Managing Trial Attorney

About Us
Nationwide is a leader in the insurance and financial services industry. We are a Fortune 100 company with a mission to keep our members, their loved ones, and their belongings protected.
We commit to every employee and community we serve by emphasizing employee development and charity partnerships. That’s how we win Gallup’s Great Workplace Award year after year and why we’ve been named one of Fortune’s 100 Best Companies to Work For.
In addition, we are proud recipients of top workplace awards in the following categories
• 50 Best Workplaces for Diversity – Fortune; Forbes; National Business Inclusion Consortium
• Top Company for Women: Catalyst Award; Fortune; Professional Women’s Magazine • LGBTQ: Human Rights Campaign (HRC) Equality Index: HRC (14 years)
• Veterans: Pro Patria & Above and Beyond Awards: Employer Support of the Guard & Reserve (ESGR)
• Fortune World’s Most Admired Company
• Fortune Top Companies for Millennials
Your Team
You will lead a team of trial attorneys, paralegals, and administrative assistants to achieve the mission and strategic vision of Nationwide Trial Division.
Nationwide Trial Division strives to provide superior legal services that exceed our partners and client’s expectations of quality and value and to be considered the best insurance defense litigation firm in each community we serve.
Nationwide Trial Division’s mission is to be a trusted team of experts that enables integrated and differentiating solutions to protect Nationwide and its clients. This is accomplished through providing legal and regulatory solutions, advocating on behalf of Nationwide and its clients, managing risks, and enhancing Nationwide’s reputation in the community.
Reporting Relationships: Reports to Managing Trial Attorney or Associate Vice President.
About You
So, you think you’ve got what it takes to make the cut? All Managing Trial Attorneys should be:
● Visionary people leaders who motivate associates to strive for greatness
● Solutions oriented with a collaborative spirit
● An out of the box, resourceful, finder of solutions
● Leader, motivator and innovator, resilient with the ability to lead your team through notable change
● Influential communicator with managerial courage and the ability to have effective critical conversations
● Prepare business and operational reports and responsible for performance management, and budgets
● Excited about working in a dynamic, fast-paced environment
● Committed to individual and team engagement
● Prioritize tasks and take ownership of all decisions

You should also have:
●
Proven experience leading successful legal teams; 10 years of experience within civil litigation, trial, and / or agency hearing representation
● Expertise in team effectiveness and engaging leadership methodologies ● JD Degree from an accredited law school
● Licensed as an attorney in appropriate US jurisdiction where the trial division office is located
● Deep expertise in highly complex matters of law ● Adherence to Private Practice of Law policy
● Ability to prioritize tasks and take ownership of decisions
● Familiarity with liability and damages experts utilized in the jurisdiction
● Proven track record of marketing skills to strengthen relations with clients and claims partners. ● Powerful reputation in the legal community

Job Summary
A typical day in the life of a Managing Trial Attorney:
1.
Provides meaningful developmental coaching, feedback and training to uplift skills and effectiveness of attorneys and associates
2. Collaborate with Trial Division business operations to ensure delivery of satisfactory services
3. Contributes and provides subject matter expertise on significant, high-risk, and complex legal matters
4. Maintains productive relationships with members and claims management customers
5. Reviews and assigns cases and may carry a small case load
6. Preparation of business and operational reporting
7. Conducts audits of associate open cases, seeks feedback from Claims partners
8. Partners with specialty executives on any performance related matters regarding the specialty area
9. Manages all administrative functions for the office including onboarding attorneys and support staff
10. Monitors quality and productivity standards while promoting Nationwide best legal service practices

Compensation & Benefits
You receive a competitive starting salary with opportunities to increase salary based on performance. Other benefits include:
● A 401k match and company-funded pension plan
● Medical, dental, and vision insurance (part of our Wellness Program) ● Up to $5250 in tuition reimbursement per year after your first year
● Excellent opportunities for growth and promotion ● Network of diverse employee resource groups
●
Enjoying time with your family/pets/yourself (we understand) with up to 23 days of paid time off and 9 – 10 paid holidays per year
● Extra time off for donating blood and philanthropic service

Credit Check
Due to the fiduciary accountabilities of this job, a valid credit check and / or background will be required as part of the selection process.

