General Liability Staff Legal Counsel III

Zurich is looking for a Sr. Liability Trial Attorney to join our Staff Legal team and work from our Pasadena office. This Trial Attorney will be responsible for representing the commercial insureds of a prestigious and financially stable commercial insurance carrier, and preparing and trying high complexity, high exposure General Liability and Commercial Auto personal injury cases.

At Zurich North America we acknowledge that work life-balance and flexibility are a priority when it comes to choosing your next career move. Designed with our employees' needs in mind, this position is Hybrid, emphasizing flexibility while facilitating in-person connections and collaborative activities through the use of technology. The candidate selected must reside in and be licensed in the State of California. The team goes to the office one day a week in the Pasadena office .

Ready for a career move?  Consider working for a company with a global footprint that offers an incentive plan, terrific benefits including a dollar -for- dollar 401K Match and a second 401K contribution, flexible work options, and a great culture.

The selected candidate will perform duties encompassing all aspects of insurance defense, including initial investigation and legal analysis and advice, preparing and filing legal pleadings and documents, performing legal research, preparing for and conducting pre-trial discovery, preparing for and aggressively handling hearings and trials, and conducting post-trial activities where appropriate.  We look for demonstrated case analysis ability and a track record of proven trial and negotiation skills, along with the ability to work independently and without substantial supervision. The successful candidate must have strong computer skills and be able to handle hybrid team-based work which requires them to use video conferencing, task assignments and other computer-based systems.

Basic Qualifications:

• Juris Doctor and 7 or more years of experience in the Litigation areaAND
• Member of the Bar in good standing of the California State Bar
• Experience with Microsoft Office and Adobe
• Experience working with Lexis or Westlaw
• Knowledge of the insurance industry, claims and the insurance defense litigation legal environment

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience handling general liability claims, insurance industry claims and general commercial litigation, including but not limited to wrongful death, commercial motor vehicle torts, products and premises liability, and personal injury, from inception through trial.
• Must be well organized with good analytical skills, excellent oral and written communication skills, proactive approach to file handling and caseloads, and able to work independently as well as within a team environment.
• Ability to budget costs and calculate exposure for clients.
• Efficient work habits, knowledge of billables and diary review with substantive and procedural legal knowledge.
• Understands the staff counsel function and role in overall business.
• Prior experience in an insurance defense environment
• Effective negotiation skills
• Effective problem-solving skills
• Experience working in a team-based environment
• Strong collaboration skills
• PC literate
• Experience handling general liability claims

Your pay at Zurich is based on your role, location, skills, and experience. We follow local laws to ensure fair compensation. You may also be eligible for bonuses and merit increases. If your expectations are above the listed range, we still encourage you to apply—your unique background matters to us. The pay range shown is a national average and may vary by location. The proposed Salary range for this position is $160,000.00 - $210,000.00, with short-term incentive bonus eligibility set at 15%.

We offer competitive pay and comprehensive benefits for employees and their families. [Learn more about Total Rewards  here .]

Why Zurich?

At Zurich, we value your ideas and experience. We offer growth, inclusion, and a supportive environment—so you can help shape the future of insurance. Zurich North America is a leader in risk management, with over 150 years of expertise and coverage across 25+ industries, including 90% of the Fortune 500®.

Join us for a brighter future—for yourself and our customers.

Zurich in North America does not discriminate based on race, ethnicity, color, religion, national origin, sex, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, age, disability, protected veteran status, marital status, sexual orientation, pregnancy or other characteristics protected by applicable law. Equal Opportunity Employer disability/vets.

Zurich complies with 18 U.S. Code § 1033.

Please note: Zurich does not accept unsolicited CVs from agencies. Preferred vendors should use our Recruiting Agency Portal.

Location(s): AM - Pasadena
Remote Working: Hybrid
Schedule: Full Time
Employment Sponsorship Offered: No 

Linkedin Recruiter Tag: #LI-LC1 #LI-ASSOCIATE #LI-HYBRID