Insurance Defense / PI Litigation Associate

Job Description

Job Description

Position Overview

Our client, a growing mid-sized litigation boutique in Houston, is seeking an ambitious Insurance Defense / PI Litigation Associate to independently manage a high-exposure docket from day one. In this role, you will handle complex catastrophic personal injury, product liability, and construction defect cases with policy limits exceeding $1M for major insurance carriers, Fortune 500 corporations, and energy sector clients across Texas state and federal courts. The client offers a transparent, documented three-tier career progression track (Associate Non-Equity Shareholder Shareholder), a dedicated 2:1 attorney-to-paralegal support ratio, and a collegial culture built on genuine work-life balance.

Key Responsibilities

• Docket Ownership: Independently manage a docket of catastrophic PI, product liability, and construction defect defense matters from inception through resolution.
• Depositions & Hearings: Prepare, defend, and take fact witness, expert, and corporate representative depositions; present oral arguments in state and federal court proceedings.
• Pleadings & Discovery: Draft strategic motions, summary judgment filings, and discovery requests/responses aligned with aggressive defense goals.
• Billing Discipline: Maintain contemporaneous weekly time-entry records with a minimum requirement of 154 billable hours per month (1,848 hours annually).

Qualifications & Requirements

• Licensure & Education: Active Texas State Bar membership in good standing and a JD from an accredited law school.
• Experience: 2 to 6 years of direct civil litigation experience in insurance defense or personal injury docket management (handling $1M+ policy limit cases preferred).
• Litigation Skills: Demonstrated experience taking and defending expert and corporate rep depositions, as well as handling court appearances.
• Work Model: Ability to work full-time on-site in downtown Houston for the first 6 months prior to hybrid eligibility.

Compensation & Benefits

• Direct Rewards: $115K–$175K base salary, 10–15% quarterly billable Tier Bonuses, and a $2,400 annual time-entry compliance bonus.
• Health & Wellness: Up to $600/month firm contribution toward health insurance, plus firm-provided disability and life insurance.
• Retirement & Perks: 401(k) with a 3% employer match (fully vested from day one), free secured downtown Houston parking, bi-weekly catered lunches, and 2 days/week WFH post-ramp.

• Real high-exposure litigation from day one. You'll own a docket of catastrophic PI, product liability, and construction defect cases with $1M+ policy limits — for insurance carriers, oil & gas companies, Fortune 500 clients, and big box retailers across Texas state and federal courts.
• Written partnership track — no guessing games. Our Client has a documented three-tier career path: Associate Non-Equity Shareholder Shareholder. This is rare for a mid-size Houston boutique and eliminates the ambiguous "we'll talk about it when you're ready" partner conversations you've probably dealt with elsewhere.
• Competitive total comp with a transparent bonus ladder. $115K–$175K base + 10–15% quarterly Tier Bonus + $2,400/year time-entry bonus. At the top end that's $200K+ all-in. Plus a 3% 401(k) match that's fully vested from day one.
• Strong support infrastructure. A 2:1 attorney-to-paralegal ratio means you actually get the support you need to focus on substantive legal work instead of drowning in admin.
• Genuine work-life balance culture. Six named core values (Individual Wellness is #1) that actually show up in firm policies. Catered lunch every other Friday. Open-door collegial environment with no big egos. 2 days WFH/week after your first 6 months.
• $600/month health insurance contribution + free secured downtown Houston parking. These are real quality-of-life perks that add up fast — especially the parking if you know Houston.
• Autonomy without isolation. You'll run your own cases independently but you're not on an island. The firm has an open-door culture where you can ask questions freely — they just don't hand-hold.