Overview:

The Senior Associate will be responsible for competently and diligently representing clients of the Firm and contributing to developing the strategy of a case.

The job will include calendaring, drafting, and filing in cases from beginning to end, working directly with clients to assure they are ahead of schedule in document preparation and hearing and mediation preparation, and necessitates an ability to balance workloads across multiple attorneys with an acute attention to detail and deadlines.

Status:

The associate attorney is an Exempt position.

Reporting Relationship:

Senior Associates perform their duties under the direction of the Chief Operating Officer (who ensures adherence to policies and procedures) and a Managing Attorney (who is responsible for overseeing legal strategy and quality of work). The Senior Associate’s employment relationship with the Firm is managed by the owner, Marjorie DiLima.

Authority:

The Senior Associate works under the general direction of a Managing Attorney and has a broad degree of discretion with respect to control of cases assigned to him/her.

As it relates to supervision of paralegals and assistants on the legal team, the Senior Associate can assign work and is responsible for ensuring the team meets deadlines and for reviewing and approving the work of the legal team. The Senior Associate does not have the authority to hire or fire the legal staff but provides input to the COO regarding work quality and productivity.

The Senior Associate must have prior approval or a policy & procedure that authorizes any expenditures from the Firm.

Responsibilities:

1. Manage full case handling responsibilities from inception through disposition

a. Meet with clients regarding goals and desired outcomes

b. Research and investigate the case

i. Take statements

ii. Review records

iii. Answering discovery

iv. Taking depositions

v. Making court appearances

2. Move cases through the process in accordance with goals and established milestones

3. Develop a case strategy and provide direction to paralegals and legal assistants

4. Ensure all assigned matters are reviewed at least once each week and clients are updated on the status of their case

5. Analyze case-specific legal issues and documentation (e.g. insurance policies, lien language, settlement releases);

6. Foster and maintain an excellent rapport with clients through consistent communication and thorough advisement

7. Track time and record time worked on matters and administrative tasks daily

8. Prepare necessary memorandums and disposition records to ensure accurate documentation of the file and timely case closing

9. Interact with clients, respond to questions, etc.

10. Support attorneys in Case Management, docket management, trial preparation, and legal drafting

11. Draft, prepare, review, and track discovery documents, Answers, and deadlines

12. Draft and edit case correspondence, pleadings, motions, and other legal documents for attorney review and filing with the Court

13. Prepare filings for Maryland Courts, including e-filing via MDEC

14. Preparing and mailing attorney correspondence

15. Maintain electronic case files

16. Prepare cases and documents for trial, including witnesses, Affidavits, exhibits, and trial binders

17. Communicate with clients regarding supporting documents, upcoming Court dates, and testimony preparation

18. Monitor case deadlines and set ticklers

19. Maintain timely communications with clients, employees, managers, the Courts, and opposing counsels via email, phone, and video calls as necessary

20. Conduct legal research for drafting, appellate prep, and case research

21. Meet and exceed billable minimum requirements of 1500 hours per year.

22. Participate in marketing and networking events by promoting the Firm

23. Use Clio and the client portal for client’s communications and documents

24. Take extemporaneous notes regarding any communication by phone regarding a client’s case in Clio

Key Performance Indicators & Scorecard

1. # Hours billed and collected per year: 1600 hours

2. 100% of tasks completed on time

3. 100% of deadlines are calendared accurately within 1 day of receiving notice

4. 100% of time entries are recorded in the CMS by end of each day