Job Conditions
Legal office environment. Frequent day travel with limited overnight travel. Extended hours are often necessary to meet the demands of the profession.
Equal Opportunity Statement
Nationwide embraces diversity and equal opportunity. We are committed to building a team that represents a variety of backgrounds, perspectives, and skills. The more inclusive we are, the better our work will be.

Job Description

Reporting Relationships:  Reports to Managing Attorney or Regional AVP. Direct reports include Trial Attorneys, Paralegal and Support Staff.

Core Duties and Responsibilities: 

• Implements and manages all aspects of NTD Best Practices, Processes and guidelines, providing training as needed.
• Maintains and promotes good relationships with Clients and Claim management.
• Conducts open and closed file audits of direct reports; seeks feedback from claims partners and NTD senior leadership. Provides meaningful developmental coaching and feedback to attorneys and paralegals about feedback and file reviews, creating development plans to address growth opportunities.
• Manages attorney, paralegal, and support staff performance and productivity for assigned office. Assigns work, is responsible for development, coaching, training and mentoring individual associates.
• Manages or co-manages expenses for assigned office.
• Responsible for compliance with all applicable ethical requirements and for professional development, training of direct reports, including CLE, pursuant to Nationwide Trial Division protocols.
• Reviews and assigns cases. Maintains a case load of no more than 10 cases. Provides legal representation for clients, including trying cases in all courts and agencies, and related legal advice and services. 
• Collaborates with Business Operations to ensure that administration services provided to the office are at acceptable levels. 
• Partners with Specialty AVPs on any performance related matters regarding specialty areas.
• Responsible for preparation of various business reports in order to manage office. Reviews and analyzes trends and recommendations to upper management regarding short-term and long term critical business decision.
• Manages and coordinates all administrative functions for the office. Reviews and monitors quality and productivity with respect to office performance in assigned territory.
• Monitors and responds to office growth demands and reduction in force, including staffing, physical plan, and technology needs. Plans and coordinates projects regarding systems and processes changes.
• If sole MA in office, responsible as the primary contact for identifying NTD Corporate Real Estate needs. Participates in site surveys/selections; partner with vendors in the relocation of Trial Division offices.
• Provides business orientation and training to hires. Participates in special business initiatives as assigned.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Typical Skills and Experiences: 

Education:  JD Degree from an accredited law school.

License/Certification/Designation:  Currently licensed as an attorney in an appropriate U.S. jurisdiction. Maintains an active license in the state in which the position is located.

Experience:  Typically has 10 plus years of relevant civil litigation, trial experience and/or agency hearing representation experience. Experience in supervision of others required.

Knowledge:  Has expertise in highly complex matters of law. law. Adherence to Private Practice of Law policy.

Skills/Competencies:  Excellent written and verbal communication skills. Strong negotiation skills.  Excellent analytical and legal skills. Creative thinker, computer savvy with a working knowledge of basic software and use of same. Good time management and organization skills. Comfortable contact with all levels of management. Ability to train trial attorneys, paralegals and support staff. Decision- making ability to set work priorities and make recommendations. Ability to initiate, organize and coordinate complex projects and cases. Strong leadership skills, including motivating, influencing and problem solving.

Other criteria, including leadership skills, competencies and experiences may take precedence.

Staffing exceptions to the above must be approved by the hiring manager’s leader and HR Business Partner.

Values:  Regularly and consistently demonstrates the Nationwide Values and Guiding Behaviors.

Job Conditions: 

Overtime Eligibility:  Exempt (Not Eligible)

Working Conditions:  Normal office environment. Frequent travel. Occasional overnight travel.  Extended hours are often necessary to meet the demands of the profession.

ADA:  The above statements cover what are generally believed to be principal and essential functions of this job.  Specific circumstances may allow or require some people assigned to the job to perform a somewhat different combination of duties. 

Credit Check: Due to the fiduciary accountabilities of this job, a valid credit check and/or background which will be requires as part of the selection process.

Evaluation Activity: 

Additional Job Description

Position Grade: H4

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