Attorney

About Lodestar Law

Lodestar Law LLC is dedicated to advocating for injured workers and helping them navigate some of the most challenging periods of their lives. Our highly specialized practice represents U.S. government contractors and other injured workers in claims arising under the Defense Base Act (DBA), the Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act, and the Non-Appropriated Fund Instrumentalities Act (NAFI). Our clients may have worked on military installations, government facilities, research stations, or in active conflict zones around the world.

We are a fully remote, forward-thinking law firm built on trust, accountability, responsiveness, and exceptional client service. We believe technology should enhance legal practice, not replace legal judgment or human connection. We use firm-approved systems to reduce repetitive administrative work so our attorneys can focus on advanced legal analysis, strategy, advocacy, and client relationships. Employees must follow all firm confidentiality, security, technology, and AI-use policies.

Who Thrives at Lodestar

·       Trustworthy, honest, dependable, and accountable without constant supervision.

·       Comfortable working independently while communicating proactively with a fully remote team.

·       Highly organized, responsive, and committed to meeting deadlines.

·       Compassionate with injured clients while maintaining sound professional judgment.

·       Curious, adaptable, and willing to learn specialized law, firm systems, and approved workflows.

·       Committed to confidentiality, accuracy, ethical practice, and continuous improvement.

Position Overview

The Attorney will manage a substantial caseload of Defense Base Act, Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act, NAFI, and other workers’ compensation matters through every stage of representation—from intake, early claim investigation, coverage and jurisdiction analysis, and agency proceedings through benefit administration, dispute resolution, litigation, appeals, settlement, and post-resolution implementation. This attorney must be exceptionally detail-oriented, capable of managing competing deadlines, and prepared to take ownership of client counseling, benefits analysis, medical and vocational development, legal strategy, written and oral advocacy, negotiation, hearing preparation, and ongoing case administration across these practice areas.

Core Responsibilities

·       Manage a high-volume caseload of DBA, Longshore, NAFI, and workers’ compensation matters from initial consultation and file opening through final resolution, benefit implementation, and file closing while maintaining individualized client service.

·       Conduct client intake; assess statutory coverage, status and situs, course and scope of employment, jurisdiction, causation, responsible employer or carrier, exclusivity, notice, and filing deadlines; and advise clients regarding rights, obligations, risks, and next steps.

·       Develop claims before OWCP and applicable state workers’ compensation agencies or commissions, including notices of injury, claim petitions and forms, statements of earnings, requests for benefits or action, informal conference submissions, responses to controversion or denial, and communications with claims personnel.

·       Analyze entitlement to authorized medical care, indemnity and wage-loss benefits, temporary and permanent disability, average weekly wage, maximum medical improvement, impairment or scheduled awards, vocational rehabilitation, suitable alternative employment, death benefits, penalties, interest, and related relief under the governing law.

·       Evaluate medical and vocational evidence, employment and wage records, job duties, contracts, overseas or maritime work history, prior claims and statements, surveillance, liens, subrogation interests, offsets, credits, and procedural history.

·       Coordinate appropriate medical treatment and evidentiary development with clients, authorized providers, independent medical examiners, experts, vocational professionals, interpreters, and other vendors while addressing authorizations, utilization or treatment disputes, examinations, work restrictions, and return-to-work issues.

·       Develop and implement case strategy under the applicable federal or state framework, including evidence plans, discovery priorities, expert needs, benefit calculations, litigation readiness, settlement timing, and appellate considerations.

·       Prepare claims, petitions, pleadings, motions, discovery, briefs, position statements, informal conference or mediation materials, hearing submissions, appellate filings, settlement documents, fee applications, and substantive client correspondence.

·       Represent clients in informal conferences, mediations, depositions, administrative hearings, trials, oral arguments, and other proceedings before OWCP, OALJ, the Benefits Review Board, state workers’ compensation agencies or commissions, reviewing courts, and other appropriate tribunals.

·       Prepare clients, treating providers, experts, and other witnesses for interviews, depositions, medical examinations, vocational evaluations, hearings, and testimony.

·       Negotiate interim benefits, medical issues, stipulations, liens and subrogation issues, settlements, attorney’s fees, and other resolutions with opposing counsel, employers, carriers, third-party administrators, and agencies while protecting client interests.

