An Offer Letter for a Workers’ Comp Attorney
Dear New Workers’ Compensation Attorney:
I am pleased to be able to offer you employment as an attorney with Warnken, LLC, beginning on or about July 1, 2015. Please consider all terms of the offer carefully. It’s important to me and to Warnken, LLC that we hire someone who fits what we’re trying to achieve here – motivated, aggressive, irreverent, fearless. I believe you are that person. It’s vital you believe you are that person.
You will need to care about your clients. You will need to show compassion, yet be able to step back and be objective. You will need to be willing and able to fight. You cannot be afraid to face new situations or take cases to court. You must be willing to challenge yourself.
You will handle workers’ compensation cases, car accidents, and other personal injury cases. Never assume someone is faking or a malingerer. If 5% are “faking it” (the number is not that high), that’s only 1 in 20. You’ll never know who the one is. Don’t let the other 19 see one more set of doubting eyes. They see enough of that as it is.
Lawyers sell solutions and good feelings. Both are important.
I’m not the one you will need to impress. You will need to impress your clients and the community you work in. This means Commissioners, Judges, co-counsel where applicable, opposing counsel, and even adjusters. Always remember the Henry Ford quote, “It’s not the employer who pays the wages. Employers only handle the money. It is the customer who pays the wages.” As lawyers, our “customers” are clients and the community as a whole.
Your starting salary will be a base of ____, plus __% of the fees you actually receive. The percentage of fees will be paid quarterly and you must be employed at that time to receive it. I’m not interested in paying you a lot of money or making a lot of money off of your efforts, per se. I’m interested in building your career. OMITTED PERSONAL DETAILS
Your employment will be “at-will” in accordance with Maryland law.
The firm will pay your dues to the MSBA, MAJ, and all dues owed to the State and the Client Protection Fund.
Rebecca Smith, Esq. is developing quite a practice as a Baltimore area workers’ comp lawyer. She will be your mentor and show you the ropes. She will work your first 50 files with you and she will be compensated to do so. You will probably go at least one year, possibly until calendar 2017 before you get a paralegal. This is so 1.) you know how everything works, start to finish, 2.) you can train your paralegal exactly how you want a paralegal trained, and 3.) you will always know what your paralegal is dealing with.
You will work out of Warnken, LLC’s office in Pikesville. You will need transportation as you will have client meetings, hearings, and court appearances throughout the state. Mileage will be reimbursed at the IRS rate. Mileage reimbursement will last at least through 2016.
OMMITTED BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT SECRET SAUCE
Again, it’s my goal to build you a career at Warnken, LLC. I believe if you succeed and your clients succeed, Warnken, LLC and I will succeed. This offer will remain open for 15 days. To accept, please simply sign below and scan/email or fax back.
Cordially,
Please note: this was an offer to a specific individual and the offer was accepted. We’re extremely excited. And while we are always interested in discussing possible relationships with Warnken, LLC, there is, at present, no immediate opening for a comp attorney at Warnken, LLC. Apologies for any confusion.
