Chief Liability Trial Attorney or Senior Liability Trial Attorney

Zurich 56 Company Ltd; Pasadena (CA); Hybrid; USD 180,000 - 225,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid schedule

401(k) match

Retirement contributions

Career progression

Mentorship opportunities

Job summary

Zurich North America in Pasadena is seeking an experienced Chief or Senior Liability Trial Attorney to lead complex liability matters and guide strategy. You will mentor junior lawyers, manage case strategy with claims partners, and advocate in court with a flexible hybrid schedule.

The role offers a competitive compensation package, 401(k) with match, and opportunities for professional growth while collaborating with claims professionals and maintaining strong client service.

Qualifications

• Juris Doctor degree and active California Bar membership.
• 10+ years experience in Litigation.
• Knowledge of insurance defense and liability law.

Responsibilities

• Achieve strong outcomes for clients through complex liability matters and trial preparation.
• Conduct legal research, prepare pleadings, manage discovery, and appear in court and other proceedings.
• Develop case strategy with claims partners and escalate significant issues as needed.
• Maintain compliant case file documentation and protect confidentiality.
• Provide responsive client service and mentoring to junior attorneys.

Skills

Litigation expertise

Trial strategy

Mentoring attorneys

Strong communication

Education

Juris Doctor

California Bar in good standing

Tools

Microsoft Office

Adobe

Lexis or Westlaw

Job description

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Chief Liability Trial Attorney or Senior Liability Trial Attorney

136053

Make an Impact. Build Your Career. Great Trial Attorneys Deserve a Great Work-Life Balance

At 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 Pasadena
• Competitive compensation and incentive opportunities
• 401(k) match and additional company retirement contributions
• Strong partnerships with claims professionals
• Professional growth and advancement opportunities
• A collaborative culture that values both results and well-being

This position will be filled at either theChief 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 Attorney

With 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 area
  AND
• Member of the California Bar in good standing
• Experience with Microsoft Office suite and Adobe
• Experience with Lexis or Westlaw
• Knowledge of the insurance industry, claims and the insurance defense litigation legal environment
• Knowledge of the law and procedure

Preferred 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 information technology skills
• Experience working in a team-based environment
• Effective problem solving and analytical skills

OR

Senior 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 systemsIn 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 area
  AND
• Member in good standing of the California State Bar Association
• Experience with Microsoft Office and Adobe
• Experience working with Lexis or Westlaw
• Knowledge of the insurance industry, claims and the insurance defense litigation legal environment
• Knowledge of the law and procedure

Preferred 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 experience
• Ability 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 procedure
• Prior experience in an insurance defense environment
• Experience working in a team-based environment

Your 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 Rewardshere .]

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.