Risk and Compliance Attorney

Friedman Williams; Washington (District of Columbia); Hybrid; USD 150,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Friedman Williams seeks a Risk & Compliance Attorney in Washington, DC. The hybrid role partners with Office of General Counsel and leadership to advance ethics, compliance, and risk initiatives across the firm.

The attorney will guide engagement terms, conflicts, and client agreements, while improving processes and leveraging technology for strategic risk management. Expect collaboration across departments and periodic after-hours support.

Qualifications

• Juris Doctor from an ABA-accredited law school.
• Active membership in good standing with at least one U.S. state bar (DC preferred).
• Minimum 5+ years in compliance, conflicts, risk management, or related operations.

Responsibilities

• Review, negotiate, and interpret Outside Counsel Guidelines and client agreements.
• Advise on client engagement terms, risk, and compliance issues.
• Draft and negotiate engagement letters, conflict waivers, and related documents.
• Support new business intake, conflicts analysis, and ethical screens.
• Collaborate across departments for risk and compliance improvements.
• Develop training materials on ethics, compliance, and risk management.
• Lead or participate in strategic initiatives to improve workflows and technology.

Skills

Legal analysis

Negotiation

Risk management

Communication

Project management

Training development

Data privacy

Cybersecurity

Policy improvement

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Juris Doctor (ABA-accredited)

Bar admission in good standing (DC preferred)

Tools

Legal research tools

Job description

Risk and Compliance Attorney Washington DC

Job ID: 21443

Risk & Compliance Attorney (Hybrid - Washington, DC)

We are partnering with a prestigious D.C. law firm to hire a Risk & Compliance Attorney. This newly created position offers the opportunity to play a key role in the firm’s risk management, client engagement, and compliance functions while partnering directly with attorneys and firm leadership on complex legal, ethical, and operational matters.

This position will serve as a trusted advisor on client engagement terms, Outside Counsel Guidelines, new business intake, conflicts, professional responsibility, and firm compliance initiatives. The position also plays an integral role in improving firm processes, advancing technology, and supporting strategic risk management initiatives across the organization.

This is a hybrid position requiring approximately two days per week in the Washington, DC office, with additional in‑office attendance as business needs and meetings require.

Why does this role stand out?

• Newly created position driven by firm growth
• Opportunity to work directly with the Office of General Counsel and firm leadership
• Highly visible role influencing firm-wide risk management and compliance initiatives
• Significant responsibility for Outside Counsel Guidelines, engagement letters, and client agreements
• Blend of legal analysis, operational leadership, and strategic process improvement
• Opportunity to help modernize compliance workflows and leverage technology
• Hybrid work environment with excellent long-term growth potential

Key Responsibilities

• Review, negotiate, and interpret Outside Counsel Guidelines (OCGs), engagement letters, nondisclosure agreements, client agreements, and other contractual documents
• Advise attorneys regarding client engagement terms, legal risk, professional responsibility, and compliance issues
• Partner with attorneys and internal stakeholders to negotiate acceptable client terms while protecting the firm's interests
• Review, draft, revise, and negotiate engagement letters, client correspondence, conflict waivers, and related legal documents
• Assist attorneys in obtaining approvals for non-standard engagement terms and other matters requiring Office of General Counsel oversight
• Support the firm's new business intake process, including conflicts analysis, conflict waivers, ethical screens, and quality assurance of intake procedures
• Respond to attorney questions regarding risk management, compliance, professional responsibility, and firm policies
• Coordinate with multiple departments to resolve client engagement and compliance issues
• Support the firm's audit letter process and collaborate on continuous process improvement initiatives
• Review vendor contracts and other non-client agreements for legal and compliance concerns
• Assist with data privacy, cybersecurity, and information governance initiatives
• Conduct legal research regarding regulatory developments and emerging compliance issues affecting the firm
• Develop training materials and educational resources related to ethics, compliance, risk management, and new business intake
• Evaluate and improve compliance workflows, intake procedures, and technology solutions
• Lead or participate in strategic compliance and operational improvement initiatives
• Participate in training, onboarding, and knowledge-sharing initiatives for Risk Management and Conflicts team members, and assist with interviewing staff as needed
• Provide after-hours and weekend support, when necessary, for urgent confidential matters

Qualifications

• Juris Doctor from an ABA-accredited law school
• Active membership in good standing with at least one U.S. state bar (District of Columbia preferred)
• Minimum 5+ years of attorney experience with a focus on compliance, conflicts, risk management, new business intake, or operational support
• Experience negotiating contracts, reviewing legal documents, and assessing legal risk
• Strong understanding of legal ethics, professional responsibility, and law firm risk management
• Experience reviewing client engagement documents, Outside Counsel Guidelines, and related agreements
• Excellent analytical, organizational, research, and problem-solving skills
• Ability to manage multiple priorities while exercising sound judgment
• Outstanding written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills
• Proven ability to lead cross-functional initiatives and build relationships across all levels of an organization
• Self-starter with a proactive mindset, creative problem-solving ability, and a passion for improving processes and leveraging technology

Tagged as: Risk and Compliance Attorney