Job Description
At Montana State Fund, serving the businesses of Montana is what we do and it’s who we are. It’s what makes us different. We partner with employers and their employees to care for those injured on the job and we champion a culture of workplace safety for our fellow Montanans.
About the Job
As a claims attorney on the General Counsel team, you would be a key partner to the organization by providing workers’ compensation insurance litigation, prosecution and defense in various legal forums. This is an excellent opportunity for a lawyer with three years of experience (and licensed to practice law in Montana) to be a part of a collaborative legal team of passionate, motivated professionals that enjoy providing legal advice and training to Montana State Fund team members. If you want to be make a difference working on a rewarding set of challenges – read on and get in touch!
This position may be hired to either work at our local headquarters in Helena, Montana or remotely from within the state of Montana, provided the candidate is sufficiently digitally and ergonomically capable from his/her location.
What You Will Do
- Represents Montana State Fund before various legal forums, including administrative agencies, the workers’ compensation court, district courts, and the Montana Supreme Court. Travel is required. (45%)
- Conducts research and provides legal advice regarding the interpretation of statutes, administrative rules and court decisions on a daily basis. Provides legal and strategic advice to claims examiners. Develops and provides legal training to MSF staff regarding legal matters impacting core functions. (55%)
Required Skills
Key Activities
- Review files and formulates defense strategies.
- Propound and respond to discovery.
- Identify/prepare exhibits.
- Conduct legal research.
- Write various legal documents including motions, briefs, proposed findings of fact, conclusions of law and orders.
- Formulate and present oral arguments before hearings officers and judges.
- Conduct depositions.
- Interview witnesses.
- Prepare lay witnesses and expert witnesses for trials.
- Conduct trials by presenting arguments, introducing evidence, conducting examination and cross examination of witnesses.
- Practice before the Workers’ Compensation Court, District Court, and the Montana Supreme Court by filing appropriate briefs and motions as well as presenting oral argument.
- Conduct mediations before the Department of Labor and Industry workers’ compensation mediators.
- Represent MSF in settlement conferences.
- Provide extensive legal and strategic advice to claims examiners and other State Fund staff, either informally or delivered through a written legal memo with citations to legal authority, dependent upon needs.
- Develop and conduct legal training at least twice yearly for all of the claims staff and also provide further training on an as needed or requested basis throughout the year.
- Provide assistance to policy holders and claimants with understanding the law regarding workers’ compensation and related areas.
- Maintains a positive working relationship with our customers, coworkers, clients and members of the public.
- Other duties as assigned.
Annual Compensation Range: $98,700 – $123,200
Required Experience
What You Will Need (Minimum Qualifications)
Required:
- Juris Doctorate degree and
- Three (3) years of progressively responsible work experience in the practice of law.
- Must be licensed to practice law in the State of Montana.
Preferred:
- Workers’ compensation litigation experience
- Relevant designations and certifications
*Please remember that in addition to completing the application, submitting your cover letter and resume is required to be considered for this position*