Senior Litigation Attorney Worker's Compensation

Overview

This role involves managing all aspects of workers’ compensation cases with varying complexity and providing litigation and legal advice across the organization. The position requires high-quality, proactive case handling using legal expertise and litigation skills to independently manage a caseload of moderate exposure cases and standard litigation matters, aiming to deliver optimal results.

Responsibilities

• Manage the entire legal process for assigned workers’ compensation matters, including investigation, discovery, trial preparation, court proceedings, depositions, site inspections, hearings, trials, and settlement negotiations with minimal supervision.
• Litigate workers’ compensation cases in California before state and federal courts, administrative boards, and other proceedings.
• Represent the organization, its related entities, and insureds before administrative boards, state and federal courts, Court of Appeal, and the California Supreme Court.
• Assist in premium audit disputes and subpoenas or other third-party discovery.
• Analyze legal and factual issues, conduct extensive legal research, and independently develop and present defense strategies.
• Ensure prompt, efficient, and effective disposition of assigned cases.
• Provide accurate legal analysis and strategic recommendations to clients and claims personnel.
• Analyze, review, and distribute information on new legislation, regulations, court decisions, and proceedings.
• Deliver strategic legal advice and implement clear, cost-effective, and efficient plans of action.
• Conduct ongoing quality assessments of law and facts with recommendations for timely resolution.
• Analyze referrals from claims to determine the need for outside investigation or additional information.
• Communicate effectively and timely with clients and claims professionals on legal and factual issues.
• Develop appropriate legal strategies for all litigation stages and share them with claims personnel and clients.
• Direct paralegals and legal support staff in their duties related to assigned matters.
• Ensure timely filing of pleadings, motions, and other documents with courts or administrative boards.
• Build and maintain internal and external client relationships with a customer-centric focus.
• Adhere to all organizational policies and the California Rules of Professional Conduct.

Supervisory Responsibilities

• No direct supervisory responsibilities.
• Direct the work of support staff, including assistants and paralegals, by assigning tasks, reviewing and approving legal documents, delegating appropriately, and providing training, coaching, and mentoring to ensure quality legal services.

Education and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree from a four-year college or university required.
• Juris Doctorate (JD) from an accredited law school required.
• Minimum 5 to 8 years of workers’ compensation litigation experience or equivalent combination of education and experience required.

Certifications and Licenses

• Licensed and in good standing with the State Bar of California, with no history of public or private disciplinary actions.

Knowledge and Skills

• Proficient knowledge of litigating California workers’ compensation matters, including administrative rules, procedures, laws, and statutes.
• Familiarity with business legal principles and billing practices preferred.
• Ability to work independently with minimal supervision, strong work ethic, and initiative.
• Effective verbal and written communication skills with internal and external clients.
• Ability to read, analyze, and interpret technical documents, legal materials, and medical records.
• Strong negotiation and communication skills.
• Ability to respond effectively to inquiries from clients, businesses, State Bar or Judiciary members, and regulatory agencies.
• Skilled in presenting information to clients, claims personnel, management, mediators, arbitrators, judges, juries, and the public.
• Proficient with Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook, Adobe, PowerPoint, and ability to learn proprietary applications.
• Ability to work with mathematical concepts such as fractions, percentages, ratios, algebra, and geometry.
• Strong problem-solving skills and ability to define legal issues, collect data, establish facts, draw conclusions, and implement strategic resolutions.
• Expert time management and ability to manage multiple legal matters simultaneously.

Physical Requirements

• Office environment with no unusual physical demands.
• Regularly required to sit, walk, stand, talk, and hear.

Work Environment

• Office and court environment.
• Frequent use of computer, telephone, copier, scanner, and other standard office equipment.
• Travel to various court and business locations required.

Compensation and Benefits

• Salary range: $137,617.39 - $232,082.34 (exclusive of fringe benefits and potential bonuses).
• Final base salary determined by candidate experience, education, and role location.
• Competitive benefits package including medical, dental, vision plans, 401(k) retirement plans with company match.
• Bonus potential for all positions.
• Paid time off and paid holidays.
• Support for continued learning and professional development.

Location

• Headquartered in San Diego with regional offices throughout the United States.

Equal Opportunity

The organization is committed to creating a diverse environment and is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Discrimination based on race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, sex/gender, age, disability, military or veteran status, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, or any other protected characteristic is prohibited.