Conflicts Attorney

Venable LLP; California (MO); On-site; USD 160,000 - 200,000; Full time

Job summary

Venable LLP is seeking a Conflicts Attorney to evaluate and resolve conflicts for new business intake, matter openings, and lateral onboarding. You will conduct in-depth analyses, advise on risk and ethics, and ensure compliance with professional rules and firm policies.

You will draft waivers, review Outside Counsel Guidelines, and support matter opening workflows. The role requires CA bar status and 3+ years in a large law firm, with strong research and negotiation skills.

Qualifications

• J.D. from an accredited law school and active CA bar status.
• Minimum 3 years of conflicts or professional responsibility experience in a mid-to-large law firm.
• Ability to analyze complex legal relationships, business structures, and conflict scenarios.
• Minimum 2 years of private practice experience preferred.
• Proficiency with conflicts/new-business intake systems; strong research and analytical skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication; persuasive analyses to firm leadership.
• Strong negotiation, discretion, and diplomacy when working with attorneys and staff.
• High attention to detail; client-service orientation and responsiveness.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment, manage competing priorities, and meet deadlines.
• Participation in the conflicts on-call rotation and after-hours conflict checks.

Responsibilities

• Identify and analyze actual and potential conflicts using internal systems and external databases.
• Recommend and implement conflict-resolution strategies, including ethical walls and disclosures.
• Draft waivers, disclosures, and engagement letters.
• Review Outside Counsel Guidelines and engagement letters for conflicts provisions; advise on updates.
• Conduct conflicts analyses for lateral attorney candidates and communicate resolutions to stakeholders.
• Educate attorneys and staff on ethical obligations and conflicts procedures.

Skills

Research skills

Analytical skills

Written & verbal comms

Negotiation

Discretion & diplomacy

Time management

Education

J.D. from ABA-accredited law school

Tools

Internal systems

External databases

Job description

The Conflicts Attorney is responsible for evaluating and resolving legal conflicts-of-interest for new business intake, matter openings, client updates, and lateral attorney onboarding. This role conducts complex conflicts analyses, advises attorneys and firm leadership on risk and ethics issues, and ensures compliance with professional responsibility rules and firm policies. The Conflicts Attorney also supports matter opening workflows, drafts waivers and ethical screens, reviews Outside Counsel Guidelines, and contributes to maintaining high-quality conflicts data and processes.

The Conflicts Attorney will be responsible for…

• Identifying and analyzing actual and potential conflicts for existing and prospective clients by conducting in-depth research using internal systems and external databases (e.g., Hoover’s, D&B, Lexis, EDGAR) and interpreting results to assess business and ethical risks
• Recommending and implementing conflict-resolution strategies, including ethical walls, disclosures, consent letters, and engagement modifications
• Drafting and maintaining conflict waivers, disclosures, engagement letter language, and supporting documentation
• Reviewing and analyzing Outside Counsel Guidelines and engagement letters for conflicts-related provisions; advise on restrictions, required screens, and necessary updates to internal data
• Conducting conflicts analyses for lateral attorney candidates, recommending and implementing resolutions with Division Managers and the Ethics Committee, communicating with stakeholders to clear conflicts, and preparing required consent letters and documentation before and after onboarding
• Educating attorneys and legal staff on ethical obligations, conflicts procedures, new business intake, and client relationship considerations

Successful candidates will demonstrate…

• Juris Doctor (J.D.) from an accredited law school and active bar status in CA
• A minimum of 3 years of conflicts or professional responsibility experience in a mid-to-large, multi-practice law firm
• Demonstrated ability to analyze complex legal relationships, business structures, and conflict scenarios
• A minimum of 2 years of law practice experience in private practice strongly preferred
• Proficiency with conflicts/new-business intake systems and strong research and analytical skills
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to make persuasive arguments and present nuanced analyses to all levels of firm leadership
• Strong negotiation skills and consultative approach when working with attorneys and staff
• High level of discretion, judgment, and diplomacy in handling sensitive and confidential information
• Strong attention to detail, client-service orientation, and responsiveness
• Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced environment, manage competing priorities, and meet tight deadlines
• Participation in the conflicts on-call rotation and ability to respond by phone to after-hours emergency conflict checks

Pay Range for Candidates in Orange County, CA:

$160,000 - $200,000 per year

The range provided is the minimum and maximum salary that Venable in good faith believes at the time of this posting that it is willing to pay for the advertised position. Exact compensation will be determined based on individual candidate qualifications and location. Additional compensation may include discretionary bonuses and overtime, if eligible. Overtime wages earned will be paid in compliance with applicable law.

Committing your time and talent is no small matter—at Venable, we know that superior client service begins with an investment in our people. Our competitive compensation, robust benefits, and programs that support our employees’ well-being, families, and futures reflect our dedication to prioritizing the whole person, not just the professional.

Venable’s benefits package includes medical, dental, vision, disability, life insurance, flexible spending and healthcare savings accounts, 401(k) with firm profit share, paid time off, firm paid holidays, wellness and personal advocacy programs, family planning resources and leave programs, tuition reimbursement, and more. New employees are provided a detailed orientation to the firm’s benefit offerings upon hire.

Here, we strive to offer the kind of care that radiates, from our colleagues to our clients, to our communities, so that success finds everyone.

Pursuant to the California Fair Chance Act, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest records.