Job Title: Conflicts Analyst (Specialized Conflicts)
Job Responsibilities:
The primary responsibility of the Conflicts Analyst is to ensure the identification, analysis, and resolution of all conflicts requests within the law firm. This role demands independent judgment and a comprehensive understanding of business needs when clearing incoming work and candidates. Key duties include:
- Analyzing and processing all conflict requests to assure firm engagements and hires are clear from both business and ethical perspectives.
- Preparing database search terms and generating conflicts reports for related parties, including handling high-volume bulk searches.
- Conducting corporate research to verify the identity of related parties and address potential conflicts or high-profile issues.
- Identifying existing and potential conflicts for each request by reviewing and analyzing conflicts reports and supporting documents.
- Understanding and interpreting database results and conflicts reports for firm partners, counsel, attorneys, and business professionals.
- Preparing concise, comprehensive descriptions of the prospective conflicts landscape based on the rules of professional conduct for attorneys and other submitters.
- Regularly interacting with partners via email and telephone to investigate, discuss potential issues, and propose solutions for conflict clearances.
- Providing regular updates to responsible attorneys and other users concerning conflicts clearances.
- Maintaining conflicts resolution notes and responses for each request.
- Requesting waivers for all matters requiring consent and ensuring that all conflicts are resolved.
- Drafting conflict waivers and engagement letters as necessary.
- Informing and advising firm attorneys and counsel of any special circumstances surrounding complicated requests.
- Drafting and implementing necessary ethical screens.
- Maintaining awareness of current legal trends and information.
- Performing conflicts case law and legal ethics research.
- Providing conflicts training for secretaries and other business professionals as needed.
- Performing all other duties as assigned or required.
Education and Experience Information:
Required:
- Proficiency in the Microsoft Office suite, iManage, and other firm applications after orientation at the law firm.
- Availability to work overtime, including weekends if not part of one's dedicated schedule, as required.
- Proficiency in IntApp Open and Contract Express or similar programs.
- 2+ years of direct applicable experience, which could include experience within a law firm, legal environment, or conflicts department.
- Knowledge of the American Bar Association’s Model Rules of Professional Conduct and California State Bar Association’s Rules of Professional Conduct.
- Overall understanding of a corporate law practice.
- Experience conducting legal and corporate research.
Preferred:
- Bachelor’s Degree, JD strongly preferred.
- Knowledge and experience with complete conflicts resolution strongly preferred.
- Paralegal Certificate preferred or completion of an ethics course in a paralegal program.
- Prior experience as a paralegal or legal researcher in a law firm.
Competencies:
- Excellent communication (verbal and written) and interpersonal skills.
- Good judgment, strong analytical, and critical thinking skills.
- Strong organizational skills with attention to detail.
- Ability to work independently with minimal supervision.
- Comfortable in a fast-paced, challenging environment.
- Able to prioritize and juggle multiple tasks.
- Capable and comfortable communicating professionally with attorneys, directors, and managers.
- Ability to take on time-sensitive matters while recognizing legal ethical rules.
- Excellent customer service skills.
Salary Information:
The expected hourly pay range for this full-time position, with a work schedule of 40 hours per week, is - , translating to an annual salary of $66, - $97,. The final offer amount will depend on geographic location, applicable experience, and the skill set of the candidate.
Benefits:
The law firm offers a competitive compensation and excellent benefits package, committed to fair and equitable employment practices. Elective benefits include medical, health savings account (with applicable medical plan), dental, vision, health and/or dependent care flexible spending accounts, pre-tax commuter benefits, life insurance, AD&D, long-term care coverage, backup care for children and/or adults, and other parental support benefits. Additionally, benefited employees receive firm-paid life insurance, AD&D, LTD, short-term medical benefits, 20 days of Paid Time Off (“PTO”), and 10 paid holidays each year. The law firm provides generous parental leave and fertility benefits. New employees will attend a detailed benefit orientation to learn more about the many benefits and resources available.
