AVP, Legal Ethics, Quality Audit and Operations - Trial Division

Key Responsibilities:  

• Develops and implements quality-control programs across NTD operations. Creates appropriate testing, scoring and management reporting, procedures and processes including development and execution of risk based audit processes and procedures ensuring management addresses noted findings. Works with Claims QA team to implement a risk-based approach to drive better file quality across NTD’s case assignments (>25,000). Monitors adherence to compliance with state and federal laws and regulations.  

• Identifies operational opportunities and/or weakness via trend analysis, data review, leadership interviews and assessments. Partners with NTD leaders and staff on development of corporate Best Practices. Assists in assessing changing laws and regulations and develops appropriate testing for same.  

• Designs, develops, and delivers the learning experience to include proactive insight and reinforcement.  Cultivates relationships with key Claims partners across the enterprise becoming a trusted advisory and partner to achieve mutual goals, exchange best practices, knowledge and information.

• Develops programs to help NTD associates prepare to handle more commercial litigation defense work as the business evolves.  

• Drives innovation and best practices throughout the organization by staying relevant on industry practices and trial division’s capabilities in these areas.

• Leads the performance of the legal ethics team to deliver sound, legally defensible decisions in response to discovery, liability theories, and state bar inquiries across the country. Directs the investigation of complaints or allegations that attorney has not complied with state ethics law. Ensures appropriate strategies are taken to protect NTD/staff counsel from state bar scrutiny in responding to various discovery, liability theories and state bar inquiries across the country.  

• Publishes clear opinions and communications of ethical standards and expectations for all of Trial Division. Monitors adherence to compliance with state and federal laws and regulations impacting both staff counsel as a whole and individual attorneys on individual case assignments.

• Leads the Trial Division Centralized Filing Unit and related administrative support that the unit provides across the firm, such as file openings and closings, background checks and more.   

• Collaborates closely with technology partners to ensure effective and efficient technology solutions are in place for each of our trial offices.

• Manages direct reports and is responsible for their performance management, salary planning and administration, training and development, workflow and organizational planning, hiring, placement and disciplinary actions. Creates clear expectations and objectives and provides development opportunities.

May perform other responsibilities as assigned. 

Reporting Relationships: Reports to SVP Trial Division. Leads a team of four including Ethics, Quality Assurance and Business Operations attorneys, Senior Director, Business Operations, and Director, Business Consulting.  Oversees a team of indirect reports that include Analysts, Sr Analysts, Consultants and Senior Consultants performing learning and performance, business consulting, process management and centralized filing unit duties. 

Typical Skills and Experiences:   

Education: Juris Doctorate from an American Bar Association-accredited law school and active license to practice law in at least one state is required.  Has specialized knowledge in Ethics and/or Rules of Professional Conduct and Attorney Disciplinary process and understanding of general training principles.    

License/Certification/Designation: Associates reporting within Nationwide’s Office of the Chief Legal Officer (OCLO) who are functioning in attorney roles must be fully licensed in accordance with OCLO policy, in good standing and in compliance with all continuing legal education requirements at all times in the state(s) in which they practice.  

Experience: Typically, a minimum 8 of years' civil litigation, trial experience and/or agency hearing representation and considerable management and/or leadership experience (10 years preferred). 

Knowledge, Abilities and Skills: Knowledge of the P&C Insurance industry. Ability to interact effectively with all levels of leadership. Excellent customer focus to proactively identify and understand customer needs. Exceptional written and verbal communication skills for interaction with executives, leadership, and all levels of associates; strong presentation and negotiation skills. Demonstrated decision making skills; recognizes, analyzes and provides input on performance situations.  Can deal with a variety of issues and recommend and/or implement solutions. Ability to coach, mentor develop and motivate associates. 

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 Resource Business Partner. 

Values: Regularly and consistently demonstrates Nationwide Values. 

Job Conditions:   

Overtime Eligibility: Not Eligible (Exempt) 

Working Conditions: Normal office environment. Some travel may be . 

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.