Senior Conflicts & Ethics Counsel

Jackson Walker LLP; Dallas (TX); On-site; USD 120,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

Jackson Walker LLP is seeking an experienced Conflicts Attorney to join the Office of General Counsel. This role analyzes conflicts of interest, professional responsibility, and new business intake, working with attorneys, recruiting, and business teams to resolve matters.

You will review conflicts for new clients, new matters, lateral hires, and mobility, interpreting rules and guiding on ethical walls, waivers, and risk management.

Qualifications

• J.D. from an accredited law school.
• Active U.S. license to practice law; eligibility to register as in-house counsel in Texas if not licensed in Texas.
• Minimum of five years of progressively responsible legal experience in conflicts, professional responsibility, ethics, risk management, or law firm operations.
• Experience reviewing conflicts of interest, client intake, lateral attorney conflicts, ethical walls, and professional responsibility matters within a law firm.
• Strong knowledge of conflicts of interest, legal ethics, and professional responsibility rules, including the Texas Disciplinary Rules of Professional Conduct.
• Experience interpreting ethics rules and providing practical legal guidance to attorneys and Firm leadership.
• Strong analytical, legal research, issue-spotting, and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent written, verbal, presentation, and facilitation skills with the ability to communicate complex legal issues clearly and effectively.
• Strong judgment and decision-making skills with the ability to balance legal risk, client service, and business objectives.
• Experience with law firm conflicts and intake systems; experience with Intapp or similar software preferred.
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities while meeting deadlines.

Responsibilities

• Review and analyze conflicts reports involving new clients, new matters, prospective engagements, lateral attorneys, and attorney mobility.
• Identify legal, ethical, and business conflicts requiring additional review or resolution.
• Interpret applicable Rules of Professional Conduct and provide guidance regarding conflicts-of-interest issues.
• Evaluate corporate affiliations, client relationships, adverse parties, and attorney representations to determine potential conflicts.
• Prepare written legal analyses and recommendations regarding complex conflicts matters.
• Advise attorneys and Firm leadership regarding conflicts of interest, professional responsibility obligations, confidentiality, ethical walls, and client engagement issues.
• Recommend appropriate conflict resolution strategies, including waivers, informed consent, declining representations, or implementation of ethical screens.
• Support compliance with applicable Rules of Professional Conduct and Firm policies.
• Monitor developments in ethics opinions, professional responsibility rules, and legal conflicts guidance.
• Review conflicts for new business intake and lateral attorney hiring; coordinate with Recruiting.
• Analyze portable business, prior client representations, and matters requiring legal review.
• Collaborate with attorneys and business professionals to obtain additional information necessary for conflicts analysis.
• Assist in resolving conflicts issues impacting client onboarding and attorney transitions.
• Review requests requiring ethical walls or information barriers.
• Recommend implementation of ethical walls and monitor compliance with approved procedures.
• Coordinate with IT, Records Management, HR, and Firm leadership regarding access restrictions.
• Review conflict waivers, engagement letters, and related documentation involving ethical restrictions.
• Provide guidance and legal support to the Conflicts Team regarding complex or unusual conflicts issues.
• Assist with attorney education regarding conflicts policies and professional responsibility requirements.

Skills

Legal analysis

Conflict resolution

Risk management

Ethics guidance

Analytical thinking

Communication skills

Decision making

Education

Juris Doctor

Tools

Intapp

Job description

Jackson Walker LLP is seeking an experienced Conflicts Attorney to join the Office of General Counsel. This role analyzes conflicts of interest, professional responsibility, and new business intake, working with attorneys, recruiting, and business teams to resolve matters.

You will review conflicts for new clients, new matters, lateral hires, and mobility, interpreting rules and guiding on ethical walls, waivers, and risk management.