Senior Trial Attorney - Insurance Defense

Nationwide Mutual Insurance•Sacramento, CA

22h•Hybrid

About The Position

This position is with Nationwide's Legal team, supporting a Fortune 100 company. The role involves delivering top-quality legal services to protect people, businesses, and futures with extraordinary care. The Senior Trial Attorney will represent clients under both commercial and personal lines insurance policies as lead counsel, and as part of a team when needed. Caseloads will vary in complexity, severity, product lines, and specialized concentrations across all courts and agencies in the assigned jurisdiction(s). The role requires maintaining a highly productive case volume with a commitment to innovative thinking, effective collaboration, embracing technology, and a proactive approach to case management. The preferred candidate will have insurance defense experience in various areas including commercial auto, premises, property damage, complex commercial, construction defect, habitability, personal lines liability and property damage, dog bites, slip/trip and fall, trucking, liquor liability, wrongful death, and uninsured/underinsured motorist claims. This position can be located in the Sacramento or San Francisco Bay Areas. Key responsibilities include demonstrating trial advocacy skills, efficiency, proactive case management, and quality work product with minimal managerial oversight. The attorney must stay current with legal changes, technology, and industry trends, and possess subject matter expertise in specified concentrations. Providing sound opinions on case valuations, maintaining professional relationships with internal and external stakeholders, and effectively communicating with clients and claims partners are crucial. The role also involves mentoring junior attorneys and staff. The position is not eligible for overtime (Exempt).

Requirements

Juris Doctor degree from an accredited law school.
Maintains an active license in the state in which the position is located.
Typically, more than eight years of relevant civil litigation experience in property and casualty insurance defense or subrogation.
Has significant litigation experience in property and casualty insurance defense or subrogation.
Engages in complex legal practices and procedures throughout all court and agencies in the assigned jurisdiction.
Highly effective and professional written and verbal communication skills.
Highly collaborative, capable to work with staff and other attorneys on-site and remotely, as well as serving as a role model and mentor to other associates within the office.
Significant negotiation skills.
Ability to process information efficiently and effectively.
Excellent analytical and legal skills.
Resourceful, creative problem solver.
Computer savvy with a solid understanding of basic software and use of same.
Capable of adapting to changes in the law and changes to technology in the law and court systems (e.g. electronic filings, etc.)
Strong time management and organization skills.
Decision making ability to set work priorities and make recommendations.
Ability to initiate, prioritize and coordinate complex projects and cases.
Leadership skills used in direct and/or indirect influencing such as motivating, problem solving, business strengthening and development with colleagues, clients and claims partners.
Stays in sync with the private practice of law policy and the ethical rules of the state where the position is located.
Must also acknowledge and follow all corporate and NTD policies and procedures.
Valid driver’s license with satisfactory driving record in accordance with Nationwide standards.
Valid credit check and/or background which will be required as part of the selection process.

Nice To Haves

Insurance Defense experience.
Areas of focus include, commercial auto, commercial premises, commercial material damage, commercial properly, complex commercial, construction defect, habitability, complex personal lines liability, homeowners liability, dog bite, slip and fall/trip and fall, trucking, liquor liability, wrongful death, material damage, personal lines auto, personal lines property damage, premises liability, products liability, trucking defense, and uninsured/underinsured motorist.

Responsibilities

Demonstrates the requisite trial advocacy skills independently as lead counsel, or as part of a team, demonstrates efficiency, proactive case management, work ethic, and work product quality to accurately and effectively handle all matters in accordance with Nationwide Trial Division (NTD) standard methodology guidelines, as well as claims and client expectations.
Requires minimal managerial oversight and guidance from the Managing Trial Attorney and NTD Leadership in all aspects of core duties and job responsibilities.
Adept at effectively utilizing technology and collaboratively working with support staff to ensure efficient case management and efficiency.
Demonstrates consistent awareness of changes to the law, technology, local rules and other procedural requirements, or other aspects of the legal and insurance industries likely to impact liability and recovery litigation strategies in the jurisdictions in which he/she practices.
Possesses and consistently performs with the subject matter expertise and trial advocacy skills required and specified for all NTD concentrations held.
Demonstrates the ability and willingness to develop and learn additional or new NTD concentrations as may be required based on NTD business needs and as specified by NTD Leadership.
Provides factually, legally and analytically sound opinions consistently on case valuations that are promptly updated and timely communicated to the client and claims.
Independently establishes and maintains strong professional relationships with key associates within Office of the Chief Legal Officer and claims partners at the senior director level and below, as well as with colleagues within the legal and insurance industries within those jurisdictions and communities in which he/she practices.
Utilizes relationships to build and improve NTD’s reputation and expand case referral opportunities within the enterprise.
Communicates in a highly effective manner, consistently and proactively identifying, understanding and meeting client, claims and internal NTD communication expectations (both written and verbal), as well as those commonly expected within the jurisdictions and communities in which he/she practices.
Serves as a mentor for junior attorneys and NTD staff providing guidance and training, as well as serving as role model in terms of engagement, coaching and feedback, efficiency, attitude and collaboration.
May perform other responsibilities as assigned.

Benefits

medical/dental/vision
life insurance
short and long term disability coverage
paid time off with newly hired associates receiving a minimum of 18 days paid time off each full calendar year pro-rated quarterly based on hire date
nine paid holidays
8 hours of Lifetime paid time off
8 hours of Unity Day paid time off
401(k) with company match
company-paid pension plan
business casual attire