Job Description
Become part of the Parker Poe team that – for more than a century – has represented many of the Southeast’s largest companies and local governments. We are a tight-knit firm that values the person beyond the lawyer or professional. Because of this, in addition to structured integration efforts, you will find that mentorship, professional development, and internal referrals happen organically. If you want to join a collaborative team providing sophisticated legal services – without losing sight of our calling to give back to our communities – this is the place to be.
Conflicts Counsel works with the Office of General Counsel and a team of conflicts analysts, billing attorneys, and the Accounting Department to ensure that new matters and clients are opened in compliance with the Rules of Professional Conduct. Conflicts Counsel may prepare and conduct educational presentations on process, ethics and business aspects of a law firm to all levels of employees. Conflicts Counsel analyzes state bar rules, ethics opinions, fact patterns and case law in order to advise the firm and its attorneys on conflicts and ethics issues. Conflicts Counsel analyzes conflict search results and researches businesses, individuals, properties and the firm’s databases to identify potential conflicts of interest and communicates with attorneys and clients to resolve conflicts as necessary.
Primary Duties and Responsibilities
• Reviews and analyzes client and matter intake requests, including interaction with attorneys and staff to verify information contained in the requests.
• Researches entities and individuals involved in potential conflicts identified in the firm database and utilizes analytical skills to determine what action, if any, needs to be taken.
• Facilitates communication among attorneys to resolve ethical, business and positional conflict situations.
• Recommends appropriate responses to conflict situations.
• Assists with conflict waiver requests and recommends appropriate waiver language to relevant attorneys.
• Documents conflicts resolutions and records with the appropriate client and matter file.
• Identifies, researches and removes out-of-date information from the conflicts database through database research and communication with responsible attorneys.
• Drafts and reviews consent letters, engagement letters and various firm policies.
• Adheres to all firm policies, procedures, standards and guidelines.
• Assists with risk management and other Office of General Counsel responsibilities or other duties as assigned by leadership.
Requirements
• Law degree from an accredited law school and a minimum of two years’ experience as a practicing attorney or conflicts counsel. Experience in a law firm setting preferred. Licensed in good standing to practice law in North Carolina, South Carolina or Georgia.
• Working knowledge of the Rules of Professional Responsibility.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Substantial analytical, research, evaluative, risk management, and problem-solving skills with a keen attention to detail.
• Excellent time management and project management skills. Must effectively prioritize work/projects and execute tasks in a fast-paced, high-pressure environment.
• Maintains confidentiality and exercises discretion and good judgment.
• Exceptional interpersonal and customer service skills. Works well within teams and in a collaborative environment. Builds and maintains relationships with attorneys to assist in managing the conflicts process in their respective matters in a consistent high-quality manner.
• Highly self-motivated and self-directed. Ability to work independently with minimal supervision.
Parker Poe is an Equal Opportunity Employer and makes recruitment, employment, promotional and all other personnel decisions without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, disability, veteran status or any other characteristic protected by law.
