Position Summary

An Attorney with Ghitterman, Ghitterman & Feld is a legal professional dedicated to its Mission Statement and Core Values. Attorneys manage client cases from the initial retainer through resolution. Attorneys interface directly with clients, opposing counsel, judges, claims adjusters, and medical professionals. The attorney supervises their assigned Case Worker. This is a full-time, exempt position reporting to the firm partners, Benjamin Feld, Russell Ghitterman and Alicia Liera Rodriguez.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Include performance of the following, or other duties as assigned.

• Manage assigned case load from inception to final resolution
  • All aspects of discovery and litigation
• Conduct appearances for assigned case load, make appearances for any firm client based on location and availability, including depositions, hearings, trials, and trial preparation
• Proactive case management: Continuous daily monitoring of all assigned case files, mail triage, review all assigned files monthly (as permitted by case load) and leave notes, prepare Tasks, and send settlement demands with a goal of three new settlement demands per week
• Conduct intakes as needed and process within one week of client retention
• Research and analyze incoming and current cases, leaving no stone unturned for potential claims or referral opportunities
• Maintain weekly one-on-one meetings with assigned case worker for file review, strategy development, and coaching. Provide ongoing and specific feedback and supervision to develop their skills

Required Education, Experience and/or Certification

• Juris Doctorate of Law
• California State Bar license
• Previous Workers’ Compensation or Social Security Disability experience preferred
• Certificate of Specialization in Workers’ Compensation preferred

GG&F Commitments to Professional Excellence

• Commitment to Integrity - We are reliable, trustworthy, respectful, accountable, compassionate, and act with gratitude.
• Commitment to Passion - We are hardworking, dedicated professionals with a passion for helping others. Our clients always come first. We tilt windmills.
• Commitment to Support Each Other - We provide intellectual and emotional support to create and maintain a fun and healthful environment.Always.

Position Summary

The Intake Specialist is the client’s first point of engagement with Ghitterman, Ghitterman & Feld. Intake Specialists conduct consultations with potential clients, prepare intake documents, and file initial paperwork with the court. Intake Specialists will review the facts of a client’s case, not only for the initial complaint, but also to determine any other viable legal concerns to be handled within GG&F or for referral to a partnering firm. The Intake Specialist will assign a future course of action (FCA) for the handling caseworker once the initial assessment is complete. Intake Specialists interface directly with clients, and have regular internal communication with call center, calendar clerk, and case workers. The Intake Specialist position is a full-time, non-exempt position reporting to the Firm Administrator.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Include performance of the following, or other duties as assigned.

• Maintain comprehensive knowledge of rights and benefits of firm practice areas
• Conduct consultations with prospective clients, listen carefully to issues presented, ask thorough questions, create environment of trust and comfort.
  • Ability to conduct consultations in English or Spanish
  • Utilizes template questions to ensure all information not clear or complete on New Client Information Form is gathered and included in Intake Note in Merus
• Assess potential claims and recommend a course of action to the supervising attorney and caseworker
  • Utilizes the intake scoring rubrics when determining acceptance
  • If case needs review before accepting, promptly send to attorney for review and follow up to ensure decision and processing made within two weeks of intake
• Complete new client processing promptly and thoroughly, no later than two weeks from the intake meeting. Prepare, file, and serve all relevant documents.
  • These include initial applications, introductory letters, subpoenas, petitions (if 132a or S&W claim), develop FCA, properly assign tasks, then clearly hand off case to new case management team for smooth transition.
• Utilize time efficiently to best serve clients and colleagues
  • Regularly update Outlook calendar, keeping intake time slots clear (9-12, 1:30-4:30)
  • Review unassigned or pending intakes to ensure none fall through the cracks
  • Follow up with any declined intakes to try to reschedule (DTC2s or DTC3)
  • If extra time, review most pressing Caseworkers’ tasks and assist as able
• Demonstrate ability to master job within appropriate timeframe. If new to role, expected to meet the following benchmarks:

• By 1 month: Able to meet with clients independently and explain their rights and options
• By 2 months:
  • Able to identify potential claims; e.g. WC, 132a, S&W, PI (3^rd party), SSDI/SSI, etc.
  • Complete all new client processing within 2 weeks.
• By 3 months: Make retention decisions independently.
• By 6 months: Achieve at least a 30% average retention rate with less than a 45% DTC2 rate.
• By 18 months: Achieve at least a 50% average retention rate

Required Education, Experience and/or Certification

• College level education preferred
• Experience and/or education in legal field preferred
• Experience in our firm’s practice areas preferred
• Experience conducting intakes, or demonstrating ability to identify claims, preferred

GG&F Commitments to Professional Excellence

• Commitment to Integrity - We are reliable, trustworthy, respectful, accountable, compassionate, and act with gratitude.
• Commitment to Passion - We are hardworking, dedicated professionals with a passion for helping others. Our clients always come first. We tilt windmills.
• Commitment to Support Each Other - We provide intellectual and emotional support to create and maintain a fun and healthful environment.Always.

