Conflicts Attorney I

Williams & Connolly LLP and its Office of General Counsel has an immediate opening for a full-time Conflicts Attorney I position. This non-practicing junior attorney works across and supports several key functional areas at the firm, including the new business conflicts and intake processes, the resolution of conflict-related issues for lateral attorney and professional staff candidates, engagement letter drafting, review and maintenance of client agreements, assistance with ethical screening and litigation holds, and support for the firm’s client files processes and procedures.

Responsibilities

• Work with and support the conflicts staff on selecting and addressing conflict search findings and issues encountered on new business intake requests, such as providing research on corporate affiliations, and elevating conflicts information as needed;
• Analyze potential conflicts issues, including for new case matters and hiring of new legal professionals; initiate discussions with supervising conflicts attorney, the Professional Responsibility and Risk Management Counsel and General Counsel when necessary; ensure clear documentation of resolutions; and perform necessary follow-up under the direction of a senior member of the conflicts team;
• Under the supervision of a more senior conflicts attorney, assist with conflict waiver drafting, engagement letter drafting and outside counsel guidelines reviews to ensure that agreements align with firm policies;
• Prepare initial drafts of conflicts materials for incoming associates and review client matters for departing attorneys;
• Support the ethical wall process, including identification of individuals to be screened from clients and matters, implementation of ethical walls, and periodic reviews to determine the need for ongoing or updated restrictions;
• Participate in the testing and rollout of conflicts technology as needed;
• Work with internal departments to organize and document client files, including receiving and filing engagement letters, ensuring engagement terms are properly input and tracked in our systems; and assisting with the electronic and paper document archiving process, including notification, collection, and disposition of client files;
• Monitor changes to the ethical standards governing the legal profession, including by maintaining up-to-date knowledge of the Rules of Professional Conduct of both the District of Columbia and the American Bar Association, and flag developments that may affect firm policy; and
• Work on special projects as requested by the Professional Responsibility and Risk Management Counsel and General Counsel.

Requirements

• Juris Doctorate (J.D.) is required. License to practice law in the United States is required.
• One (1) to three (3) years of experience practicing law or experience in a similar conflicts, professional liability or compliance role in a large law firm setting strongly preferred.
• Familiarity with the Rules of Professional Conduct, preferably for the District of Columbia.
• Excellent analytical, research, and written/oral communication skills, including the ability to summarize complex conflicts results for senior attorneys.
• Sound judgment and close attention to detail, with the discretion to handle confidential and sensitive information and to know when and how to elevate issues.
• Customer-service oriented with the ability to manage multiple competing priorities and to work independently and as part of a team in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to establish effective working relationships with attorneys and staff at all levels of the firm.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office is required; experience with Intapp (Open, Walls, and Terms) is preferred; and familiarity with corporate-research tools, such as Capital IQ and Dun & Bradstreet, is a plus.

The working hours for this position are 9:00 am - 5:30 pm. Overtime may be required. After successfully completing the introductory period, the candidate will be eligible to work the department's approved hybrid schedule.

Work is performed in a professional office environment and requires the following:

• Prolonged periods using a sit-to-stand desk and working on a computer.
• Repetitive movements, including typing on a keyboard and using a mouse.
• Ability to lift and carry up to 15 lbs.
• Employees must be able to perform the essential functions of this position with or without reasonable accommodation.

The anticipated annual salary range for this position is $140,000 - $165,000 This is an exempt position. The final offer amount is dependent on a variety of factors including, but not limited to, years of experience, education, and other relevant skills and qualifications. Williams & Connolly LLP offers competitive compensation and benefits.