Associate Director – Client Agreements

This is a fully remote position, open to applicants in California, +9 more states.

📋 Description

• Oversees and directs the firm's processes for the acceptance, evaluation, negotiation, and documentation of Outside Counsel Guidelines.

• Collaborates with Conflicts Management, Business Intake, and other practice groups to coordinate engagement letters for new matter openings, maintain information within firm databases, review Outside Counsel Guidelines, and manage client agreement documentation for the firm.

• Directly supervises the Client Agreements Manager and Senior Conflicts Manager of Special Projects, including oversight of attorney-level work product, legal analysis and recommendations review, performance management, professional development, and alignment of legal judgment with the firm's risk tolerance and policies.

• Facilitates the escalation and resolution of complex or sensitive issues to firm leadership.

• Manages the conflicts and client agreements components of Requests for Production and Requests for Information, coordinating responses and providing support to client relationship managers.

• Works closely with the Director of Conflicts to establish strategy, priorities, and standards for the Conflicts department, including policy development, workflow optimization, quality control, and uniformity of legal decision-making.

• Collaborates with the Conflicts, Business Intake, and Client Data teams to strategize and implement team structure, training, and policies to achieve the firm’s goals regarding new business, conflicts, and client agreements.

• Acts as a cross-functional and departmental leader on queries related to client agreements and new business conflicts, engaging with attorneys, staff, and firm leadership concerning the firm’s conflicts process and associated client agreement requirements.

• Leads and supports training initiatives, encompassing attorney education on client agreement matters, internal team training, and the development of guidance materials, protocols, and best practices.

• Partners with the Business Intake team to create a process for tracking the receipt of engagement letters.

• Performs other duties as assigned.

⛳️ Requirements

• JD degree required along with an active bar license.

• A minimum of three (3) years of experience in managing, drafting, negotiating, and/or reviewing engagement letters and/or Outside Counsel Guidelines is required.

• Preferred seven years of conflicts experience, including at least two (2) years of supervisory experience.

• Comprehensive understanding of legal ethics, rules of conflicts of interest, waivers, and standards of professional responsibility.

• Proven ability to demonstrate integrity, discretion, and sound judgment in personal and fiduciary matters.

• Experience collaborating with senior leadership to provide recommendations and foster consensus.

• Outstanding communication skills, both written and verbal, with the capability to convey information clearly and concisely, establish credibility, build trust, maintain confidentiality, and develop positive professional relationships with team members, firm leadership, lawyers, and other professionals.

• Exceptional judgment, adaptability, and professionalism.

• Willingness to work after hours occasionally as required.

• Ability to travel to other offices and events as needed.

• Familiarity with the operational aspects of a law firm, including an understanding of key elements in relationships between a firm and its clients.

• Demonstrated knowledge of conflicts software, corporate research databases, Microsoft Office products, NetDocs, 3E, and Intapp Walls is preferred.

• Experience with Intapp Open and/or Intapp Terms is preferred.

• Ability to organize and prioritize multiple tasks and complete them under time constraints.

• Capability to perform effectively with moderate supervision while adhering to established time limits and ongoing deadlines.

• Ability to interact professionally and effectively while providing exceptional service.

• Competence in responding to requests that require analysis and decision-making for new clients/matter processing.

🏝️ Benefits

• Medical and dental coverage.

• Life insurance.

• Short-term and long-term disability insurance.

• Pre-tax flexible spending account for certain medical and dependent care expenses.

• An employee assistance program.

• Paid Time Off.

• Paid holidays.

• Participation in a retirement plan program after meeting eligibility requirements.

• Additional benefits.