Managing Trial Attorney
If you’re passionate about becoming a Nationwide associate
and believe you have the potential to be something great, let’s talk.
Number 54 on the Fortune Magazine 100 Best Places to Work.
Would you thrive in an environment where you can deliver
top-quality legal services to support the mission of a Fortune 100 insurance
company to protect people, businesses and futures with extraordinary care? If
you possess the academic credentials, strong analytical skills and legal acumen
needed for successful litigation work, our team may be the right place for you!
Nationwide Trial Division (NTD) is a national team with
approximately 40 offices throughout six regions across the United States. As a
Managing Trial Attorney (MTA), you’ll lead one of those offices within a region
with the opportunity to directly influence and drive the office’s reputation,
performance, and health in alignment with Nationwide’s overall mission and
NTD’s strategic objectives. Similar to a managing partner, you’ll be
accountable for all aspects of office operations, including staffing (trial
attorneys, paralegals and support staff), case assignments, quality and
delivery of legal services, budgeting, workflow and associate development and
performance. You’ll work closely with senior leadership to grow the office’s
case referrals, as well as cultivate strong and enduring relationships with
claims partners at all levels. You’ll typically have no fewer than 10 direct
reports, and in some larger offices, may manage a second MTA (H-4). There also
may be limited opportunities for you to directly handle cases.
Key Responsibilities
1. Implements, manages and complies with all aspects of NTD best
practices, processes and guidelines, providing training as needed. Knowledgeable
in highly specialized and dedicated commercial practice and other specialty
areas. Partners with National Practice Group Associate Vice Presidents on any
performance-related matters in specialty areas. Identifies and shares
opportunities for increasing attorney proficiency in specialized and commercial
practice areas.
2. Manages attorney, paralegal and support staff performance and
productivity for assigned office. May supervise MTA (H-4). Reviews, assigns
work, and monitors quality and productivity. Assesses case performance on open
and closed files; seeks feedback from claims partners and NTD senior
leadership. Ensures follow up and action plans are implemented and any
deficiencies in the office are resolved. Monitors ongoing compliance. May have limited opportunities to handle your
own caseload (ideally no more than 5 cases, if any). Responsible for development, coaching and
feedback, training and mentoring individual associates.
3. Maintains and promotes good relationships with clients and
claims management. Partners with senior leadership in recommending strategies
to increase and retain claims business. Works with claim leadership to assess
needs for litigation defense strategies for new product lines and new theories
of liability and then works with NTD Leadership team on training and
development opportunities for associates.
4. Manages and coordinates all administrative functions, including
expenses, for the office. Collaborates with Business Operations to ensure that
administration services provided to the office are at an acceptable level.
Serves as the primary contact for identifying NTD corporate real estate needs.
Participates in site surveys/selections; partners with vendors in the
relocation of Trial Division offices.
5. Responsible for preparation of various business reports to
manage office. Reviews and analyzes trends and recommendations to upper
management regarding short-term and long-term critical business decisions.
Assists leadership team with monitoring industry and litigation trends and
making recommendations on development and training opportunities for staff.
6. Monitors and responds to office growth demands and reduction in
force, including staffing, physical plan and technology needs. Provides
recommendations to senior leaders regarding increasing efficiencies and
decreasing costs. Plans and coordinates projects regarding systems and
processes changes. Ensures compliance with technology expectations and
associate capabilities with technology managed in the office.
7.
May perform other duties
as assigned.
Team
Composition:
Direct
reports: Attorneys, paralegals and staff support staff. Composition and number
of reports will vary dependent upon office. Indirect reports include all
reports of other people leader in the office.
Reporting Relationships: Regional Associate Vice President
Typical
Skills and Experiences:
Education: Juris Doctor degree from an
accredited law school.
License/Certification/Designation: Maintains an active license in the state in
which the position is located.
Experience: Seasoned attorney in an area of law. Typically has a minimum of
15 years of civil litigation, trial experience, and substantial jury trial
experience as lead counsel. Significant management experience required.
Knowledge, Abilities and
Skills: Deep or significant
experience in a specific or highly complex area of law. Considered the subject
matter expert within his or her area of legal expertise and/or possessing
strong leadership skills to manage an area of expertise. Excellent written and
verbal communication skills. Significant negotiation skills. Excellent
analytical and legal skills. Computer savvy with a working knowledge of basic
software and use of the same. Good time management and organization skills.
Contact with all levels of management and clients. Ability to train trial
attorneys, paralegals and support staff. Decision making ability to set work
priorities and make recommendations. Ability to initiate, organize and
coordinate complex projects and cases. Strong leadership skills used to direct and
/or indirect influencing such as team building, motivating, influencing and
problem solving.
Other
criteria, including leadership skills, competencies and experiences may take
precedence.
Staffing
exceptions to the above must be approved by the hiring manager’s leader and
Human Resources Business Partner.
Values:
Regularly and consistently demonstrates the Nationwide Values and Guiding
Behaviors. Complies with the private practice of law policy and the ethical
rules of the state where the position is located. Must also acknowledge and
comply with all corporate and NTD policies and procedures.
Job Conditions
Overtime Eligibility: Not
Eligible (Exempt)
Working Conditions: Normal office environment. Frequent Travel. Occasional
overnight travel. Extended hours are often necessary to meet the demands of the
profession.
ADA: The
above statements cover what are generally believed to be principal and
essential functions of this job. Specific circumstances may allow or require
some people assigned to the job to perform a somewhat different combination of
duties.
Credit
Check: Due to the fiduciary accountabilities of this job,
a valid credit check and/or background will be required as part of the
selection process.