Position Summary

The Receptionist is the first point of contact for all potential and current clients, vendors, visitors, and any other person or entity interested in learning more about Ghitterman, Ghitterman & Feld. The Receptionist plays a major role in external perspective of our firm and is truly the face and voice of our company. This position responds to inquiries about services, triages questions to the appropriate party, schedules current and prospective client meetings, and assists with outgoing client calls as needed.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Include performance of the following, or other duties as assigned.

• Warmly and professionally welcome in-person office visitors, address their needs including scanning documents, connecting them with their team and scheduling meetings
• Provide customer service as part of a call center team to manage multi-line phone system with high call volume.
  • The call center’s collective goal is to answer every incoming call during business hours.
• Regularly monitor shared inbox
  • Review, return, or forward emails or voice messages within one hour, but no later than 1 business day after receipt
• Answer incoming calls by the third ring: obtain client information, complete calls within 5 minutes, or within 10 minutes if scheduling potential client intake
  • Utilize database to answer client questions when possible, route calls efficiently and appropriately if unable to handle client inquiries
  • Leave note in database for every current or prospective client call handled
  • Maintain knowledge of firm’s practice areas and resources for potential and current clients
  • Develop proficiency with firm’s software: MerusCase database, Slack, Outlook (maintaining and utilizing Quick Parts), and Zoom video conferencing
• Work as a team to confirm next day’s appointments
• Process outgoing mail and parcels, ensure documents are sent to correct parties
• Assist with miscellaneous projects as assigned in database or requested by other staff as call volume allows
• Responsible for office inventory levels, monitor supplies and submit monthly requests
• Maintain tidy and professional common areas including lobby, conference room, break room; load dirty dishes into dishwasher if applicable; re-set rooms if needed; turn video conference on in conference room every morning

Required Education, Experience and/or Certification

• Graduation from a standard high school or GED
• Customer service experience recommended
• Previous professional experience desired but not required

GG&F Commitments to Professional Excellence

• Commitment to Integrity - We are reliable, trustworthy, respectful, accountable, compassionate, and act with gratitude.
• Commitment to Passion - We are hardworking, dedicated professionals with a passion for helping others. Our clients always come first. We tilt windmills.
• Commitment to Support Each Other - We provide intellectual and emotional support to create and maintain a fun and healthful environment.Always.

Job Description:

This is an unpaid intern position. We are seeking applicants who are considering or are pursuing a law degree and want to get a feel for how a law firm operates and learn some of the back end procedures and processes that are involved to either determine if law is the right field for them or to acquire experience for career path development.

Learning opportunities may include assisting with scheduling depositions or hearings, sending notices to clients, assisting caseworkers with tasks, contacting clients, sending letters, requesting records, observing client meetings or court hearings, and general law office tasks or projects.

The idea candidate should have integrity, be willing to work hard, open to learning new things, a quick learner, easily adaptable, and dependable. They should be committed to supporting colleagues and exceeding clients’ expectations. They should have good customer service skills and be comfortable communicating with clients over the phone or email. It is strongly preferred for the applicant to be bilingual in Spanish and English, as many of our clients are Spanish-only speakers. The ideal candidate would be looking to intern approximately 10 hours per week for at least three months or more.

Office Location: Santa Barbara, Santa Maria, or Oxnard
Position Type: Part Time, Internship (10 hours/wk)
Start Date: Summer or Fall 2022
Compensation: Unpaid
Job Requirements: Bilingual (English/Spanish)

Please submit resume to GGFAdmin@ghitterman.com.

GG&F Commitments to Professional Excellence

• Commitment to Integrity - We are reliable, trustworthy, respectful, accountable, compassionate, and act with gratitude.
• Commitment to Passion - We are hardworking, dedicated professionals with a passion for helping others. Our clients always come first. We tilt windmills.
• Commitment to Support Each Other - We provide intellectual and emotional support to create and maintain a fun and healthful environment.Always.