Description

Job Summary:

The Staff Attorney will provide high quality legal services to clients. The Staff Attorney is responsible for providing legal advice, guidance and assistance on cases involving conservatorship, guardianship, trustee, probate and other estate administration. The Staff Attorney reports to the Supervising Attorney and Executive Director and leads a Client Services Team, comprised of a Paralegal, Social Worker, Administrative Assistant, and Bookkeeper.

This position is located at Maximum Legal Service Corporation (MaxCorp), a Hawaii non-profit corporation located in downtown Honolulu. This is a full-time exempt, salary position. Pay and benefits are competitive and commensurate with experience.

Pay:

Starting salary is $80,000 to $95,000, depending on education and experience.
Opportunity for annual bonus determined by time in service and performance, and subject to budget approval.

Benefits:

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance.
• Fifteen (15) to twenty (20) paid vacation days per year, depending on time in service.
• Ten (10) paid sick days per year.
• Fourteen (14) paid holidays per year.
• Employee parking fully covered by the employer, subject to space availability.
• Simple IRA with up to 3% of salary employer matching contributions
• Group term life insurance.
• Long term disability insurance.
• Flexible Spending Accounts.
• Additional voluntary insurances and employee perks.

Duties/Responsibilities:

• Provides legal advice and representation to MaxCorp in accordance with company policies and Rules of Professional Conduct.
• Acts as a fiduciary and maintains and documents all communications with clients and interested persons, including but not limited to requests for distributions.
• Prepares and files briefs, motions, and other necessary judicial pleadings, with a focus on filings to Probate Court.
• Prepares for and attends court hearings, mediations, settlement conferences, and other meetings related to cases, including but not limited to site inspections and/or home visits that occur outside of the office.
• Manages and oversees case files, including the maintenance of case files by paralegals and other administrative support staff.
• Assures compliance with court orders and all other fiduciary and legal responsibilities of the Conservator/Guardian, Trustee, and/or Personal Representative.
• Maintains client relations and communications.
• Coordinates and maintains accounting and financial records with fiscal staff, including income and expenditures for each client.
• Coordinates and assists in the oversight of fiduciary and legal fees and other fiscal reports and filings, including but not limited to accountings to the client or court and filing of GET, GE and income taxes.
• Assures client trust accounts and assets are maintained appropriately and efficiently; assures appropriate internal fiscal and financial records are maintained.
• Leads client services team, comprised of a paralegal, social worker, administrative assistant and bookkeeper.
• Manages and/or participates in litigation of cases by serving as a liaison to outside counsel, as needed.
• Conducts complex legal research and analysis in a variety of areas, not limited to only Trust and Estates.
• Reviews, analyzes and interprets complex legal documents.
• Utilizes timesheet and billing systems and meets appropriate billing requirements, including for pro bono or low bono cases.
• Attends and leads, as needed, staff meetings.
• Maintains knowledge of legal developments including completion continuing legal education.
• Establishes and maintains relationships with referring attorneys, agencies, organizations, HSBA bar sections, and others whose clients or constituencies may benefit from MaxCorp’s services.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Requirements

Required Skills/Abilities:

• Superior verbal and written communication skills.
• Excellent interpersonal and customer service skills.
• Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Excellent time management skills with a proven ability to meet deadlines.
• Strong research, analytical, and problem-solving skills, including legal and mathematical skills.
• Excellent work ethic.
• Ability to prioritize tasks and to delegate them when appropriate; and ability to see tasks through to completion (must be results oriented).
• Ability to function well in a high-paced and at times stressful environment while maintaining a client-service oriented courteous and professional demeanor.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality, and to exercise discretion and good, independent judgment.
• Ability to work successfully in an interdisciplinary team environment, including but not limited to other attorneys, social workers, paralegals, bookkeepers, interns and administrative staff.
• Ability to be flexible, adapt to change, and creative or innovative in finding solutions to problems.
• Proficient with Microsoft Office Suite or related software.
• Ability to learn new cloud-based Trust management software and accounting software for time-keeping.

Education and Experience:

• Juris doctor or equivalent from an accredited law school required.
• Active license to practice law and/or membership in Hawaii State Bar Association required.
• Current and in good standing with the Hawaii State Bar Association required. Attorneys with out of state law license who are seeking licensure in Hawaii will be considered.
• Preferred 2-5 years of experience practicing law, including any clerkships, and experience handling individual cases (and maintaining a caseload of 35-50 cases).
• Preferred experience in Trust and Estate Planning and Administration.
• Preferred familiarity with social, cultural, geographic and economic characteristics of Hawaii.
• Preferred experience and/or ability to network with public, private and government organizations throughout the State of Hawaii, including parent, family, disability, and advocacy groups and other training programs.
• Preferred interest and commitment to public service.

Physical Requirements:

• Prolonged periods sitting at a desk and working on a computer.
• Must be able to lift up to 15 pounds at times.