Governance Attorney

Job Description

Governance Attorney

Position Type:     Full Time

                               Exempt

                               Offsite (In-Office Based on Business Needs)

Location:              Los Angeles OR San Francisco OR Washington D.C.

Salary Range:      $141,600.00 - $180,000.00 *

*The salary range is the one that Munger, Tolles & Olson LLP reasonably expects to pay for this position.  The salary range does not guarantee, obligate, nor set expectations of an applicant’s wage in the event of hire.  The posted range is only one component of Munger, Tolles & Olson LLP’s Total Rewards package.

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The Governance Attorney is an integral part of the Governance team. The Governance Attorney directs and conducts specific processes in the Governance department, including timely and thorough review, identification, and resolution of conflicts of interest, preparation of conflicts waivers, review of engagement letters and outside guidelines, review of new vendor contracts and other risk management related responsibilities. The position reports directly to the Director of Governance, and has significant interactions with the General Counsel, Partners and other various departments within the Firm. 

Job Functions & Responsibilities

• Assists with the clearance of new hire candidates, including conflicts analysis and resolution, review of reports submitted by Governance Analysts, and escalation of items to Firm General Counsel and Partners, as appropriate.
• Drafts language in waiver and engagement letters to ensure that it adequately addresses conflicts and engagement issues.
• Reviews new vendor agreements and ensures they comply with the Firm’s standard terms and conditions.
• Reviews client outside counsel guidelines and engagement agreements to identify deviations from the Firm’s policies; drafts appropriate responses to the deviations.
• Develops internal policies, procedures, guidelines, and best practices with respect to information governance issues, including security and privacy issues.
• Leads and supports Risk Management related projects and initiatives.
• Maintains up-to-date knowledge of the American Bar Association (ABA) Model Rules of Professional Conduct as adopted in each state in which the Firm maintains an office, and jurisdictional differences in all states and practice areas in which the Firm conducts business.
• Assists the daily operation and maintenance of the Firm’s internal legal holds and collection, preservation and destruction of documents.
• Advises attorneys and professionals on all aspects of the Firm’s Governance policies (e.g., retention, disposition, conflicts) and integrates feedback into policy and process adjustments as necessary.
• Ensures compliance with firm-wide processes related to audit letters, outside counsel guidelines, conflicts checks, and new business intake.
• Serves as escalation point for Governance Analysts and troubleshooting conflicts issues through to resolution.
• Performs legal research, including review of case law and jurisdictional issues related to conflicts clearance, lateral hiring, ethical walls, records disposition and related issues.
• Other duties as assigned.

Tools

• MS Office suite
• Proficient in risk/governance software (e.g., 3E, InTapp, Aderant, Legal Key, Varonis, FileTrail)
• Document management systems

Minimum Job Qualifications

• Juris Doctor degree from an ABA-accredited educational institution
• Admitted to the California Bar, active and in good standing, OR admission in another jurisdiction and willing to take and pass the California Bar within one year.
• Minimum 5 years’ law firm conflicts research and analysis experience
• Advanced ability to be proactive, analytical and use critical thinking skills
• Ability to work in fast-paced environment, interacting professionally with others
• Excellent attention to detail
• Proficient in Boolean Search Terms & Connectors, preferred
• Proficient in Microsoft Office with advanced skills in Excel and PowerPoint
• Proficient in InTapp Conflicts/Intake (or 3E/Elite Enterprise)
• Strong communication skills
• Ability to deliver consistently excellent customer service

Physical Demands

Writing, typing, reading, speaking, hearing, seeing, sitting, bending, reaching, lifting up to 25 lbs.

Working Conditions

Quiet office environment in a high-rise building, seated the majority of the time

Direct Reports

None

The Governance Attorney role is an amazing opportunity available on our team of professionals at Munger, Tolles & Olson, LLP! We offer competitive pay, benefits and an opportunity to make an impact in today’s world.

This job description is intended to describe the general nature and level of the work being performed by employees in this job. It is not intended to be a complete list of all responsibilities, duties and skills required for this job classification.

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We are a talent-first Firm and are always looking for great people. We encourage you to apply even if the level of this position is not an exact match to your qualifications. This may not guarantee your placement into the opening; however, it is always worth exploring if there is an opportunity for the future.

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About Munger, Tolles & Olson

Munger, Tolles & Olson has been consistently ranked on The American Lawyer’s A-List since its inception in 2004, including nine years in the top spot. We strive to hire only the most qualified and creative lawyers. We believe that clerkships provide valuable experience. In this regard, about 80% of our attorneys served as law clerks to federal or state judges and sixteen attorneys were clerks to U.S. Supreme Court Justices. We recruit and retain the best professional talent to support our Attorneys with a focus on service and excellence. We have a full spectrum of functional positions including Information Technology, Information Security, Accounting, Human Resources, Legal Support, and Marketing.

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MTO is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate in employment on the basis of race, including but not limited to hair texture and protective hairstyles (for example, braids, locks, and twists), color, ethnicity, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding and medical conditions related to pregnancy, childbirth and breastfeeding, marital or domestic partner status, parental or family care status, national origin, ancestry, age, sexual orientation, disability or medical condition, genetic characteristic, political affiliation, military or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local law.  It is the policy of Munger, Tolles & Olson LLP to prohibit discrimination, unlawful harassment (including sexual harassment), and retaliation.  This commitment prohibits such conduct by any individual involved in MTO’s operations and by anyone doing business with or on behalf of Munger, Tolles & Olson LLP.

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Munger, Tolles & Olson LLP (MTO) does not accept unsolicited resumes from 3rd parties or agencies.  Any unsolicited resumes and profiles received from 3rd parties or agencies will be considered property of MTO and no fees will be due or paid.  If you wish to become an approved Agency with MTO, please contact a member of the MTO Talent Acquisition Team.