Managing Trial Attorney

If you're passionate about being part of a diverse organization that enables a Fortune 100 company with nearly $70 billion in annual sales to deliver innovative business solutions with excellence, then Nationwide's Legal team could be the place for you! At Nationwide®, “on your side” goes beyond just words. Our customers are at the center of everything we do and we’re looking for associates who are passionate about delivering extraordinary care.

This position can be a hybrid work schedule or fully remote in Southern CA supporting our Newport Beach, CA Trial Division office.

The MTA will be responsible for managing approximately 12 direct reports, including both attorneys and paralegals and will also assist with managing the operational aspects of the Newport Beach office. 

This MTA will oversee Commercial and Personal Lines files. Concentrations for the cases this MTA will manage include but may not be limited to: Bodily Injury Commercial; Commercial Auto; Complex Commercial; Complex Personal Lines; Premises Liability; Bodily Injury Auto; Bodily Injury Homeowners; Bodily Injury Dog Bite; Property Damage; Products Liability; Construction Defects; and Federal Court Actions.

Venues include but may not necessarily be limited to: Orange, Los Angeles, San Bernardino, Riverside, San Diego and Imperial Counties.

Candidates will be expected to have diverse experience in multi-lines of business and have demonstrated leadership skills which will be necessary for the role of managing both Trial Attorneys and Paralegals in both office and hybrid environments.

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Job Description Summary

Would you thrive in an environment where you can deliver top-quality legal services to support the mission of a Fortune 100 insurance company to protect people, businesses and futures with extraordinary care? If you possess the academic credentials, strong analytical skills and legal acumen needed for successful litigation work, our team may be the place for you!

Nationwide Trial Division (NTD) is a national team with approximately 40 offices throughout six regions across the United States. As a Managing Trial Attorney (MTA), you’ll co-lead one of those offices within a region with the opportunity to influence and drive the office’s reputation, performance and health in alignment with Nationwide’s overall mission and NTD’s strategic objectives. You’ll have the opportunity to work directly with the office’s lead MTA (8-2) regarding various aspects of office’s operations, which may include staffing (trial attorneys, paralegals and support staff), case assignments, quality and delivery of legal services, budgeting, workflow and associate development and performance. You may supervise trial attorneys, paralegals and/or support staff. There also may be limited opportunities for you to directly handle cases.

Job Description

Key Responsibilities:

• Implements and leads all aspects of NTD standard methodologies, processes and guidelines, providing training as needed. Partners with National Practice Group Associate Vice Presidents on any performance-related matters regarding specialty areas. Assists in identifying and sharing opportunities for increasing attorney proficiency in niche and commercial practice areas.

• Maintains and promotes good relationships with clients and claims management.

• May lead attorney, paralegal and/or support staff performance and efficiency for assigned office. Reviews and may assign work, monitors quality and efficiency, and is responsible for development, coaching and feedback, training and mentoring individual associates. Assesses case performance on open and closed files of direct reports; seeks feedback from claims partners and the office lead MTA (8-2). May maintain a case load, ideally no more than 10 cases.

• Assists with the preparation of various business reports in order to manage office. Reviews and analyzes trends and recommendations to lead MTA (8-2) regarding short-term and long-term critical business decisions.

• Co-manages and coordinates all administrative functions, including expense management, for the office. Collaborates with business operations to ensure that administration services provided to the office are at acceptable levels.

• Monitors and responds to office growth demands or reductions in workforce, including staffing, physical plan and technology needs. Plans and coordinates projects regarding systems and processes changes.

May perform other responsibilities as assigned.

​Reporting Relationship: Reports to Managing Trial Attorney (8-2). Manages a team of attorneys, paralegals and/or support staff. Composition and number of reports will vary dependent on office.

Typical Skills and Experiences:

Education: Juris Doctor degree from an accredited law school.

License/Certification/Designation: 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 jury trial experience as lead counsel preferred. Management experience required.

Knowledge, Abilities and Skills: Has expertise in highly complex matters of law. Excellent written and verbal communication skills. Strong negotiation skills. Excellent analytical and legal skills. Creative problem solver, computer savvy with a solid understanding 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, prioritize and coordinate complex projects and cases. Strong leadership skills, including motivating, influencing and problem solving. Stays in sync with the private practice of law policy and the ethical rules of the state where the position is located. Must also acknowledge and follow all corporate and NTD policies and procedures

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 Human Resources Business Partner.

Values: Regularly and consistently demonstrates the Nationwide values.

Job Conditions:

Overtime Eligibility: Not Eligible (Exempt).

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

Benefits

We have an array of benefits to fit your needs, including: medical/dental/vision, life insurance, short and long term disability coverage, paid time off with newly hired associates receiving a minimum of 18 days paid time off each full calendar year pro-rated quarterly based on hire date, nine paid holidays, 8 hours of Lifetime paid time off, 8 hours of Unity Day paid time off, 401(k) with company match, company-paid pension plan, business casual attire, and more. To learn more about the benefits we offer, click here.

Nationwide is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive culture where everyone feels challenged, appreciated, respected and engaged. Nationwide prohibits discrimination and harassment and affords equal employment opportunities to employees and applicants without regard to any characteristic (or classification) protected by applicable law.