In-House Litigation Discovery Counsel

Being good neighbors helping people, investing in our communities, and making the world a better place is who we are at State Farm. It is at the core of how we operate and the reason for our success. Come join a #1 team and do some good!

State Farm is offering a Litigation/Information Management & Discovery Counseling In-House Counsel opportunity within the Litigation Division of the Corporate Law Department, located in State Farms corporate headquarters in Bloomington, Illinois. Our Law Department employees are challenged, committed, and empowered. At State Farm, we help one another grow professionally and personally. It is part of who we are and have been since 1922. This position is classified as a hybrid role, meaning that the work arrangement calls for hours in the office and virtually. Everyone in a hybrid role is required to spend the majority of time in the office, due to the highly collaborative nature of the work. Work arrangements could change over time based on business needs.

The primary focus of this position is to manage discovery issues and related litigation, regulatory, and business risks in litigation and regulatory inquiries brought against State Farm entities.

Responsibilities may include but are not limited to the following:

• Provide legal advice to appropriate representatives of the State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company and its affiliates
• Collaborate with internal and external legal teams, IT and other internal business areas, and external vendors to develop and implement eDiscovery strategies that align with legal and business objectives

• Help manage eDiscovery risks arising at all stages of the Electronic Discovery Reference Model
• Provide strategic guidance for, draft and help negotiate eDiscovery protocols, protective orders, and related agreements
• Help identify, develop, implement, and refining optimal use of discovery-related technology, including GenAI, including for early case assessment and broader discovery strategies.
• Provide legal advice regarding legal risks arising from business area technology enablement and use, as well as potential risk mitigation efforts
• Develop and validate defensible review processes, including through the use of predictive coding, analytics, sampling methodologies and statistical validation techniques where appropriate.
• Provide legal advice and develop strategies regarding privilege analyses, including, where appropriate, categorical logging, redactions and clawback agreements
• Monitor and apply relevant legal and technological developments and eDiscovery best practices

• Develop and execute approaches to technology assisted review tools in litigation and investigation response

May also be engaged in traditional discovery and litigation work including:

• Respond to written discovery requests (interrogatories, document requests, and requests for admission) in state and federal court litigation
• Respond to third-party subpoena responses and inquiries from state departments of insurance and state and federal regulatory agencies
• Work with outside counsel to formulate litigation/discovery strategies for bad faith, class action, and various other types of litigation
• Assist in preparation of company witnesses and/or corporate representatives for depositions and other testimony
• Advise on meet and confer and discovery disputes, and drive strategy on discovery-related motions

• Educate outside counsel, witnesses, and third-party service providers on discovery processes

• Develop and manage budgets for discovery efforts and projects
• Analyze legal problems and interpret laws and regulations
• Analyze legal matters and/or litigation resolution in creative ways

• Help identify, select, and manage outside vendors for various eDiscovery services, including with regard to budgets and invoice review.

• Help identify a diverse bench of outside counsel in jurisdictions across the United States

At State Farm, our mission is to help people manage the risks of everyday life, recover from the unexpected, and realize their dreams.

• Juris Doctorate (J.D.) from an ABA accredited law school and excellent academic credentials
• Active law license to practice law in at least one state and a member in good standing of the bar
• Must be able to obtain a limited license in IL if not already appropriately licensed in IL
• Attorney with 5+ years of litigation experience
• Advanced knowledge of legal principles and practices related to litigation, preferably including class action, MDL, and institutional insurance claims
• Breadth and depth of technical legal knowledge, excellent business judgment, and strong analytical skills

• Experience with designing and deploying legal hold processes, data collection techniques, data analytics, and data management systems.
• Leadership, management, and collaboration skills

• Experience with eDiscovery issues preferred
• Experience evaluating preservation and discovery implications on issues involving M365 and other emerging / AI technologies
• Experience with Relativity and other discovery-related technologies
• Proactive and creative mindset, anticipates and responds effectively to clients needs, and actively assists clients by practicing preventative law
• Effective relationship-building skills across various roles including counsel, paralegals, external partners, and business area leaders
• Commitment to providing quality legal advice, learning agility (including demonstrated willingness to develop expertise in new subject matters), and a history of enthusiastic participation in a team environment
• Applicants are required to be eligible to lawfully work in the U.S. immediately; employer will not sponsor applicants for U.S. work opportunity

Additional Details:

• Other than as authorized by the General Counsel or her designee, employees are not permitted to handle any legal business outside of State Farm except authorized pro bono work
• Newly hired employees must cease all outside practice and all suit involvement before joining State Farm
• Travel may be required to attend trial in person as well as other litigation-related events or activities
• May work irregular hours due to workload and nature of work
• Relocation benefits may be available depending on eligibility and position.

Because work-life balance is a priority at State Farm, compensation is based on our standard 38:45-hour work week!

• Potential starting salary range: $137,000.00 - $225,000.00
• • Starting salary will be based on skills, background, and experience
  • High end of the range limited to applicants with significant relevant experience
• Potential yearly incentive pay up to 30% of base salary

At State Farm, we offer more than just a paycheck. Check out our suite of benefits designed to give you the flexibility you need to take care of you and your family!

• Get Paid! On top of our competitive pay, you are eligible for an annual raise and bonus.
• Stay Well! Focus on you and your familys health with our robust health and wellbeing programs. State Farm pays most of your healthcare premium, and we offer multiple healthcare plan options, including a high deductible plan. All medical plans provide 100% coverage for in-network preventative care, AND you and your family have access to vision, dental, telemedicine, 24/7 mental health professionals, and much more!
• Develop and Grow! Take advantage of educational benefits like industry leading training programs, top-notch tuition assistance programs, employee resource groups, and mentoring.
• Plan Ahead! Plan for those big moments in life with benefits like fertility/IVF/adoption assistance, college coaching, national discount programs, interactive monthly financial workshops, free financial coaching, and more. You can also start a savings account or consider financing through our State Farm Federal Credit Union!
• Take a Little You Time! You will have access to our generous time off policies designed so you can plan around holidays, family events, volunteering, or just to take a relaxing day off. With the opportunity to initially earn up to 20 days annually plus parental leave, paid holidays, celebration day, life leave (40 hours/year), bereavement leave, and community service/education support days, there will be plenty of time for you!
• Give Back! We offer several ways to give back through our Matching Gift Program, Good Neighbor Grant Program, and the Employee Assistance Fund.
• Finish Strong! Plan for retirement using free financial advisors and a 401(k) plan with company contributions of up to 7% of your salary.

Visit our State Farm Careers page for more information on our benefits , locations , and the hiring process of joining the State Farm team!

#LI-RC1 PM22

Compensation details: 137000-225000 Yearly Salary

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