Chief Liability Trial Attorney or Senior Liability Trial Attorney

Make an Impact. Build Your Career. Great Trial Attorneys Deserve a Great Work-Life BalanceAt Zurich North America, we understand that accomplished trial attorneys are looking for more than just another litigation position. They want meaningful work, flexibility, professional growth, strong support, and the opportunity to make a real impact.Our modern hybrid work model is designed with attorneys in mind, providing flexibility to work remotely while maintaining valuable in-person collaboration and mentorship opportunities. This position requires reporting to our Pasadena office once per week while allowing significant autonomy in managing your practice and schedule.Whether you are an accomplished trial attorney looking to try complex cases or a senior litigator ready to take the next step into a leadership role, Zurich offers a platform where your expertise is valued and your success is recognized.Our attorneys benefit from:Hybrid flexibility with one in-office day per week in PasadenaCompetitive compensation and incentive opportunities401(k) match and additional company retirement contributionsStrong partnerships with claims professionalsProfessional growth and advancement opportunitiesA collaborative culture that values both results and well-beingThis position will be filled at either the Chief Liability Trial Attorney or Senior Liability Trial Attorney level based on the selected candidate's experience, technical expertise, and trial background. In these roles you will be responsible for: Achieving strong outcomes for clients by applying advanced litigation expertise to complex liability matters, including case evaluation, strategy, trial preparation, and presentation.Conducting legal analysis and research, preparing pleadings and other legal documents, managing discovery, and appearing in judicial, administrative, arbitration, mediation, and trial proceedings.Developing and executing case strategy in collaboration with claims partners, including timely escalation of significant issues and use of alternative dispute resolution when appropriate.Maintaining timely and accurate case file documentation in compliance with best practices, legal requirements, and confidentiality standards.Delivering responsive client services through proactive communication, timely inquiry responses, and adherence to customer protocols.Serving as a technical resource by mentoring attorneys, sharing litigation strategies and best practices, and supporting effective use of tools and resources.Identifying opportunities to improve tools, resources, workflows, and operational efficiency.Chief Liability Trial AttorneyWith minimal direction, the Chief Liability Trial Attorney will represent the Company's insureds in all phases of litigation for matters of the highest technical complexity and engage in the practice of and the representation of Zurich insureds in litigation to protect their interests. Basic Qualifications include:Juris Doctor and 10 or more years of experience in the Litigation areaANDMember of the California Bar in good standingExperience with Microsoft Office suite and AdobeExperience with Lexis or WestlawKnowledge of the insurance industry, claims and the insurance defense litigation legal environmentKnowledge of the law and procedurePreferred Qualifications include:A Chief Trial Attorney is expected to be ready, willing, and able to take cases forward to trial, including serving as first-chair trial counsel in appropriate matters. Candidates should have recent, credible jury trial experience, be comfortable before judges and juries, use trial readiness as leverage to drive favorable outcomes, and serve as the office’s trial and technical resource.Proactively identify trial opportunities, discuss strategy with leadership and claims partners, and demonstrate the initiative and leadership expected of a chief-level trial position.Strong record of recent jury trial experience and successful trial outcomes, preferably in insurance defense, general liability, or other complex liability matters.Provide guidance on legal strategy, mentor other attorneys, and share litigation strategy and best practices.Effective communication skillsEffective information technology skillsStrong negotiation skillsExperience working in a team-based environmentStrong collaboration skillsEffective problem solving and analytical skillsORSenior Liability Trial Attorney:A Senior Liability Trial Attorney will demonstrate strong case analysis ability and have a track record of effective settlement and trial skills, as well as the ability to work independently without substantial supervision. The successful candidate must have strong computer skills and be able to handle remote team-based work which requires them to use video conferencing, task assignments and other computer based systems In addition, they will be expected to mentor less experienced attorneys and provide leadership and training across the organization.Basic Qualifications include:Juris Doctor and 7 or more years of experience in the Litigation areaANDMember in good standing of the California State Bar AssociationExperience with Microsoft Office and AdobeExperience working with Lexis or WestlawKnowledge of the insurance industry, claims and the insurance defense litigation legal environmentKnowledge of the law and procedurePreferred Qualifications Include:Experience handling 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.Relevant first chair jury trial experienceAbility 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.A functional and extensive knowledge of the law and procedurePrior experience in an insurance defense environmentStrong negotiation skillsEffective problem solving skillsExperience working in a team-based environmentStrong collaboration skillsYour 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 combined salary range for these positions is $180,000.00 - $225,000.00. The proposed salary range for Senior Liability Trial Attorney is $180,000.00 - $205,000.00, with short-term incentive bonus eligibility set at 15%. The proposed Salary range for Chief Liability Trial Attorney is $200,000,00 - $225,000.00, with short-term incentive bonus eligibility set at 20%. 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, AM - Los AngelesRemote Working: HybridSchedule: Full TimeEmployment Sponsorship Offered: No Linkedin Recruiter Tag: #LI-RA1 #LI-DIRECTOR #LI-HYBRID