Workers Compensation Attorney (Hybrid)

The Workers Compensation Attorney performs legal and litigation activities for the League of Minnesota Cities Insurance Trust (LMCIT), drafts legal documents, develops plans for litigation, prepares and responds to written discovery, prepares for, and takes depositions, prepares and argues motions, negotiates settlements, tries cases to conclusion before Office of Administrative Hearing, and prepares and argues before the Minnesota Workers' Compensation Court of Appeals, and Minnesota Supreme Court.

All legal and litigation activities will involve cases in which the attorney is “first-chair” or sole counsel on relatively routine to moderately complex workers compensation actions.

Hiring Range:
WC Atty I 0-2 yrs exp. $91,000 – 112,000

WC Atty II 3-6 yrs exp. $110,000 – 125,000

WC Atty III 7+ yrs exp. $125,000 - $150,000

Essential Job Duties:

• Conducts legal research using online resources.
• Drafts and edits legal documents and correspondences.
• Performs legal and litigation activities (e.g., drafts or directs the drafting of documents including but not limited to Answers, Discovery, motions, memoranda, IME letters, IVE letters, objections, etc.).
• Conducts, directs, and reviews litigation, develops plans for litigation, determines merits of claims, assess potential risks and exposure of litigation, and presents to workers' compensation claims management all cases proceeding to hearing.
• Prepares and selects witnesses, reviews documents, handles motions, negotiates settlements, prepares cases for trial or hearing and appears at settlement conference and/or mediations, pretrial conferences, hearings and appeals.
• Represents clients before the Office of Administrative Hearings, Minnesota Workers' Compensation Court of Appeals and Minnesota Supreme Court.
• Provides research and recommendations to the workers' compensation claims adjusters regarding non-litigation claim files (e.g., assist with proposed language to include in documents filed with the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry and determination of initial denial/payment of new claims).
• Supervise day-to-day activities of paralegal and legal administrative assistant (“LAA”) assigned to counsel. Responsible for maximizing and maintaining efficiency of the attorney's work team (attorney, paralegal and LAA).
• Collaborates with claims personnel and others in directing claims investigations.
• Review all new Workers' Compensation Court of Appeals and Minnesota Supreme Court decisions and assign review of cases of interest or precedence to law clerks to prepare summaries to be distributed to workers' compensation claims managers and litigation.
• Keeps Litigation Supervisor informed of activities, problems, and case development.

Core qualifications & Desirables

• Law degree and current Minnesota Attorney licensure.
• Ability to travel within the state of Minnesota to conduct investigations, give presentations and attend litigation events. Some travel will be overnight.
• Occasional work on evenings and weekends as needed for case preparation.

Desirable Qualifications:
Additional years of experience in workers' compensation.

Examples of Performance Criteria

• Exercises sound judgment in representation of clients and presentation of cases at mediations, hearings, and appeals.
• Effectively and efficiently develops and discovers evidence using written discovery, informal discovery, depositions, client interviews, and using available expert witness resources.
• Communicates effectively with clients, opposing counsel, claims supervisors, and DLI/OAH.
• Establishes and maintains effective working relationships with outside attorneys and staff.
• Assesses workload and sets realistic priorities to successfully complete assigned tasks and close assigned files.
• Successfully completes assignments relative to quality, quantity, and timeliness of work.
• Works effectively under pressure and meets deadlines.
• Demonstrates ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing.
• Meets or exceeds League Empowerment and Performance Program (LEAPP) results/timelines, and other department performance measures.
• Contributes to an inclusive environment where all individuals are valued, respected, and engaged, and regularly reflects on personal practices to ensure equitable and respectful interactions with the public, colleagues, and members.