Center for Professional Responsibility - Associate Counsel Lawyers Manual

Job description

The American Bar Association (ABA) was founded on a commitment to advance the rule of law in the United States and beyond by providing practical resources for legal professionals, conducting law school accreditation, developing model ethics codes and more. Today, the ABA remains a member-based organization that works to ensure access to justice for all, a fair legal process, and respect for the rule of law at home and across the globe. The ABA is committed to service and refining the standards that guide the legal profession. ABA staff are provided multiple types of continuing education and career development opportunities. Your work will help eliminate bias, enhance diversity, and advance the rule of law throughout the US and around the world. The ABA recognizes the value staff contribute to our success through a generous benefits package that protects their health and their financial security. The ABA’s wide array of benefit offerings include 401(k), medical, dental, vision, flexible spending accounts, health spending accounts, supplemental life and disability insurance, prepaid legal programs, and a complimentary membership to the American Bar Association, which offers additional benefits. Flexible/hybrid work arrangements may be available for residents of CA, DC, IL, IN, MD, MI, MN, TX, VA, and WI. Residency requirements may apply. ABA employees are eligible to apply for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program (PSLF). Job Summary/General Purpose of Job • Serves as legal counsel and provides expertise in the ABA Center for Professional Responsibility professional responsibility law and professional regulation. Develops high-level substantive legal resources for the ABA’s premier scholarly treatises on lawyer ethics and regulation that are relied on and cited as authoritative by courts, regulators, scholars and practitioners. Responsible for producing a large volume of high-level, publishable material based on in-depth substantive legal research, writing, and analysis. Reviews court cases, ethics opinions, law review articles, news sources, etc., to keep abreast of changes in the law and identify emerging trends in the field of professional responsibility law. Maintains and updates the Center’s research files on professional responsibility and regulation; manages the Center’s system for researching and collecting state and local ethics opinions and prepares summaries of opinions for publication. Essential Job Functions and Responsibilities • Responsible for producing a large volume of high-level professionally written material for the Center’s treatises on professional responsibility law that are relied on by experts in the field. • Engages in in-depth, independent legal research, writing and analysis on professional responsibility and professional regulation, legal malpractice, and related issues. • Reviews, on an on-going basis, a significant volume of court and ethics opinions, law review articles, news sources, etc. to keep abreast of changes in the law and identify emerging trends in the field of professional responsibility law and incorporate new material into treatises and research files. • Management duties include: maintaining and updating the Center’s research files on professional responsibility law and regulation; managing the Center’s system for researching and collecting state and local ethics opinions and preparing summaries for publication within deadlines; providing critical analysis of the work of colleagues and outside lawyers. • Collects, analyses, and produces digests of state and local ethics opinions for publication. • Performs other related duties as required. Required Education, Qualifications, Experience • Possession of a Juris Doctorate degree from an ABA-accredited law school and an active law license. • A minimum of eight years of significant professional legal experience with a demonstrated knowledge of professional responsibility law and a willingness to develop additional expertise in relevant subject-matter. • Highly-developed legal research, writing, analytical skills are essential. • Ability to work on multiple projects simultaneously and meet all deadlines. • Ability to work both independently and in a collaborative team environment. • Well-developed and demonstrated skills in working with professionals, editing on a peer basis, and interacting with leaders of the profession. • Proficiency in Word and Adobe products. • Member in good standing in possession of an active license to practice law in the State of Illinois, or eligible to obtain admission in Illinois via Illinois Supreme Court Rule 705 Admission on Motion. Preferred Education, Qualifications, Experience • At least 10 years of significant professional legal experience and knowledge of professional responsibility law preferred. Physical Requirements • Typical office work environment. Extent of Travel Required in the Job • As a normal course of business, this job will typically require travel of less than 15% of the time. The American Bar Association is an Equal Opportunity Employer: Disability/Veteran. In compliance with the ADA Amendments Act (ADAAA), if you have a disability and would like to request an accommodation in order to apply for a position with the American Bar Association, please call 312-988-5188.