Hopkins & Carley, a well-established law firm with offices in downtown San Jose and in Redwood Shores, has an immediate opening for a Manager of Legal Ethics and Business Acceptance in its San Jose office. This hands-on position will oversee the firm’s new business intake and conflicts of interest, supporting the firm’s compliance with its ethical obligations and mitigating risks in these areas.
Responsibilities
This newly created role will provide the leadership and oversight to build a comprehensive program focused on clearing routine and more complex conflicts of interest and providing new business acceptance services for the firm
- Independently review, research and resolve conflicts issues related to firm new business and staff personnel ensuring compliance with ethical standards in all jurisdictions as well as firm policies
- Analyze conflicts of interest on new business, firm lateral hires, contract attorneys, paralegals and merger candidates
- Resolve issues that arise in such matters, including drafting of waivers and advising on ethical issues relating to withdrawal and screening
- Assist in the preparation of responses to firm discovery requests and firm subpoenas
- Act as a legal advisor to firm lawyers on conflicts of interest issues
- Perform legal research and prepare legal memoranda in response to requests from firm lawyers, managers, claims counsel and various firm committees
- Assist management in handling sensitive and confidential issues related to practice management and firm ethics
- Oversee training on conflicts issues
- Analyze complex factual situations and spot issues where problems might occur
- Draft complex waivers, engagement and joint representation letters in final format
- Negotiate between lawyers in resolving disputes over conflicts and waivers
- Manage and supervise two New Business and Conflicts team members
- Contribute to composition of new business intake and conflicts of interest policies and procedures
- Contribute to the selection and implementation of technology improvements in order to increase efficiency
- Other related legal work as needed
Qualifications
- Thorough knowledge of the Rules of Professional Conduct and their application to the practice of law
- Strong database skills
- Thorough understanding of a wide range of legal matters, including an understanding of the parties and their respective roles in transactions and litigation, knowledge of litigation procedures such as depositions, subpoenas, role of co-defendants and comparative fault
- Solid understanding of business organizations and financing concepts
- Ability to think creatively about solutions to issues raised
- Excellent organizational skills and meticulous attention to detail
- Effective and efficient time management, concentrating on the more important priorities and can quickly sense what will help or hinder accomplishing a goal
- Understands and respects the need for teamwork within the department and firm; works collaboratively with all levels of the organization
- Understanding of litigation practice and working knowledge of law firm processes
- Ability to detect procedural problems and determine appropriate relationships
- Experience with legal research and writing, ability to independently manage and prioritize multiple tasks of varying importance
- Requires a J.D. and a minimum of 3 years of practice experience
- Active member of the California bar in good standing
- Strong working knowledge of relevant topics, legal issues and the rules governing professional responsibility required
- Strict and complete adherence to maintaining confidential and sensitive information
Hopkins & Carley is an equal opportunity employer.
We offer competitive compensation/benefits and the opportunity to be part of a great team. Please submit your resume and cover letter to: HR@hopkinscarley.com