Conflicts Specialist

WilmerHale; Miamisburg (OH); Hybrid; USD 65,000 - 81,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid schedule

Health insurance

401(k) with company match

Paid time off and holidays

Job summary

WilmerHale is seeking a Conflicts Specialist to oversee new client workflows, perform conflicts of interest analysis, and manage engagement terms as assignments move to conclusion.

You will monitor intake, communicate status, and generate engagement or waiver letters while researching client information and maintaining compliance with professional conduct standards.

Qualifications

• Minimum two years’ experience related to the duties or skills described herein (e.g., general research, paralegal, or project assistance experience) or one-year direct conflicts experience in a law firm.
• Law firm or other legal experience highly desired.
• Four-year college degree required; J.D. preferred but not required.

Responsibilities

• Monitors intake mechanisms and workflow to facilitate daily operations.
• Communicates project status and issues to internal clients and escalates as needed.
• Generates engagement or waiver letters and supports ethical walls and due diligence.
• Performs conflicts analysis for new client business and updates to existing matters.
• Reviews conflicts reports and makes recommendations highlighting potential conflicts and resolutions.
• Drafts and reviews waiver letters under senior guidance.
• Maintains knowledge of professional conduct rules and related developments.
• Ensures files are complete and up-to-date and assists with ad hoc requests.
• Works overtime as needed including weekends/holidays on a rotating basis.

Skills

Conflict of interest analysis

Project management

Research skills

Communication

Confidentiality

Attention to detail

Interpersonal skills

Lexis/Westlaw research

Intapp Open experience

Education

Four-year college degree

J.D. preferred

Tools

Lexis

Westlaw

Dun & Bradstreet

PACER

Intapp Open

Job description

WilmerHale is a leading, full-service international law firm with 1,000 lawyers located throughout 12 offices in the United States, Europe and Asia. Our lawyers work at the intersection of government, technology and business, and we remain committed to our guiding principles of providing quality, excellent legal and client services; developing diversity among our lawyers and staff and cultivating an environment that promotes an ambitious spirit, collaboration and collegiality by drawing on the extraordinary talents and dynamic experience of our lawyers. Our goal is to reflect the diversity of our clients and the communities in which we practice.

What You Will Be Doing

The Conflicts Specialist facilitates and monitors new business workflow for new client business and updates to existing matters and performs conflicts of interest analysis for such requests. This includes researching, reviewing and summarizing conflicts reports associated with new client business and other requests and applying engagement terms to effectively handle assignments to conclusion.

About this Role

• Monitors intake mechanisms and entire workflow process to facilitate the smooth and timely daily operations of the department.
• Actively manages internal clients’ expectations by effectively communicating project status and issues, resolving concerns and escalating and trouble‑shooting as needed.
• Serves as an informational and procedural resource for attorneys and staff regarding new matter opening, generating engagement or waiver letters, and other department functions.
• Conducts research and due diligence using third‑party business resources for all new clients and for other assigned work as needed.
• Reviews, analyzes and summarizes conflicts reports for new client business, new hires, updates to existing matters and other types of conflicts of interest search requests and makes recommendations to senior personnel highlighting potential conflicts of interest and paths to resolution.
• Resolves identified conflicts of interest under the guidance of senior personnel.
• Drafts and reviews waiver letters for clients under the guidance of senior personnel.
• Communicates and disseminates conflicts of interest information to lawyers and staff orally and in writing, including following up with lawyers and others as needed to handle all due diligence and ensure that files are complete and up‑to‑date.
• Provides support to senior personnel regarding ethical walls, including resolving conflicts questions and responding to ad hoc requests from former or current attorneys and staff.
• Actively maintains working knowledge of the applicable rules of professional conduct, client relationship considerations, and related developments.
• Consistently contributes to the department work product by communicating and collaborating in a manner that enhances individual and team productivity.
• Displays professionalism, positivity and a “can do” attitude internally within the Firm community as well as externally with clients, vendors and others.
• Delivers excellent service with close attention to details.
• Communicates with appropriate degree of business professionalism.
• Conducts special projects and performs other duties as assigned.
• Works overtime as needed and approved, including weekend and holiday coverage shared with other conflicts staff on a rotating, calendared basis.

Required Skills

Your Qualifications/What You Will Bring

• Demonstrated ability to compile, review, and determine logical conclusions or recommendations based on data and information that is varied in content and format.
• Ability to initiate, follow through on all details, and complete time sensitive assignments with minimal supervision.
• Ability to operate under a high degree of confidentiality and professionalism.
• Excellent project management and organizational skills, including attention to detail and the ability to work effectively in an atmosphere of multiple projects, shifting priorities, and deadline pressure.
• Ability to apply research, critical thinking and analysis techniques and methodologies to assigned projects.
• Effective writing skills including knowledge of business English, vocabulary, punctuation, grammar, and spelling as necessary to present routine business information in established formats.
• Good oral communication skills as necessary to communicate and coordinate with others on routine but varied issues and work effectively with people at all levels at WH.
• Ability to use standard office software applications and subject matter databases in use at WH as directed. Intapp Open experience is a plus.
• Proficiency using on‑line research tools such as Lexis, Westlaw, Dun & Bradstreet, PACER, and various other resources.

Required Experience

Experience:

• Minimum two years’ experience related to the duties or skills described herein (e.g., general research, paralegal, or project assistance experience) or one-year direct conflicts experience in a law firm. Law firm or other legal experience highly desired. Graduate degree may be considered in lieu of job experience.

Education:

• Four‑year college degree required. J.D. preferred but not required.

Why Join Us?

• A values‑driven firm that fosters collaboration and respect
• The hiring range for this position is $64,600 – $80,800 annually, with final compensation based on experience, qualifications and internal equity.
• This position is eligible for a Hybrid Schedule
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• 401(k) with company match and profit‑sharing options
• Paid time off and holidays

Our Commitment

Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr LLP (WilmerHale) is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to compliance with all applicable laws prohibiting employment discrimination. It is our policy to take all employment actions and make all employment decisions without regard to race, color, religion, creed, gender, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, ancestry, age, marital status, citizenship status, genetic predisposition or carrier status, disability, military status, status as a disabled or other protected veteran, or any other protected status under applicable law. WilmerHale will make reasonable accommodation for qualified individuals with disabilities and otherwise as required by applicable law.

This job description is intended to describe the general nature and level of the work being performed by employees in the position. It is not intended to be a complete list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills for positions. The firm reserves the right at all times, in its sole discretion, to add or subtract duties and responsibilities, as it deems necessary.