The Junior Counsel-Employment & Benefits position is an entry level in-house counsel position seeking an attorney with a demonstrated track record of an interest in employment and benefits law. This is a position where you will gain on-the-job employment law skills as you perform tasks such as reviewing restrictive covenants, and drafting separation agreements. The position is primarily dedicated to supporting the Company’s Associate General Counsel and Senior Counsel for Employment & Benefits and other members of the in-house legal team, as needed.
In your role, you will work collaboratively with other members of the Legal team, HR, Finance, and various business unit managers. Reporting to the Associate General Counsel, Employment & Benefits and supporting, the position performs the duties outlined below.
Primary Responsibilities and Duties:
Advises on basic compliance with state/local employment laws and assists with developing compliance plans and policies related to such laws at the direction of the two senior in-house employment counsel.Reviews and advises on basic, non-producer, restrictive covenants with respect to hires and exits.Reviews employment contracts to provide basic advice on the termination of such contracts and drafts simple amendments of the same.Advises on basic employment agreement amendments, and compensation adjustments, including drafting complex variable compensation language.Advises on immigration related matters, liaising with outside immigration counsel and working closely with the Employment Law & Compliance Operations Associate on the Company’s Immigration Compliance Program.Drafts 1099 consulting agreements.Drafts separation agreements.Reviews results of adverse background checks for compliance with insurance industry standards and employment laws.Assist, as needed, with triaging the company’s business ethics hotline.Maintains the company’s conflict of interest registry.Drafting training material and coordinating trainings with the HR team, as needed.At the direction of supervisor and senior employment counsel, overseeing various other aspects of compliance with employment laws on a federal, state, and local level.Provides other employment related advise and drafting, as needed, at the direction of manager.Qualifications & Skills:
Must hold a J.D. and be licensed and in good standing to practice law in at least one U.S. State or the D.C. bar.No prior experience as a practicing attorney or in-house counsel required. Demonstrate a commitment to gain experience as an in-house employment counsel.Must have a modicum of familiarity with employment laws at a federal, state, or local level gained through educational courses (during law school or college), work experience, clerkships, or internships.Must be able to demonstrate an ability to spot legal risk, particularly risk related to basic employment law issues.Experience drafting contracts and/or employment-related documents.Excellent verbal and written communication skills and the ability to judge when to call versus email and visa-versa.Flexibility, particularly the ability to pivot when default forms or standard practices don’t fit the business need.Ability to work independently, exercise good judgement, spot risks, and know when to escalate matters to manager is essential.Ability to wield legal privilege effectively.Familiarity with and/or experience within the insurance industry, a strong plus. A background in Human Resources is also a plus.Ability to engage in ethical decision making even in the face of pressure. Strong typing skills required.Candidates in the greater Philadelphia area and Wilmington, Delaware area are preferred.
The work environment characteristics described are representative of those employees performing the essential functions of this job.
Risk Strategies is the 9th largest privately held U.S. brokerage firm offering comprehensive risk management advice, insurance and reinsurance placement for property & casualty, employee benefits, private client services, as well as consulting services and financial & wealth solutions. With more than 30 specialty practices, Risk Strategies serves commercial companies, nonprofits, public entities, and individuals, and has access to all major insurance markets. Risk Strategies is an Accession Risk Management Group company, with over 200 offices and more than 5,000 employees across the U.S. and Canada.
Our industry recognition includes being named a Great Place to Work, Best Places to Work in Insurance, and on the Inc. 5000 list as one of America’s Fastest Growing Private Companies. We are committed to being good stewards for our company, culture, and communities by having a strong focus on Environmental, Social, and Governance issues.
Risk Strategies is an equal opportunity workplace and is committed to ensuring equal employment opportunity without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, Veteran status, or other legally protected characteristics. Learn more about working at Risk Strategies by visiting our careers page: www.risk-strategies.com/careers.
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