Career Opportunities

What differentiates our law firm from any other? Ultimately, it is our culture. At Butzel Long, our values are central to our culture, and these values attract a certain lawyer. We believe our recruiting efforts are critical to our success and are diligent about accessing talent whose values align with ours.

Current Openings:

POSITION:  Litigation Legal Secretary

LOCATION:  Detroit

JOB SUMMARY:  Under general direction, performs a variety of complex and secretarial legal work. Assist attorneys and paralegals in managing the litigation discovery process, document collection and preservation, document review, document production tasks, and maintaining the case filing systems. The work is specialized and requires knowledge of the preparation and processing requirements of legal documents, legal terminology, civil procedures and discovery, sources of law and the court system.

MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES:

NOTE: The following are the duties performed by employees in this classification. However, employees may perform other related duties.

• Receive and transcribe legal dictation.
• Type a variety of reports and legal documents for which knowledge of legal terminology, civil procedure and discovery is required.
• Open and maintain legal files according to accepted legal practices and Firm policy.
• Provide case management assistance and tracking of litigation.
• Compose a variety of correspondence.
• Format briefs, pleadings and other legal documents with a demonstrated ability to file legal documents both traditionally and by electronic filing.
• Maintain attorney calendar by planning and scheduling conferences, teleconferences, depositions, and travel; record and monitor court appearance dates, pleadings, and filing requirements; monitor evidence-gathering; anticipate changes in litigation or transaction preparation requirements.
• Document and input attorney reimbursable expenses.
• Perform other duties as assigned within the scope of the job classification.
• Maintain client confidence by keeping attorney/client information confidential.

SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

• Possess excellent written and verbal skills.
• Good proofreading, grammar and editing skills.
• Responsible, organized, detail-oriented and a problem solver.
• Knowledgeable regarding federal and state court e-filings.  Able to generate TOC and IOA.
• Able to handle multiple tasks in timely manner.
• Comprehensive knowledge and experience with the following software programs preferred: Microsoft Office (Word, Outlook, Excel and PowerPoint), Litigation support software and Adobe Professional.
• High production skills.
• Able to work independently with minimal supervision. 
• Ability to interact professionally with all levels of employees.
• Use good judgment to make decisions appropriate to level of responsibilities.
• Ability to learn new skills and systems quickly.

EDUCATION, EXPERIENCE AND/OR TRAINING:

• Minimum five years of relevant legal support/secretarial work; or completed a legal assistant course with 2 years of legal work experience

POSITION:  Full-Time Probate and Estate/Wealth Management Paralegal II

LOCATION: Oakland County, Michigan

GENERAL PURPOSE:  Provide support and assistance to the attorneys during all phases of probate and estate planning matters.  

MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES:

Trusts and Estates

• Draft trusts, wills, powers of attorney, certificates of trust, acceptance of trustees, resignations, appointments, declinations, amendments, codicils
• Coordinate the transfer of assets into trusts, including bank accounts, stock transfers and real estate deeds.
• Draft fiduciary income tax returns for trusts; inform trusts’ beneficiaries of the tax liability of their distributions via IRS Schedules K-1.
• Draft gift tax returns and estate tax returns.
• Prepare and maintain a calendar system for tax deadlines
• Prepare and maintain a calendar system for important estate administration deadlines, including notice and claims periods.
• Prepare pleadings for probate estate administrations.
• Evaluate assets (as of date of death and alternate valuation date); verify bank balances and prepare inventory.
• Arrange for notice to creditors to be published in a local newspaper Address creditor’s claims
• File life insurance claims and other death benefit claims.
• Prepare accountings for estates and trusts
• Draft final settlement and order for final distribution.

• Prepare miscellaneous petitions, such as application for spousal allowance or authority.

Guardianship/Conservatorship

• Draft petitions to commence proceedings, personal well-being reports, notices of right to appeal annual and final accounts, restorations to capacity, and closing documents.
• Prepare accountings for guardianship and/or conservatorship.
• Conduct preliminary valuation of assets held by the ward/conservatee.

SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

• Good organizational and project management skills.
• Proficient in the use of online legal research services and legal resources.
• Excellent communication skills (both oral and written).
• Must have sound judgment. 
• Must be able to work independently with minimal supervision. 
• Intermediate to advanced experience using Microsoft Office and HotDocs.

