Job Description

LOOKING FOR A NON-TRADITIONAL ATTORNEY LOOKING TO TAKE PART IN A NEW AND EXCITING ROLE.

Honigman is a premier business law firm, based in Michigan with an international practice. Recently recognized in Detroit and western Michigan as one of the Best and Brightest Places to Work, we earned this recognition by recruiting attorneys and staff members with outstanding credentials. In addition to Detroit, we have offices in Ann Arbor, Lansing, Kalamazoo, Bloomfield Hills, Grand Rapids, Chicago, and DC. With more than 300 attorneys working in 60 different areas of concentration, Honigman provides timely and cost-effective counsel to clients in numerous industries.

Honigman is currently seeking a Client Intake Manager for the Detroit office (a fully remote basis may be considered). Working in the Firm’s Office of the General Counsel, the Client Intake Manager reports to the Client Solutions Counsel and works closely with the Firm’s Value Partners, FOCUS Team, Department Heads, Finance, and Ethics Committee. The Client Intake Manager will enhance the business intake screening process and vetting of new clients and ensure there is a clear understanding of the terms of the relationship between the law firm and the client. The Client Intake Manager will be responsible for reviewing all engagement agreements, including outside counsel guidelines, legal service agreements, and terms and conditions, and will assist by sharing those terms with relevant parties and tracking the negotiated agreements in the Firm’s InTapp Terms of Engagement software.

Communication with clients and lawyers about engagement terms, intake issues and other related matters is essential to the position, as are internal educational efforts, such as working with new lawyers, departments and practice groups about matters within the jurisdiction of the position.

This position requires the skills of an individual capable of: working with a diverse group of clients, attorneys, Department Heads, and staff; identifying objectives and client needs; analyzing challenges and possible solutions with respect to matters of new client intake; and then working collaboratively to bring about the best solution practically achievable for the Firm. The individual should have a strong understanding of how law firms operate, the pressures and challenges that face attorneys, and the current market dynamics of the legal industry.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Enhance the Firm’s business intake process, including the existing onboarding form, to ensure proper vetting of new clients and matters.
• Assist the Firm with vetting potential intake concerns identified by Firm management during the intake process.
• Assist Attorney Development & Recruiting with vetting potential staffing models during the intake process.
• Work with the Client Solutions Counsel and Finance to implement necessary structure around the intake of new clients and matters, including the determination and standardization of any credit or retainer terms.
• Provide day to day assistance to the General Counsel, Value Partners, and Client Solutions Counsel in the oversight, negotiation, and approval of client engagement letters, especially those involving special terms and conditions, outside counsel guidelines, vendor guidelines, and related requirements.
• Manage the client Intake process and ensure that engagement letters are properly executed and filed for ease of future retrieval.
• Become the Firm’s resident expert and “owner” of the InTapp Terms of engagement software. Utilize the platform to ensure that engagement agreement terms, especially Outside Counsel Guidelines and Vendor Agreements, are properly tracked, communicated to relevant parties, and managed.
• Work with the Client Solutions Counsel, Accounting/Billing, and IT to enhance the engagement agreement compliance process.
• Assist the Firm with vetting compliance with specific terms in and across engagement agreements when needed.
• Work with the Client Solutions Counsel and Honigman FOCUS Team to further build out integration of engagement agreements in legal service delivery models.
• Liaise with other functional areas within the Firm to effectively perform role and maintain the ability to apply sustained effort to implement solutions for the firm.
• Contribute to process, procedure, and technology improvements in order to effectuate continuous improvement of new business intake and client engagement.
• Deliver excellent customer service in response to client, lawyer, and peer requests.

QUALIFICATIONS

· Bachelor’s degree from a four-year university or college is required.

· Juris Doctorate is required. Candidate must be an attorney in good standing with relevant regulatory body or bar association.

· Minimum of two years of relevant experience in a law firm or legal services environment is required.

· Strong understanding of professional services business model.

· Self-motivated and proactive, with strong organizational and time management skills as well as strong critical thinking skills.

· Ability to establish deadlines, track assigned responsibilities, monitor results and keep projects on track in a fast paced, detail-oriented environment.

· Exercise sound judgment, and possess the confidence and interpersonal skills to communicate effectively with the Firm’s senior management, lawyers, clients, professionals, and business staff. Strong negotiating, trouble shooting and facilitation skills are essential.

· Excellent written and verbal skills required.

· Ability to build relationships and foster a collaborative environment with all stakeholders.

· Advanced knowledge of the Microsoft Office suite. File Site, Aderant, and InTapp software experience a plus but not a requirement. Ability to quickly learn and employ new software applications is important.

Honigman is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, veteran status, marital status, sexual orientation, disability or any other category prohibited by applicable local, state or federal law. This policy applies to all aspects of employment, including recruitment, placement, promotion, transfer, demotion, compensation, benefits, and termination.

Company Description

Honigman is a premier business law firm in Michigan, Illinois, and Washington D.C. with an international practice. Recently recognized in Ann Arbor and Central Michigan as one of the Best and Brightest Places to Work, we earned this recognition by recruiting attorneys and staff members with outstanding credentials.