·       Counsel clients regularly regarding case status, benefit payments, treatment, work capacity, return-to-work obligations, settlement options, coordination with collateral benefits, and compliance with agency, discovery, or litigation requirements.

·       Oversee implementation of awards, orders, and settlements, including payment follow-up, continuing medical benefits, structured or allocated settlement components, releases, lien resolution coordination, Medicare-related compliance when applicable, and closing documentation.

·       Track and meet all statutory, agency, commission, OALJ, Benefits Review Board, discovery, evidentiary, appellate, and internal deadlines across applicable jurisdictions.

·       Coordinate and delegate effectively with paralegals, case managers, co-counsel, local or coverage counsel, and support staff, and review work product for accuracy and completeness.

·       Maintain complete, accurate, and contemporaneous case notes, calendars, benefit and financial records, client communications, and electronic files consistent with professional and firm requirements.

·       Use firm-approved technology to streamline authorized administrative work while personally verifying legal analysis, citations, calculations, facts, deadlines, jurisdiction-specific requirements, and final work product.

Success in This Role

·       Maintains command of a large DBA, Longshore, NAFI, and workers’ compensation caseload across intake, claim development, benefits administration, dispute resolution, litigation, appeal, settlement, and closing without missed deadlines or loss of strategy.

·       Applies the correct federal or state statutory and procedural framework and advances claims proactively by identifying coverage issues, missing evidence, benefit interruptions, medical disputes, procedural risks, and opportunities for early resolution.

·       Produces precise, persuasive, practical, and well-supported written work for clients, agencies, commissions, tribunals, opposing counsel, and other stakeholders.

·       Exercises independent judgment, makes sound recommendations, delegates appropriately, and escalates material risks promptly.

·       Communicates clearly and compassionately with clients throughout the full life of a claim, including benefit-administration periods when no formal litigation is pending.

·       Demonstrates ownership, reliability, preparation, responsiveness, and professional accountability in both substantive legal work and case administration.

Required Qualifications

·       Active bar admission and good standing in at least one U.S. jurisdiction, with eligibility and willingness to seek any additional admissions required for assigned matters.

·       Meaningful experience in Longshore, DBA, federal or state workers’ compensation, administrative law, benefits practice, litigation, or comparable end-to-end case management.

·       Excellent legal research, writing, client counseling, oral advocacy, negotiation, and strategic analysis skills.

·       Demonstrated ability to independently manage numerous active matters across different jurisdictions and procedural stages with overlapping deadlines.

·       Ability to analyze medical, vocational, wage, coverage, benefits, and procedural records and translate complex federal and state issues into practical advice and action.

·       Exceptional attention to detail and commitment to accurate, source-supported work, complete files, and reliable client communication.

·       High ethical standards, discretion, and commitment to representing injured workers and other eligible claimants.

Preferred Qualifications

·       Direct claimant-side experience with the Defense Base Act, Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act, NAFI, state workers’ compensation systems, OWCP, OALJ, the Benefits Review Board, or state workers’ compensation agencies or commissions.

·       Experience handling claims from intake, coverage analysis, and benefits development through litigation, settlement, appeal, award implementation, and closure.

·       Experience with medical and vocational evidence, disability and wage calculations, impairment ratings, return-to-work issues, depositions, mediations, hearings, appellate work, liens or subrogation, and settlement implementation.

·       Experience working in a remote law firm and using electronic case management systems.

Benefits Highlights

·       Fully remote work with no office requirements.

·       Generous paid time off grows with tenure.

·       Unused PTO may carry forward when permitted.

·       Twelve paid holidays support meaningful personal time.

·       Approved professional development expenses receive firm funding.

Benefits are subject to eligibility, applicable law, and the current handbook and plan documents.

Compensation and Position Details

·       Salary range: $100,000–$200,000.

·       Full-time, fully remote position.

·       Attorneys are expected to be available during standard business hours from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Central Time, Monday through Friday.

Hiring Process

As part of our innovation-focused hiring process, candidates will complete a brief technology-enabled assessment addressing communication, judgment, problem-solving, and alignment with Lodestar’s culture. The assessment is reviewed by the hiring team and is one component of the overall evaluation. Technology supports the process and does not replace human review or final decision-making. Reasonable accommodation is available upon request.

Equal Opportunity Statement

Lodestar Law LLC is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to a workplace free from discrimination, harassment, and retaliation. All employment decisions are based on qualifications, merit, and business needs.