EDUCATION, EXPERIENCE AND/OR TRAINING:

• Bachelor’s degree or Paralegal certification from an ABA approved program is required.
• This is an experienced position that requires two (2) to eight (8) years Paralegal experience with demonstrated abilities in most major areas of responsibility.

POSITION: Conflicts and New Matter Coordinator

LOCATION: Detroit

GENERAL PURPOSE: The law firm of Butzel Long, PC is seeking a full-time Conflicts and New Matter Coordinator in our Detroit Office. This position holder will work with members of the Operations Team on determining conflicts, processing new matters and other duties as needed.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Performs preliminary conflict checks on prospective parties
• Alert General Counsel to possible conflicts with current clients
• Maintain conflict database
• Run conflict checks, review and open client matters
• Prepare and publish daily conflict report
• Participate in various Operations functions

 SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

• Ability to research database and analyze results
• Understand the meticulous nature of database maintenance and data dissemination
• Excellent reasoning and judgement ability
• Ability to work independently, and as part of a team
• Ability to meet deadlines and prioritize tasks
• Excellent attention to detail and organizational skills
• Proactive in problem-solving
• Excellent oral and written communication skills
• Motivated and willing to accept responsibilities
• Flexible to work overtime as needed

 EDUCATION, EXPERIENCE AND/OR TRAINING:

• Bachelor’s Degree required
• Experience working with SurePoint Technologies Conflict Software a plus
• Microsoft Office

POSITION: Attorney, Environmental

LOCATION: Detroit or Oakland County, Michigan  

GENERAL PURPOSE: Perform the general duties of an environmental attorney including creating legal documents and managing and advising clients on legal transactions in environmental practice areas.

MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Experience as the primary author of legal memoranda, briefs, motions, discovery, contracts, regulatory agreements, and/or substantive policy articles and commentary
• Experience researching environmental, land use, or administrative law and regulatory requirements at the federal, state and local level
• Advising on permitting, compliance, responding to enforcement actions, and remedial requirements

SKILLS AND ABILITIES

• High performer with organizational and project management skills
• Excellent communication skills, oral and with exceptional writing skills
• Efficient, creative, and effective legal researcher
• Proficient in the use of on-line legal research services and other available legal resources
• Must have sound and independent judgment
• Must be able to work independently with minimal or no supervision
• Must be able to manage new and existing client relationships
• Actively involved in activities resulting in business development

EDUCATION, EXPERIENCE AND/OR TRAINING:

• 6+ years of experience in federal and state environmental and land use law
• Substantial experience with CERCLA, RCRA, CWA, CAA, TSCA, FIFRA and the state equivalents and/or involvement in any areas of EHS support including compliance, transactional and litigation support
• Experience representing public and/or private sector clients seeking to minimize the environmental liability risks associated with asset transfer, development, siting, operation and permitting (including industrial and waste facilities, wind, solar, energy storage, and natural gas facilities); or
• Representing public and/or private sector clients in other transactional matters involving environmental liability in business, including but not limited to hazardous waste cleanup and insurance; or
• Representing clients in administrative or court hearings, associated motions practice, administrative record cases and/or non-record civil cases, drafting and responding to discovery requests with limited supervision, conducting and supervising document review and production, and taking or defending fact and expert witness depositions
• Admitted to the state bar of Michigan or are eligible for admission by your anticipated start date
• Have a portable book of business
• Experience with solid and hazardous waste facilities a plus

POSITION: Conference Center Coordinator (part-time)

LOCATION: Bloomfield Hills

GENERAL PURPOSE:   The law firm of Butzel Long is seeking a part-time conference center coordinator for its Bloomfield Hills office. The conference center coordinator will work approximately 16-20 hours/ 2 days a week and will manage the conference center, attend to visitors and address inquiries on the phone and face to face. The coordinator will also supply information regarding the organization to the general public, clients and customers.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Organize conference and meeting room booking based on capacity and technology requirements.
• Open ticket with IT to request technology needs.
• Coordinate meetings and organize catering as requested.
• Answers incoming telephone calls, determines purpose of calls, and forward calls to appropriate personnel, department or voicemail.
• Takes and delivers messages or transfers calls to voice mail when appropriate personnel are unavailable.
• Ensure visiting attorney offices are cleaned and stocked.
• Provide other administrative assistance as needed such as administrative work, filing, copying, and scanning or library assistance.
• Greet persons entering organization.
• Notify individual(s) with whom the visitor(s) have appointments and direct visitors to correct destination.
• Track hand deliveries immediately upon receipt, notify attorney and secretary of delivery and who it is from; and, if the delivery is time sensitive, notify Digital Support.
• Monitor visitor access and maintain security awareness.
• Order car service as requested.
• Maintain the Conference Rooms and control inventory relevant to reception area and kitchens.
• Tidy and maintain the reception area, coffee bar and 1^st and 2^nd floor kitchens.
• Assist Operations department with facility communication and follow up.
• Cooperate with members of other administrative departments as necessary.

SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

• Effective verbal and written communication skills, with strong attention to detail
• Ability to work effectively as a team member
• Excellent computer skills
• Reliable and strong work ethic

EDUCATION, EXPERIENCE AND/OR TRAINING:

• High school diploma with one to two years of experience
• Knowledge of administrative and clerical procedures
• Knowledge of customer service principles and practices
• Ability to work a multi-line telephone system

POSITION: Attorney, Corporate/Real Estate Department

LOCATION: Detroit or Bloomfield Hills/Troy, Michigan  

GENERAL PURPOSE: Perform the general duties of a corporate and/or real estate attorney including creating legal documents and managing and advising clients on legal transactions in the corporate and/or real estate practice areas.

MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES (CORPORATE):

• Experience in drafting and negotiating business transaction agreements, including buy-sell agreements, mergers and acquisition agreements, operating agreements, shareholder agreements, non-compete and employment agreements.
• Experience in mergers, acquisitions, and divestitures; partnerships, LLCs and joint ventures.
• Prepare regulatory filings and governance documents, such as bylaws and capitalization plans.
• Interpret laws, rulings and regulations for individuals and businesses.
• Tax knowledge is a plus.

MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES (REAL ESTATE):

• Experience in drafting and negotiating real estate transaction documents, including purchase agreements, commercial lease agreements (office, retail, industrial), and conveyance documents.
• Experience reviewing and resolving title and survey issues, handling all aspects of due diligence, and coordinating closings.
• Interpret laws, rulings and regulations for individuals and businesses.

SKILLS AND ABILITIES

• Organizational and project management skills.
• Excellent research and writing skills.
• Proficient in the use of on-line legal research services and other available legal resources.
• Excellent communication skills (both oral and written).
• Must have sound and independent judgment.
• Must be able to work independently with minimal or no supervision.
• Must be able to manage new and existing client relationships.
• Actively involved in activities resulting in business development.

EDUCATION, EXPERIENCE AND/OR TRAINING:

• Significant experience in complex Corporate and/or Real Estate matters.
• Portable book of business is preferred but not required.
• Must be a graduate of an accredited law school.
• Admitted to a state bar in the United States (preferably Michigan).

POSITION: Tax Attorney

OFFICE: Bloomfield Hills or Detroit

GENERAL PURPOSE: Butzel Long, a Michigan-based law firm with offices in Detroit, Ann Arbor, Bloomfield Hills and Lansing, Michigan as well as New York and Washington, D.C., is seeking an experienced tax attorney to join its Michigan offices.

Candidates should have a minimum of 10 years of experience providing legal representation in all areas of tax law. A candidate with a strong book of business and a L.L.M. in taxation and/or CPA license is preferred.

MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Advise and represent clients regarding state and local taxes including income, capital gains, sales and use and real estate taxes.
• Advise and represent clients with respect to a variety of taxes issues including choice of entity, tax planning in connection with mergers and acquisitions and capital market transactions, non-profit organizations, business start-ups, tax compliance program
  management and trusts and estates.

SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

• Experience in tax matters including corporate mergers, acquisitions, and divestitures; partnerships, LLCs and joint ventures; private equity and private equity fund formation; real estate, real estate fund formation and real estate investment trusts; regulated
  investment companies; non-profit and financing and capital markets transactions.
• Knowledge and experience with international taxation is a plus.
• Excellent research and writing skills.
• Organizational and project management skills.
• Proficient in the use of on-line legal research services and legal resources available on the internet.
• Excellent communication skills (both oral and written).
• Must have the desire and ability to be actively engaged in professional activities with the growth of business in mind.
• Must be able to work independently with minimal supervision.
• Must be able to work cooperatively in teams and actively engage in the professional development of associate attorneys.

EDUCATION, EXPERIENCE AND/OR TRAINING:

• Must be a graduate of an accredited law school
• Admitted to and in good standing with the State Bar of Michigan
• At least 10 years of experience as a practicing attorney

To submit your resume or for information regarding current career opportunities, please contact recruiting@butzel.com.