Claims Attorney in St. Louis, MO

Job Description

Job Description

The Bar Plan in St. Louis, MO provides solo, small and mid-sized firms with lawyers' professional liability insurance, business coverage, risk management, award-winning CLE and other essential insurance products and management services. The Bar Plan was born out of a crisis in the lawyers' professional liability (LPL) insurance market. When other carriers left the market, The Missouri Bar realized that Missouri attorneys would be in dire need of a stable, financially secure source for LPL insurance. Stepping up to fill the void, The Bar Plan was created and now proudly also serves Indiana, Kansas, New Mexico, and Tennessee.

Position Overview

The Claims Attorney will interpret policy language, assess coverage issues, and provide legal guidance to upper management. The Claims Attorney will negotiate settlements, develop and advise on claim strategies, and oversee outside counsel.

Key Responsibilities

Claims Management

• Initially determine insurance coverage issues and advise claims committee of coverage decision.

• Investigate new claims.

• Develop claim resolution strategies, including negotiation of claims.

• Assign defense counsel to claims, including negotiation of claims.

• Review and pay defense counsel fees and expenses.

• Prepare reports and supervise defense counsel throughout course of litigation.

• Travel and attend mediations, settlement conferences, hearings, trials, and depositions as needed.

• Review, estimate, recommend and set case reserves in assigned claims files to cover probable expense and indemnity payments.

• Provide risk management advice to insureds.

Education & Information

• Write articles for bar-related publications.

• Discuss legal issues with claims department members to identify claim solutions.

• Keep Claims Vice President informed of all significant developments on assigned claims, particularly those claims with high exposure or with coverage issues.

• Continue self-education in all areas of law in which TBP has claims.

• Prepare reports to Claims Committee and reinsurers and other reports as needed.

• Make referrals of insureds to risk management, Missouri Bar, etc.

• Work towards company goals (file count, expense control, etc.).

• Assist Risk Management in presentations when necessary.