Practice Management Attorney

Did you become a lawyer to help people? Does the opportunity to improve the entire Arizona legal profession sound appealing? The Practice Management Attorney (PMA) at the State Bar of Arizona does both and so much more. You’ll be at the forefront of an ever-evolving profession by becoming a subject matter expert in the areas of practice management, legal technology, ethics, and trust accounting. The PMA shares that expertise with Arizona lawyers, legal paraprofessionals, and their staff through the Bar’s nationally acclaimed Practice 2.0 program, which includes phone helplines, continuing legal education courses, publications, and website content. This is a fast-paced, forward-facing position that the right candidate can use to build a foundation for becoming an agent of change in both our profession and the community.

Benefits of working at the State Bar of Arizona include:

• 100% employer paid medical, dental, and vision insurance (employee only)
• $900 HSA funding provided by employer for individuals ($2,000 for families)
• Generous paid vacation and sick time
• 10 paid holidays per year + 2 additional floating holidays
• 8 hours of paid volunteer hours per year
• Paid parental leave
• 401(k) with employer match
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF)
• Quarterly wellness reimbursement for gym membership
• A community of friendly and collaborative co-workers

What We’re Looking for in a Candidate:

• A dynamic communicator who is at home offering solutions on the phone and in the classroom
• A technically adept writer with a knack for simply explaining complicated ideas
• A confident networker who collaborates with the local and national legal community
• A self-starter with an eye for program growth opportunities
• J.D. from an accredited law school
• Active member in good standing with the State Bar of Arizona. Extremely qualified candidates barred in another jurisdiction may be considered if eligible for admission by motion to the Arizona Bar
• Substantive experience in the practice of law. Experience as a solo practitioner or attorney in a small to midsized firm preferred

Sample Job Duties:

• Conduct in-depth consultations with members of the Bar on topics like starting or closing a law firm, technology use, drafting representation agreements, and improving the client experience
• Provide staff expertise, including seminar ideas and the development of course content, on law office and practice management issues to the CLE department
• Participate in national practice management groups and develop a network of colleagues for professional development purposes

Full Job Description

Under minimal supervision of the Lawyer Assistance Programs Director, responsible for providing legal ethical and practical advice, information, consultations, education and resources on law office and practice management, legal technology and cybersecurity, starting, growing and winding down a practice, networking and marketing, and trust accounting for State Bar members through Practice 2.0, the Bar’s confidential advisory program; creating written resource materials for the Practice 2.0 website; conducting research as needed on national trends, practices and legal technology; working with the Lawyer Assistance Programs Director and Professional Development Coordinators to develop and teach continuing legal education programs focusing on practice management and practical skills; responding to calls on Practice 2.0 and Trust Account helplines; working with Young Lawyer Division as needed; serving as liaison to State Bar committees, working groups and advisory groups, sections and membership divisions, as needed; and other duties as assigned. Ensures alignment with State Bar strategic plan and goals.

Duties and Responsibilities

• The duties and responsibilities listed below are essential to the employee’s position.
• Create, facilitate and/or teach interactive sessions/continuing legal education program for Bar members about law office and practice management topics including but not limited to launching, operating or winding down a law firm, law office procedures, risk management, legal technology and cybersecurity, and trust account management.
• Conduct confidential in-person, phone or virtual consultations for State Bar members and their staff, legal paraprofessionals and other legal administrative staff, or members of the legal community focusing on a variety of practice management, legal technology and trust accounting issues. Timely respond to calls to Practice 2.0 and trust account helplines, offering confidential, non-binding best practice advice on a variety of issues impacting lawyers and their practices.
• Attend networking opportunities for Bar members, including those held by affinity bars and other legal organizations, to enhance exposure to Lawyer Assistance Programs including Practice 2.0 and trust account helplines and resources. Participate in national practice management groups and develop national network of colleagues for networking and professional development purposes; research and preview technology solutions that may be of benefit to State Bar members; work with LAP Director to create resource guides to assist members in selecting legal technology
• Communicate and interact with Bar members through the Bar website, appropriate social networking sites and in other media about practice issues, new developments and Bar resources; with Lawyer Assistance Program Director, update and develop content including manuals, checklists, practice guides etc. for Practice 2.0 web pages and to increase law office and practice management information and technology resources for Bar members. Provides suggestions to LAP Director for Let’s Practice column, blog, social media posts or other outreach; may author content as assigned.
• Serves as liaison to section executive councils, Young Lawyer and Senior Lawyer Divisions, and other State Bar groups, committees and task forces as assigned.
• Provide staff expertise, including seminar ideas and the development of course content, on law office and practice management issues to the CLE department. Assist in preparing and conducting law office and practice management, and legal technology CLE courses, especially for solo and small firm practitioners.
• Prepares memoranda, correspondence, and reports, as required.
• Develops ready-to-use resource packets and practice aids; maintaining an electronic management information database, including reviewing professional publications and obtaining reprint permission; and developing and maintaining a database of supplemental resources, such as consultants in areas outside Practice 2.0’s expertise.
• Stay current on practice management and ethical issues (including ethics rules and opinions) related to law practice management, including confidentiality of electronic information and communications, law office technology, client trust accounts, fees and billing, conflicts management, and other similar issues, particularly related to solo and small firm practitioners. Maintains current knowledge of and familiarity with practice management and ethical issues relating to legal technology including but not limited to practice management software, time and billing software, financial accounting software, cybersecurity and data privacy, the cloud, encryption, online legal research tools including Fast case, and law office productivity software products.
• Responsible for collecting and collating metrics to evaluate efforts, measure success, alignment with strategic plan, goals and related activities.
• Assists the Lawyer Assistance Programs Director with budget-related items for unit as needed. Assists LAP Director by providing input on review and appraisal of administrative staff as needed.
• Serves as backup to LAP Director as needed for Member Assistance Program and helpline as needed.
• Develop and maintain current knowledge of State Bar programs and resources available to members.

Education and/or Experience Required

Active member in good standing with the State Bar of Arizona. Extremely qualified candidates with active membership in good standing in a state bar other than Arizona may be considered, but such applicants must apply for admission on motion at the time of hiring. Three to five years of experience in the practice of law preferably as a solo practitioner or with a small to mid-sized law firm. Experience in a law office and/or risk management, including trust and operating account administration, and knowledge of relevant technology.

Skills and Abilities

• Performs all duties in compliance with internal procedures and external regulations. Is responsible for bringing compliance issues to the attention of management.
• Thorough knowledge of all aspects of office management practices and procedures.
• Excellent communication, both oral and written, skills.
• Exercise excellent judgment.
• Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions. Ability to listen.
• Must have high level of interpersonal skills to handle sensitive and confidential situations. Position requires demonstrated poise, tact and diplomacy.· Strong attention to detail and well organized.
• Flexibility in schedule to meet business needs.
• Must be a self-starter, able to work independently as well as work effectively with teams.

Computer Skills

Microsoft windows environment. Working knowledge of Adobe Pro. Demonstrated knowledge of current law office technology, including practice management solutions, preferred.

Certificates, Licenses, Registrations:

Position may require travel, reliable transportation is required. If using personal vehicle, must have appropriate driver’s license and insurance coverage.

Must be a member in good standing of the State Bar of Arizona and any state in which admitted to practice, or be eligible for admission on motion and gain admission within one year, and have no history of disciplinary sanction or participation in diversion program. History of dismissed charges in Arizona or any other state may be considered in hiring decision.