Senior Counsel (Litigation)

Description:

This position may be filled as a Sr. Counsel with the appropriate background and experience. **
Job Duties/Responsibilities:
This position is within the company's litigation section which provides legal support to the business units of a major public utility located in Mississippi. The successful candidate will be charged with responsibility for handling a broad range of casualty and/or commercial litigation matters in various venues around the state.
Broad-based knowledge and experience in the utility business would be helpful, but not required. The successful candidate will be expected to handle their own docket of cases individually or as part of a litigation team. Reliance on outside counsel would be minimal. The daily work schedule may sometimes exceed ordinary business hours. This position requires working daily from employer's office location. Attendance and participation in regularly scheduled in-person meetings, conferences, hearings, court appearances, mediations/arbitration, and trials. Some in state and out of state travel may be required, when needed. Attendance at industry/company related functions is also expected.
The candidate must also be comfortable interacting with members of senior management and company executives.
Job Qualifications:
A Juris Doctorate, current license to practice law in the State of Mississippi and solid litigation experience are required.
Preferred: Graduation from an accredited law school; membership in good standing of the Mississippi Bar; and 6-10 years litigation experience in state and/or federal courts. Extensive casualty and commercial litigation experience, with an ability to individually manage an entire docket of cases assigned, with minimal supervision. Drafting Answers, Third-Party Demands, Cross Claims; propounding and responding to discovery, conducting and defending depositions (experts and lay witnesses), handling all aspects of motion practice, preparing Pre-Trial Orders, and preparing cases for mediations/arbitrations, judge and jury trials, and appeals are a daily part of the job.
An ability to work in various disciplines is also preferred. Must be able to work on a regular basis from employer's office location, attend and participate regularly in-person in meetings, conferences, hearings and other functions, including travel as reasonably necessary. Strong interpersonal and communications skills; a solid work ethic; and demonstrated success in prior employment. Corporate defense work and prior employment at a regionally or nationally recognized law firm or a public utility is preferred.
Job Experience:
Counsel Senior – 7+ years in a law firm or in-house in one or more applicable areas of Casualty/Commercial, Litigation.
Preferred Experience:
7-10 years of legal experience in casualty, plus some commercial litigation

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