Description
JOB DESCRIPTIONThe House Counsel Managing Attorney is responsible for ensuring their firm provides high quality and ethical legal representation to our clients, and excellent communication, collaboration and service to our Claim Department customers. The managing attorney will have performance management responsibilities over supervising attorneys in the office, that include supervision, training, and coaching. The managing attorney will have responsibility for ensuring OKR's are cascaded to all levels of their firm, manage and assist with projects to improve reporting to claims, provide improved transparency with respect to high quality of legal representation and maintain high levels for performance to ensure that clients are provided with a zealous defense and cases are litigated effectively and efficiently. The managing attorney should enhance understanding and adherence to the firm's staffing models, case numbers and claims data to ensure peak financial efficiency and adherence to OKR's.
The managing attorney should consistently advance the professional reputation of the firm, House Counsel and Chubb.
MAJOR DUTIES/RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE JOB:
- Focus on and utilize all available data to track, measure and continuously improve your firm's performance in quality of legal representation, claims and client service, recognition and response to trends, calibration of resources to inventory, business cases for growth opportunities, financial management, value and efficiency of operations and workflows, return on investment.
- Manage the operation of the firm by providing proper administration of all aspects of the firm's legal practice.
- Monitor and maintain appropriate staffing models to maintain high quality service.
- Maintain a quality professional staff appropriately suited to the firm's needs and level of cases existing at the firm.
- Develop and implement business plan for use of retained counsel and temporary staff and adhere to budget provided to the firm.
- Manage and monitor all aspects of inventory to ensure cost effective representation and maintenance of House Counsel as a value proposition for Chubb including case life, indemnity pay out, severity/complexity rating, and billing on file relative to value of case.
- Ensure firm's adherence to department protocol and policies on reporting requirements and service expectations.
- Adhere to controllable expenses budget. Identify opportunities to reduce expenses, maximize efficiency and streamline practices in firm.
- Manage firm members, actively review files, and meet and confer with lawyers to ensure that:
- There is an awareness that the use of ProLaw is not optional and that the ProLaw file is the official digital business file for the cases handled by the department.
- All employees are utilizing ProLaw properly and effectively, including proper utilization of calendaring, diary, reminders/tickles, and entry of transactions.
- All case-related business records are maintained in the ProLaw system.
- All department protocol regarding documenting the ProLaw file is adhered to by all firm employees, including but not limited to documenting all case related activities and transactions whether verbal (telephone calls, in person discussions) or written in the ProLaw file within the timelines and in the manner established by the department.
- Actively engage in marketing House Counsel. Seek opportunities to increase business from all perspectives including jurisdictional and expertise growth. Assist in the identification and development of new business opportunities or enhance existing business both nationally and locally within appropriate lines of business. Develop plan for firm's business development.
- Introduce firm to all appropriate claim personnel and establish professional relations and working arrangements.
- Develop and maintain collaborative business relationships with Claim personnel.
- Work with underwriting and Claims to identify business plans/opportunities and determine alignment with House Counsel capabilities and structure.
- Seek opportunities to educate underwriting, Claims, broker community and insureds on House Counsel experience and capabilities to influence choice of counsel.
- Each firm must promote its standing within the legal community, including bar associations and courts, to assist in business development.
- Monitor and track matter referrals and referral rejection rates and keep to less than 3% of new referrals, for rejections unrelated to conflict of interest.
KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS:
- Ensure adherence to all department policies and protocol on proper and effective use of ProLaw, and case handling including maintaining communication with claims and clients to ensure quality legal representation and service.
- Effectively manage all law firm personnel issues and challenges.
- Report to and update National House Counsel Manager regarding all Human Resources issues and challenges. Engage Human Resources, where appropriate, in personnel matters. Develop and maintain collaborative business relationships with Human Resources and Employee Relations personnel.
- Actively and effectively manage direct reports by maximizing performance and results. Ensure the same is being done by supervising attorneys and Law Office Administrator with their indirect reports.
- Active involvement in and regular review of the files in ProLaw. Develop and maintain regular and systematic methods of reviewing attorney work product in all files to ensure quality service and legal representation.
- Regularly utilize performance monitoring reports to ensure compliance with deadlines and to manage attorney performance. Develop ProLaw reports that align with local jurisdictional practices to track and monitor attorney performance. Regularly review and utilize inventory and new arise referral reports to monitor firm performance and increase referrals to firm.
- Provide learning and development opportunities to all firm members, including encouraging participation in Chubb learning and development opportunities, Chubb sponsored programs, and Chubb Business Round Tables. Ensure same is being done by supervisor of indirect reports.
- Monitor and achieve established metric goals: Attorney and paralegal time billing targets; Quality assessment -- 93% of cases rated good plus; Formal reporting -- 93% compliance with timeliness and content requirements; Client survey results -- 93% satisfaction with service; Claims Scorecard - 4.5 average firm score.
- Provide ongoing, constructive and timely feedback to direct reports regarding work product, competence, and performance. Ensure the same is being done by supervisor of indirect reports.
- Provide coaching for direct reports. Ensure the same is being done by supervisor of indirect reports.
- Successfully manage underperforming employees. Ensure same is being done by supervisor of indirect reports.
- Maintain a visible and consistent leadership presence in the firm. Be present, accessible and responsive to direct and indirect reports.
- Conduct regular meetings with direct reports. Conduct regular firm-wide meetings including all firm members. Ensure the same is being done by supervisor of indirect reports.
- Communicate departmental updates to firm in a timely manner.
- Recruit, hire and retain appropriate talent based on business needs. Develop and maintain relationships with local recruiting personnel. Utilize firm talent resources to support the firm practice.
- Make law firm management obligations the priority. Maintain personal caseload at manageable levels that do not interfere with proper management and maintain leadership focus on all aspects of the firm.
QUALIFICATIONS
- Juris Doctor degree from an accredited Law School.
- Extensive litigation experience
- Bar admission in good standing in the state and federal courts in which the firm litigates.
ABOUT US
Chubb is a world leader in insurance. With operations in 54 countries, Chubb provides commercial and personal property and casualty insurance, personal accident and supplemental health insurance, reinsurance, and life insurance to a diverse group of clients. The company is distinguished by its extensive product and service offerings, broad distribution capabilities, exceptional financial strength, underwriting excellence, superior claims handling expertise and local operations globally.
At Chubb, we are committed to equal employment opportunity and compliance with all laws and regulations pertaining to it. Our policy is to provide employment, training, compensation, promotion, and other conditions or opportunities of employment, without regard to race, color, religious creed, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, marital status, national origin, ancestry, mental and physical disability, medical condition, genetic information, military and veteran status, age, and pregnancy or any other characteristic protected by law. Performance and qualifications are the only basis upon which we hire, assign, promote, compensate, develop and retain employees. Chubb prohibits all unlawful discrimination, harassment and retaliation against any individual who reports discrimination or harassment.
