Description:
Overview:An Associate Staff Counsel is responsible for competent, ethical, and diligent representation of A Small Business Insurance Company North America and its policy holders in all assigned cases including preparation of pleadings, motions, pre-trial discovery, trial, arbitration and appellate work. You are required to manage a caseload from inception to resolution. This position requires aggressive, cost-efficient, and creative management of a caseload involved in full-phase litigation. It entails traveling to different Boards in Central California and to various A Small Business Insurance Company offices. The ideal candidate should possess skills necessary to interface with claims administrators, underwriters, employers, safety personnel, and all legal representatives up to the highest ranks at the WCAB level. In addition to handling a caseload, this position involves maintaining regular communications with the Claims Department via roundtables, reviews, and training. The ideal candidate must maintain a solid understanding of A Small Business Insurance Company mission, vision, and values as best in class in the workers' compensation industry.
In this role you will receive formal Workers Compensation training. While in training, you will learn more about the different facets of our industry with the goal of becoming a n Associate Staff Counsel.
Responsibilities:
- Competently represents the Employer/Carrier before the Workers' Compensation Appeals Board at administrative hearings, conferences, trials and appeals on litigated and in pro per claims. Responsible for the prompt, efficient and effective disposition of assigned cases
- Appears at depositions, cross-examinations, mediations, arbitrations and other legal-driven activities outside of the WCAB
- Analyzes complex legal and factual issues, conducts extensive and well-reasoned legal research, and independently develops and presents defense strategies
- Prepares pleadings, petitions, motions, correspondence, and briefs in support of defense strategies
- Provides thorough and timely communication, information, legal advice and other services to Claims, Underwriting and employers on relevant legal and factual issues;
- Possesses the ability to comply with the A Small Business Insurance Company Litigation Management Guidelines with minimal supervision
- Assists in developing training materials for Claims, Underwriting and employers relevant to the application of current laws, practices and trends in CA workers' compensation
- Competently handles carve-out cases and possesses familiarity with the practices and procedures of the Alternative Dispute Resolution Program (ADR)
- Communicates with Workers' Compensation Judges, claims professionals, witnesses, opposing counsels and clients in a manner consistent with established office procedures
- Keeps current with market trends and demands. Attends continuing legal education seminars in order to maintain high level of professional expertise
- Performs other functionally related duties as assigned
Qualifications:
Required:
- Passed CA bar exam
- Graduated from a 3-year Law School
- Ability to travel to various WCAB district offices in California as well as other locations including but not limited to periodic travel to various A Small Business Insurance Company Offices in Irvine, Concord, Utah, Arizona and Las Vegas
- Strong legal research and writing skills
Preferred:
- Knowledge of State laws, local court policies and procedures
- 1-5 years' relevant practice group litigation experience
- Multi-state Bar admittance
- Experience with Litify, legal software, and dictation
