
11.
Effectively conducts negotiations, when appropriate, to resolve matters on behalf of clients.
12.
Advises and communicates regularly with clients and carriers regarding the status of their matter.
WORKING CONDITIONS: Normal office environment with little exposure to excessive noise, dust, temperature and the like.
Remote work is available if necessary; however, the firm is on-site.
This is primarily so that the associate can shadow peers and supervisors as well as communicate and bond with the team.
The above is intended to describe the general content of and requirements for the performance of this job.
It is not to be construed as an exhaustive statement of essential functions, responsibilities, or requirements.
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES REQUIRED: 1.
Knowledge of law and legal practice to perform substantive legal function in client matters as normally acquired through completion of a Juris Doctor degree or equivalent.
Progressively more responsible work experience necessary to gain expertise needed to practice insurance defense law.
2.
Ability to concentrate and pay close attention to detail for up to 100% of work time.
3.
Analytical skills necessary to conduct complex and detailed analysis of legal matters.
4.
Interpersonal skills necessary to communicate with a diverse group of clients, attorneys and staff and provide information with ordinary courtesy and tact.
5.
Interpersonal skills necessary to communicate by phone and provide information with ordinary courtesy and tact.
6.
Ability to travel to private and public buildings locally and statewide via private or public conveyance to attend to client needs on legal matters.
7.
Work requires more than 40 hours per week to perform the essential duties of the position.