Business Development Associate, Legal Partnerships

Intro description: Legalist is a tech-enabled alternative asset manager that uses proprietary data-driven origination to invest in uncorrelated legal and government-payment assets. Founded out of Y Combinator in 2016, Legalist manages over $1.7 billion for endowments, foundations, and family offices. Business Development Associate, Legal Partnerships Legalist is expanding its presence across the personal injury plaintiff market and looking for a sharp, self-directed business development professional to help build and manage a pipeline of law firm relationships. The right candidate knows how to earn credibility with sophisticated professionals, build relationships over time, and navigate the distinct culture of plaintiff-side law firms. Key Responsibilities * Build and maintain a qualified pipeline of law firm relationships through targeted outreach, referral networks, bar association channels, legal conference engagement, and direct relationship development * Conduct thoughtful outbound outreach tailored to the sensibilities of plaintiff attorneys and firm owners, not generic sales sequences * Identify key decision-makers at target firms and develop multi-touch engagement strategies appropriate to the relationship and firm profile * Research and profile target firms including practice mix, geography, size, and ownership structure to assess partnership fit * Qualify opportunities and advance conversations toward introductory meetings with Legalist's leadership team * Maintain accurate pipeline tracking and outreach records in CRM; report clearly on activity, conversion metrics, and market intelligence * Develop and iterate on messaging that speaks credibly to attorneys — their economics, their challenges, and what a relationship with Legalist can offer their practice What We're Looking For * 3–5 years of experience in business development, practice development, or a related role ideally with exposure to legal services, professional services, or financial services targeting senior professional audiences * Demonstrated ability to build trust with and open doors to senior professionals (attorneys, physicians, executives) who are not easy to reach and are skeptical of traditional sales outreach * Familiarity with the personal injury plaintiff bar is a plus * Comfortable operating with autonomy including building your own target lists, crafting your own outreach, and developing strategy without a rigid playbook * Excellent written and verbal communication with the ability to adjust tone and approach based on audience * Self-starter and diligent