Managing Attorney - Pre-Litigation

Position Summary:

• We are seeking a seasoned and strategic Pre-Litigation Managing Attorney to lead, coach, and inspire our pre-litigation legal team.
• The ideal candidate will possess extensive personal injury experience, exceptional leadership skills, and the ability to manage high case volumes with efficiency and precision.
• This role will oversee a team of case managers, demand writers, settlement negotiators, lien negotiators, and support staff managing up to 800 active personal injury cases.

Key Responsibilities:

Leadership & Team Management

• Directly supervise all pre-litigation staff, including case managers, demand writers, settlement negotiators, lien negotiators, and VAs/RCs.
• Lead annual performance reviews; manage workloads and performance expectations.
• Conduct regular coaching sessions and feedback meetings; implement structured training through Lunch & Learns and one-on-one development plans.
• Identify and prioritize Serious Injury (SI) cases requiring enhanced attention and strategic oversight.
• Time on Desk (TOD) Oversight & Case Movement

Enforce and model TOD protocols including:

• Daily file reviews
• Routine client meetings to advise on treatment and case trajectory
• Movement of cases to GFRL (Get File Ready for Litigation)
• Oversight of GFRD (Get File Ready for Demand) stage progression
• Ensure timely coordination between case managers, records clerks, demand writers, and negotiators.
• Drive consistent case movement and reduce stagnation across teams.

Client Experience & Communication:

• Maintain high client satisfaction by enforcing a communication standard:
• No more than 30 days between client contacts, with a 14-day goal
• Ensure regular status updates and touchpoints
• Personally engage with clients on high-value cases or sensitive matters to improve outcomes and service.
• Strategic Oversight & Quality Control
• Review and revise demands in collaboration with demand writers for maximum clarity and impact.
• Work with settlement negotiators on strategic approaches to maximize Average Matter Value (AMV).
• Ensure thorough preparation and negotiation strategies before submitting demands.
• Oversee lien resolution strategy in collaboration with lien negotiators.

Operational Management & Metrics Tracking:

• Track and report weekly settlements and productivity by individual and team.
• Monitor KPIs across all roles reporting to the Pre-Litigation Managing Attorney.
• Create and maintain scorecards for staff performance evaluation.
• Ensure alignment with firm goals and budget.
• Coordinate seamless handoffs to the litigation team, maintaining communication and case integrity.

Qualifications:

• J.D. from an accredited law school; active California Bar license required
• Minimum 8 years of personal injury experience, with at least 3 years in a supervisory or leadership role
• Proven ability to manage large caseloads and deliver high-value settlements
• Demonstrated expertise in negotiation, case strategy, and client management
• Strong familiarity with Litify or similar legal CRM platforms
• Excellent organizational, communication, and interpersonal skills
• Bilingual preferred.

Compliance & Ethics:

• Uphold best practices in documentation, client communication, and compliance with legal standards.
• Promote ethical and professional conduct across all case handling and interactions.
• Oversight of Government Claims (Tort Claims Act / Public Entity Matters)
• Ensure team compliance with statutory deadlines, including:
• Filing claims within the 6-month window.
• Monitoring response timelines from public entities.
• Initiating litigation within the proper timeframe following rejection or deemed rejection.
• Review and approve all government claim submissions for accuracy, sufficiency, and supporting documentation.
• Train and guide pre-litigation staff on spotting government entity involvement, navigating immunity issues, and understanding procedural nuances.
• Maintain a centralized tracking system to monitor the status of all open government claims, ensuring no deadlines are missed.
• Collaborate with records clerks and case managers to obtain necessary documentation (e.g., incident reports, medical records, correspondence from agencies).
• Escalate high-risk or complex claims to the Litigation Department when appropriate for early transition planning.

Compensation & Benefits:

• Competitive compensation package
• Health, dental, and vision insurance
• Paid time off and firm holidays
• Continuing legal education and career development support

Key Performance Indicators – Pre-Litigation Managing Attorney:

• Time on Desk (TOD) Management & Case Progression
• Weekly reviews of all files with focus on GFRD, GFRL, and cases requiring litigation handoff.
• 90% or more of cases progress through the appropriate lifecycle stages without unnecessary delays.
• Team Productivity & Settlement Volume
• Track weekly and monthly settlements by volume and total value.
• Target increases in settlement value (AMV) and case resolution speed across the team.
• Client Communication & Satisfaction
• No client goes more than 30 days without contact; 14-day contact goal for active cases.
• Maintain client satisfaction scores (survey or feedback-based) at 4.5/5 or higher.
• Serious Injury (SI) Case Oversight
• 100% of identified SI cases receive enhanced strategy support.
• Personal involvement in demand strategy or negotiation for high-value files.
• Team Leadership & Coaching
• Minimum of 2 coaching sessions per team member per month (1:1 or Lunch & Learn).
• 100% completion of performance evaluations and development plans annually.
• Demand Review & AMV Optimization
• Collaborate on 100% of high-value or complex demands.
• Ensure consistent language, clarity, and evidence quality in all outgoing demands.
• Lien Resolution Oversight
• Collaborate with lien negotiators on top 10% of high-liability cases.
• Track average lien reduction per case and ensure timely resolution post-settlement.
• Scorecard & KPI Reporting
• Maintain and review weekly scorecards for all direct reports.
• Present monthly reports on individual and department KPIs to firm leadership.
• Case Transition to Litigation
• 100% of cases referred to litigation must meet readiness benchmarks (records, client expectations, etc.).
• Ensure detailed and documented handoff communication to litigation team.
• Compliance, Documentation & Ethics
• 100% of the team adheres to documentation protocols and client confidentiality.
• Zero compliance violations or client complaints due to case handling.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $120,000.00 - $180,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• Dental insurance
• Health insurance
• Paid time off

Application Question(s):

• Do you have a minimum of 8 years of personal injury experience, with at least 3 years in a supervisory or leadership role?
• Do you have experience in managing a large caseload and delivering high-value settlements?
• Do you have Strong familiarity with Litify or similar legal CRM platforms?
• Do you have experience in oversight of Government Claims (Tort Claims Act / Public Entity Matters)?
• Do you have experience overseeing a team of case managers, demand writers, settlement negotiators, lien negotiators, and support staff managing up to 800 active personal injury cases?

Work Location: In person