Associate Attorney-Workers Compensation Defense (St. Michael, MN)

About the role

We are seeking an Associate Attorney for our St. Michael location. This position is within our fast-paced Business Litigation Department, focusing on the defense of workers’ compensation claims and other civil litigation matters.

Responsibilities

• Represent employers, insurers, and third-party administrators in the defense of disputed workers’ compensation claims in litigation before the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry and Court of Administrative Hearings.
• Represent employers in the defense of employment-related claims in state and federal court, including wrongful discharge and all manner of discrimination claims.
• Represent businesses and individuals in the defense of general civil litigation, including defending personal injury cases.
• Research, investigate, and analyze workers’ compensation and civil litigation cases.
• Prepare pleadings in workers compensation and civil litigation cases.
• Complete discovery, including written discovery, witness interviews, and discovery depositions.
• Prepare timely, clear, and competent reporting to clients regarding same.
• Ability to analyze and summarize large volumes of complex medical data in workers’ compensation and personal injury cases.
• Work with expert witnesses, including independent medical and vocational examiners, to investigate, obtain, and effectively present expert opinions testimony and evidence in workers’ compensation and civil litigation.
• Effective research and writing relating to preparation of briefs and legal memoranda in motion, trial, and appellate practice in workers’ compensation and civil litigation cases.
• Prepare clear and concise progress and status reports to client leadership teams, general counsel, risk management professionals, and claims adjusters.
• Experience or competence appearing before the Court of Administrative Hearings, the Workers’ Compensation Court of Appeals, and state and federal district and appellate courts.
• Travel to represent and be comfortable presenting cases in front of district court judges and juries, and administrative law judges.
• Advocate for clients in pursuing and securing compromise settlement through alternative dispute resolution, including mediation and arbitration.
• Handle all legal disputes that occur in business context for the business litigation practice area.
• Prepare, attend and advocate at motion hearings and trials.
• Attend client and community events for business development opportunities.
• Focus on growing business litigation practice.
• Support designated clients in timely and professional manner.

Requirements

• Competence analyzing and applying the Minnesota Worker’s Compensation Act and Rules of Practice, and case law interpreting same.
• Competence analyzing and applying the Minnesota and Federal Rules of Civil Procedure and effective presentation of cases in Minnesota State and Federal Courts.
• Prior experience with motion practice, discovery disputes and trial preparation.
• Prior experience settling challenging disputes with contract negotiations or interpretations.
• Strong negotiation and persuasive skills with confidence in the courtroom.

Core Competencies

• Strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Strong critical thinking ability.
• Strong verbal and written advocacy.
• Self-motivated with excellent organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Highly professional with a strong customer service orientation, commitment to meeting deadlines, and ability to multitask in a fast-paced and dynamic environment.
• Strong professional, independent thinking skills with strength in problem solving and the ability to offer constructive opinions and creative solutions.
• A team player who motivates and educates other team members.

Salary

$90,000 - $120,000 based on experience.