General Counsel

Job Description

Support the Managing Partner in Attorney Performance and Accountability

• Partner with other senior leadership in meetings addressing attorney performance, productivity, case progress, and professional expectations.
• Evaluate explanations for missed goals, distinguish legitimate obstacles from avoidable delays, and ask informed follow-up questions.
• Help establish clear commitments, measurable corrective steps, and appropriate follow-up.
• Bring legal credibility, preparation, and fair judgment to difficult conversations while reinforcing a culture of ownership and accountability.
• Help ensure that performance expectations support quality representation and professional obligations.

Manage Employment Matters and Vendor Agreements

• Advise leadership and HR on employee relations, performance management, workplace complaints, investigations, discipline, and separations.
• Draft, review, and negotiate employment-related agreements and support clear, consistently applied policies.
• Review and negotiate vendor and service agreements, identifying material obligations, costs, renewal terms, termination rights, and exposure.
• Coordinate specialized outside counsel when needed and manage assignments toward a timely, practical resolution.

Assess Case-Related Risk and Exposure to the Firm

• In the rare instances where the firm may have legal exposure, independently investigate issues arising from the firm’s cases that may create legal, ethical, financial, operational, or reputational exposure.
• Review relevant facts, documents, legal authority, deadlines, and the responsible attorney’s proposed approach before escalating an issue to leadership.
• Deliver concise risk assessments explaining the concern, potential consequences, available options, and recommended course of action.
• Work with responsible attorneys to confirm that appropriate steps are being taken and follow corrective actions through completion.
• Support sound case handling while preserving the responsible attorney’s ownership of the matter. This position is advisory and does not ordinarily involve taking over cases or appearing in court.
• Escalate urgent or material concerns promptly, with the best available analysis and a clear plan for resolving remaining questions.

Help Lead an MSO Transition and Support Acquisitions

• Help spearhead the legal work associated with a potential management services organization (MSO) transition.
• Coordinate with leadership and outside advisers to assess the proposed structure, identify requirements and risks, prepare agreements, and manage implementation.
• Support potential acquisitions through due diligence, transaction review, negotiation, closing, and integration planning.
• Identify professional responsibility and other regulatory considerations that require specialized advice.

Required Skills/Abilities:

• Experience evaluating litigation or case-related exposure, including the ability to research unfamiliar issues and assess the adequacy of a proposed response.
• Working knowledge of law firm operations and professional responsibility.
• Experience advising on employment matters and negotiating commercial agreements.
• Ability to work effectively with attorneys, operational leaders, financial executives, and outside advisers.
• Strong research, writing, negotiation, and project management skills.
• Experience with law firm risk management, plaintiff-side practice, MSO structures, or business mergers or acquisitions is particularly valuable.

Qualifications

Education and Experience:

• J.D. and active bar membership in good standing, with eligibility to serve in this role in the firm’s operating jurisdictions; 20+ years of litigation or other related experience preferred.
• Substantial legal experience demonstrating independent judgment and responsibility for complex matters; personal injury experience or substantial research and writing experience strongly preferred.
• Experience evaluating litigation or case-related exposure, including the ability to research unfamiliar issues and assess the adequacy of a proposed response. 
• Working knowledge of law firm operations and professional responsibility. 
• Experience advising on employment matters and negotiating commercial agreements.
• Ability to work effectively with attorneys, operations leaders, financial executives, and outside advisers. 
• Strong research, writing, negotiation, and project management skills. 
• Experience with law firm risk management, plaintiff-side practice, MSO structure, business mergers or acquisitions is particularly valuable. 

Physical Requirements: 

• Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer.
• Must be able to access and navigate each department at the organization’s facilities.

The Person We Are Looking For

Thorough, direct, commercially minded, and comfortable holding others accountable; asks questions, verifies facts, and tests assumptions before reaching conclusions.

Able to challenge a senior attorney respectfully, support the firm’s senior leadership in a difficult performance conversation, and explain a complex issue to the Managing Partner in plain language. Distinguishes exposure from manageable risk and pairs concerns with practical solutions.

Demonstrates discretion, sound judgment, emotional steadiness, and consistent follow-through. Knows when to act independently, when leadership needs to decide, and when specialized outside counsel is necessary.

Additional Information

Additional Information

Compensation & Benefits

• Competitive salary commensurate with experience
• Professional development and continuing education support
• Collaborative, growth-oriented team environment
• Medical, dental & vision
• Hospital plans
• 401(k) Retirement Plan – Pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions available
• Life Insurance (Company paid Basic Life and AD&D as well as voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents)
• Company paid short and long-term disability
• Health & Dependent Care Spending Accounts (HSA & DCFSA)
• Employee Assistance Program
• Tuition Assistance
• Paid time off and paid holidays

Join Our Team

At The Ward Law Group, every role contributes to changing lives.

If you're looking for an opportunity to grow your litigation career, maximize client recoveries, and work alongside a high-performing legal team, we'd love to hear from you.

Apply today and become part of a team committed to excellence, accountability, and changing lives—one client at a time. Please submit a resume and a brief statement describing your relevant experience. Include an example of a complex issue you independently investigated, the recommendation you made, and how you helped carry it through to resolution. Please exclude confidential or privileged information. 

The Ward Law Group is not accepting unsolicited assistance from search firms for this employment opportunity. All resumes submitted by search firms to any employee at The Ward Law Group via-email, the Internet or in any form and/or method without a valid written Statement of Work in place for this position from The Ward Law Group HR/Recruitment will be deemed the sole property of The Ward Law Group. No fee will be paid in the event the candidate is hired by The Ward Law Group as a result of the referral or through other means.

At The Ward Law Group, we recognize our people are our strength. We are an equal opportunity (M/F/Disability/Veterans) and consider all applications without regard to race, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, genetic information or any other status protected by applicable law. We value our people, their varying perspectives and are committed to fostering an environment where they can bring their whole selves to work.

In accordance with the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986, employment is contingent upon verification of identity and authorization to work in the United States. All persons hired will be required to complete Form I-9 and provide acceptable documentation as required by law.