Overview
This role is part of the Legal Management Services department and focuses on validating submitted legal bill charges using attorney guidelines and industry standards through an electronic billing system. The position also supports dispute resolution, bill review appeals, law firm and internal education on the review process, and analysis of billing discrepancies to assess law firm performance and billing trends across multiple operating units.
Responsibilities
- Ensure prompt, accurate, and efficient auditing of submitted legal fee and expense invoices according to applicable litigation and billing guidelines.
- Perform line-by-line review to determine accuracy, reasonableness, and compliance with the agreed-upon fee structure between the organization and the law firm.
- Identify and group tasks to evaluate progression from start of case through closure.
- Gather information from law firms and claims staff to determine the reasonableness of time spent on tasks throughout the bill review process.
- Identify billing discrepancies using knowledge of litigation and billing guidelines, industry standards, and litigation history, and reduce invoices accordingly.
- Discuss invoice reductions and educate attorneys and claims staff on the bill review process and compliance with litigation and billing guidelines.
- Advise and work with claim managers, adjusters, and attorneys to resolve billing discrepancies and determine the reasonableness of time spent.
- Develop and maintain in-depth knowledge of likely legal necessity for specific insurance defense and coverage-related work performed by law firms.
- Make quick, sound decisions and negotiate resolution of billing issues or disputes.
- Use claim file and document review to obtain claim strategy information and apply it during the review process.
- Ensure prompt, accurate, and efficient auditing of invoices and amend as appropriate.
- Provide technical support through written and/or verbal communication with law firms and/or operating unit employees, including oversight of appeals and/or discretionary reviews.
- Participate in calibration and consultation with the Litigation Management Services team.
- Collaborate with the claims department to support more effective litigation cost control.
- Serve as a technical resource to claim professionals and stakeholders by providing consultation and training related to legal bill review and best practices.
- Build trusted, strategic partnerships with partnering law firms and influence compliance with retention and billing policies.
- Provide input to identify improvement or innovative opportunities and help remove barriers to success for a newly formed team.
Qualifications
Skills and Competencies
- Five (5) years of experience working with litigation and legal billing practices, including civil court rules and procedures and state and federal court systems.
- Three (3) years of legal bill review experience with exposure to multiple lines of business and varying levels of billing complexity.
- Proficiency in eBilling platforms, including Bottomline’s LegalX and Legal Exchange.
- Experience using AI-enabled legal billing and analytics tools to support accurate bill review, identify billing irregularities, and ensure compliance with outside counsel billing guidelines.
- Ability to analyze AI-generated insights and apply legal judgment to validate billing exceptions, cost trends, and efficiency opportunities.
- Strong proficiency in Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Word, and Adobe PDF.
- Excellent computer and technical aptitude; able to adapt quickly to new systems and technologies.
- Ability to function independently and successfully multi-task in a fast-paced, evolving environment.
- Exceptional organizational skills with a high level of accuracy and attention to detail.
- Strong legal judgment and ability to make sound, well-reasoned decisions.
- Strategic thinker able to leverage data and technology to optimize legal spend.
- Professional demeanor with strong interpersonal and communication skills.
- Demonstrated commitment to fostering a culture of diversity, inclusion, and intellectual curiosity.
- Team-oriented and able to work effectively with minimal supervision.
Core Competencies
- Accountability
- Communication
- Customer Focus and Teamwork
- Innovation and Initiative
- Flexibility
Education Requirement
Compensation & Benefits
- Sponsorship not offered for this role.
Location and Travel
- Primary location: Urbandale, IA.
- Additional locations: Jacksonville, FL; Irving, TX; Glen Allen, VA; West Hartford, CT; Atlanta, GA; Chesterfield, MO; Scottsdale, AZ.
- Travel: Minimal travel.
- Remote opportunity available.