In-House Litigation Counsel

State Farm•Chicago, IL

10d•Hybrid

About The Position

State Farm is excited to announce the opening of a satellite office in Chicago. We are seeking particular subject matter expertise to supplement our Bloomington based Corporate Law team. State Farm is excited to offer a Litigation In-House Counsel opportunity within the Litigation Division of our Corporate Law Department. Our Law Department is made up of dedicated and empowered professionals who support each other’s growth both personally and professionally—a culture that has defined us since 1922. The ideal candidate for this role will have 10+ years of relevant experience. Individuals in this position will take on advanced responsibilities, including supervising litigation and formulating strategies for complex cases, which may include class actions. The role is classified as hybrid, requiring a balance of in-office and virtual work, with the expectation that the majority of time will be spent in the office in the new Chicago Satellite office located in the West Loop. Work arrangements may evolve based on business needs. The primary focus of this role is to supervise litigation and manage discovery issues in cases involving State Farm entities. Responsibilities may include, but are not limited to, the following:

Requirements

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 with an ability to obtain a limited license in IL if not already appropriately licensed in IL
If not already licensed to practice law in Illinois, you will need to obtain at least an in-house limited license for this role, submit an application to the Illinois Board of Admissions within 90 days from your start date, actively pursue the licensure, and keep your supervisor informed throughout the process.
Attorney with 10+ years of litigation experience
Jury trial and significant deposition experience
Advanced knowledge of legal principles and practices related to litigation
Leadership, management, and collaboration skills
Experience with class actions, MDLs, and/or insurance bad faith strongly preferred
Experience with eDiscovery issues
Proactive and creative mindset that anticipates and responds effectively to client’s needs and actively assists clients by practicing preventative law
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
Eligibility to lawfully work in the U.S. immediately; employer will not sponsor applicants for U.S. work opportunity

Nice To Haves

Experience with class actions, MDLs, and/or insurance bad faith strongly preferred

Responsibilities

Collaborate with outside counsel to develop litigation strategies for bad faith, class action, and various other litigation types.
Assist in trial preparation and prepare company witnesses and corporate representatives for depositions and testimony.
Attend trials and provide trial reports to relevant business units, Law Department management, and colleagues.
Develop and manage budgets for litigation matters and related projects.
Provide legal advice to representatives of the State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company and its affiliates.
Analyze legal problems and interpret laws and regulations.
Approach legal matters and litigation resolution with creative solutions.
Serve as a resource for the organization on complex legal issues.
Respond to written discovery requests (interrogatories, document requests, and requests for admission) in state and federal court litigation.
Prepare and execute discovery strategies and manage discovery processes and procedures.
Advise on meet and confer strategies and discovery disputes, driving strategy on related motions.
Review dispositive pleadings and other legal briefs prepared by outside counsel.
Assist in identifying a bench of outside counsel across jurisdictions in the United States.
Collaborate with other areas within the Corporate Law Department to effectively manage legal risk.