Lead Attorney, Ethics, Quality Assurance & Business Operations

Nationwide Mutual Insurance•Columbus, OH

34d•Remote

About The Position

This role provides legal, ethical, quality assurance, and operational support and expertise to the Nationwide Trial Division (NTD). The position focuses on effective collaboration, innovative thinking, and a proactive approach to work. Key responsibilities include identifying risks, leading issue remediation, serving as the primary Ethics consultant, and developing and facilitating training programs on ethical compliance, file handling, and case strategy. The role supports business objectives of a Fortune 100 insurance and financial services company by delivering top-quality services in ethics, quality assurance, training, and business operations.

Requirements

J.D. from an American Bar Association-accredited law school.
Fully licensed in good standing and in compliance with all continuing legal education requirements at all times in the state(s) in which they practice.
Typically, eight to ten years of civil litigation or trial experience.
Training experience and/or agency hearing representation experience.
Significant experience in a civil law, preferably experience in insurance law.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
Specialized knowledge of staff counsel ethics and the Rules of Professional Conduct.
Ability to create and deliver presentations for customers and for all levels of management.
Digital literacy required, including proven skill with Excel and with virtual meeting programs, as well as with basic business software, including Word and PowerPoint.
Strong time management and organization skills.
Demonstrates decision-making ability to set work priorities and make recommendations.
Ability to initiate, prioritize and coordinate projects.
Leadership skills used in leading teams, including team building, motivating, influencing and problem solving.
Digital literacy is required, including proficiency with Excel, Word, PowerPoint, and virtual meeting platforms.
Ability to lead, influence, and support teams across a decentralized organization, including building relationships, motivating others, and driving consistent, high-quality outcomes across Nationwide Trial Division.

Nice To Haves

Leadership experience preferred.
Insurance defense experience highly desirable.
Prior leadership experience is strongly preferred.
Experience developing and leading training programs.
Experience supporting audit and quality initiatives.
Experience assessing ethical issues arising from the application of technology (e.g., AI) in legal practice.
Experience advising on litigation practices.

Responsibilities

Ensures execution of all aspects of NTD's quality assurance program including procedures, questions, schedules, assessment reports, feedback presentations, action planning, audit systems and communications to associates, leaders and the NTD leadership team.
Identifies office audit issues, conducts post-audit feedback sessions and assists Managing Trial Attorneys (MTA) in developing post-audit action plans.
Regularly reviews pending audit action plans for compliance and progress through completion.
Identifies legal training needs and prioritizes developing and delivering training offerings and virtual courses for MTAs, attorneys and paralegals on topics including case evaluation, conflicts of interest, commercial litigation, background checks, social media searches and vehicle technology.
Trains MTAs on the audit system and process for completing key performance indicator (KPI) reviews.
Develops and keeps current NTD Best Practices.
Identifies quality, performance and efficiency opportunities and makes recommendations for continued improvements.
Provides input to various task forces and to the NTD leadership team on a variety of training, ethics and performance quality matters.
Leads business operations initiatives, centralized file opening responsibilities and/or projects as assigned.
Provides support to NTD Regional AVPs and MTAs.
May lead, encourage and inspire a team of associates with responsibility for people management, communication, performance management, career development and salary administration.
May perform other responsibilities as assigned.

Benefits

medical/dental/vision
life insurance
short and long term disability coverage
paid time off with newly hired associates receiving a minimum of 18 days paid time off each full calendar year pro-rated quarterly based on hire date
nine paid holidays
8 hours of Lifetime paid time off
8 hours of Unity Day paid time off
401(k) with company match
company-paid pension plan
business casual attire