What are the responsibilities and job description for the Conflicts and Case Opening Specialist position at Preti Flaherty?
Conflicts and Case Opening Specialist
Preti Flaherty, one of New England’s leading law firms, seeks an experienced Conflicts and Case Opening professional. This individual will coordinate the new business intake process including conducting conflict of interest searches, setting up new matters, and maintaining the Firm’s conflicts database to ensure proper and accurate documentation of legal and business conflicts. The position is based in our newly renovated headquarters in downtown Portland, Maine and offers hybrid schedule flexibility.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
- Conduct thorough and accurate conflict of interest searches utilizing internal and external database resources to identify and obtain relevant information for the assessment of potential new clients and cases; identify relevant corporate affiliations
- Review and assess conflict search and research results to identify potential issues to be reviewed/resolved by the requesting attorney and/or the Firm’s General Counsel
- Review conflicts waivers, engagement letters and communications to ensure compliance with ethical and professional standards
- Assist attorneys and staff with conflicts and case opening procedures, including training for new hires
- Review and process new case opening, closed file, and declination requests, including verification of complete submissions and necessary approvals
- Update/maintain the Client/Matter tables and conflict database, in collaboration with the Firm’s General Counsel, attorneys, and staff
- Implement and maintain ethical walls
- Special projects and additional duties as assigned
Education and Experience:
- General understanding of how various parties to a legal transaction or lawsuit may give rise to an ethical or business conflict
- Excellent research and analytical skills
- Strong organizational skills and ability to be extremely accurate and detail-oriented without being easily distracted; issue tracking, follow-up and resolution skills are essential
- Critical thinking and assessment skills
- Ability to communicate clearly and work effectively with attorneys and staff at the Firm as well as clients and other external parties
- Ability to consistently exercise discretion and independent judgment
- Ability to maintain confidentiality and use discretion with sensitive information
- Excellent customer service skills with ability to respond to requests in a prompt, professional manner
- Ability to work in a fast-paced, professional environment where deadlines & priorities may shift
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Outlook, Excel, Word)
- Associate’s degree required; Bachelor's degree preferred; Juris Doctor a plus.
