Associate Counsel

Protective Life; Birmingham (AL); Hybrid; USD 70,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Protective Life in Birmingham, AL seeks an entry-level Associate Counsel to support the Corporate Legal team on variable products, regulatory compliance and securities filings. You will work under supervision with experienced attorneys and collaborate across the Protection and Retirement Division on product development and regulatory matters.

Ideal candidates hold a JD, are admitted in at least one US jurisdiction, and bring strong communication and organizational skills.

Qualifications

• JD from ABA-accredited or Alabama-approved law school.
• Active license to practice law in at least one US jurisdiction.
• 0–2 years of legal experience or recent graduate with active license.
• Excellent communication, organizational and multitasking skills.

Responsibilities

• Assist with legal counsel for variable annuity and variable universal life products, including regulatory filings.
• Collaborate with stakeholders on product changes, new designs, fund management and operations.
• Develop knowledge of federal securities laws as they apply to regulatory filings.
• Assist with SEC filings (N-4, N-6) and other required reports and disclosures.
• Review fund-related agreements and respond to due diligence requests.
• Support due diligence and integration for acquisitions of variable products.
• Other duties as assigned by managing counsel and senior attorneys.

Skills

Communication skills

Team collaboration

Project management

Critical thinking

Education

Juris Doctor (JD) from ABA Accredited law school

Job description

The work we do has an impact on millions of lives, and you can be a part of it. We help protect our customers against life’s uncertainties. Regardless of where you work within the company, you’ll be helping provide protection and peace of mind when our customers need it most. The Associate Counsel, as a member of the Corporate Legal team, provides legal support to the company’s variable insurance products business, primarily assisting with matters related to variable universal life, variable annuity, fixed, and registered index-linked annuity (RILA) product development and regulatory compliance. This is an entry-level legal role designed to provide exposure to federal securities laws, insurance product regulation, underlying mutual fund relationships, and regulatory filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Associate Counsel will work under the direction and supervision of managing counsel, senior attorneys, and will work with an established experienced team of legal analysts. This role impacts the achievement of customer, operational, and sales/business goals. This is a hybrid position (3 days on-site, 2 days remote) with offices in Birmingham, Alabama.

Responsibilities

• Assist with legal counsel and support to the Protection and Retirement Division on matters related to variable annuity and variable universal life products, including product development, regulatory filings, and ongoing compliance.
• Collaborate with key stakeholders within the Protection and Retirement Division on product changes, new product designs, underlying fund management, and operations, to support business goals and initiatives.
• Develop working knowledge of federal securities laws including the Securities Act of 1933, the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and the Investment Company Act of 1940 as they apply to the registration, regulatory compliance, and maintenance of variable insurance products and RILAs.
• Assist with the preparation and filing of Securities and Exchange Commission registration statements for variable annuity and registered indexed linked annuity (Form N-4), variable universal life (Form N-6), and other required filings under Rule 24F-2, N-CEN, Rule 485, Rule 497, 497VPI (Initial Summary Prospectuses), 497VPU (Updating Summary Prospectuses), and N-VP (Annual Notices).
• Assist with the review and maintenance of underlying fund legal arrangements including fund related agreements (Fund Participation, Administrative Services, and other ancillary agreements) and any amendments thereto. Assist with the response to underlying fund certification requests to meet any required due diligence and compliance requirements.
• Support legal due diligence and integration efforts related to acquisition of variable products.
• Other job duties as assigned by managing counsel and senior attorneys.

Qualifications

• Juris Doctor (JD) from an ABA Accredited or Alabama State Approved law school.
• Active license to practice law in at least one U.S. jurisdiction.
• 0-2 years of legal experience and will consider a recent law school graduate with an active license as stated above.
• Exceptional communication, organizational, project management, and critical thinking skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and work collaboratively in a team environment.