Insurance Defense Litigation Associate - Los Angeles, CA

plug-legal; Los Angeles (CA); On-site; USD 195,000 - 220,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Premium benefits

401(k) with profit-sharing

Parental leave

Job summary

plug-legal in Los Angeles is seeking a mid-level litigation associate focusing on insurance defense. You will work with national lead counsel to manage complex defense files and step into lead trial roles as part of a premier platform.

The role requires 4–7 years in insurance defense, an active California Bar license, and a track record in handling high-stakes, high-exposure disputes.

Qualifications

• 4–7 years of insurance defense experience.
• Active California Bar license.
• Independent litigator ready to own files.
• Experience managing heavy pretrial motion practice & complex discovery.

Responsibilities

• Developing and executing defense strategies for complex litigation, including construction defects, mass torts, catastrophic personal injury, and product liability.
• Drafting and arguing pivotal pretrial filings, handling depositions, and driving the discovery process on high-value disputes.
• Serving as a core member of trial teams that often act as national coordinating counsel in benchmark insurance cases.

Skills

Defense strategies

Depositions

Discovery process

Pretrial filings

Trial teams

Education

California Bar license

Job description

Insurance Coverage & Defense · 4–7 Years Experience · CA Bar Required

For a mid-level litigation associate, the path to true autonomy can often feel bottlenecked behind senior partners. This role within the Los Angeles office of an Am Law 100 powerhouse breaks that bottleneck, placing you inside what is widely recognized as one of the most sophisticated insurance law departments in the United States. You will move past routine administrative tasks and step directly into high-stakes, multi-jurisdictional defense litigation, backed by the infrastructure of a national firm that actively prepares its mid-levels for lead trial roles.

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The Work

You will collaborate with national lead counsel and independently manage key aspects of complex, high-exposure defense files. The practice spans major domestic and global insurers, offering immediate exposure to sophisticated lines of personal and commercial insurance. Your daily portfolio will involve:

• Developing and executing defense strategies for complex litigation, construction defects, mass torts, catastrophic personal injury, and product liability claims.
• Drafting and arguing pivotal pretrial filings, handling substantive depositions, and driving the discovery process on high-value disputes.
• Serving as a core component of trial teams that frequently act as national coordinating counsel in benchmark insurance cases.

Who This Is For

This role is tailored for a precise, independent litigator who is ready to transition from a supporting role to a file-owning advocate.

• The Insurance Defense Specialist: You have 4 to 7 years of insurance defense experience, possess a strong grasp of carrier dynamics, and want to elevate your practice by defending the industry's largest domestic and foreign underwriters.
• The High-Stakes Litigator: If you have spent your associate years in a broader commercial litigation or product liability practice but have substantial experience managing heavy pretrial motion practice and complex discovery, the firm values your transferable courtroom and analytical skills.
• An active license in good standing with the State Bar of California is strictly required.

The Platform

The firm stands as an undisputed market leader in insurance law, offering the deep financial stability and global reach of a premier national practice. What sets this specific platform apart is its collaborative, non-siloed architecture. Mid-level associates are not hidden from clients; you will work directly with major industry stakeholders, learning the business of law alongside the practice of it. The firm provides transparent performance metrics, structured mentorship, and a clear, predictable trajectory toward partnership.

Compensation and Benefits

• Base Salary: $195,000 – $220,000 (Exact placement within the range is dependent upon your specific class year, qualifications, and depth of litigation experience).
• Benefits: A comprehensive, premium corporate benefits package, including top-tier medical, dental, and vision coverage; a 401(k) retirement plan with an institutional profit-sharing component; generous paid time off and parental leave; comprehensive life, short-term, and long-term disability insurance; and a dedicated firm budget for continuing legal education (CLE), bar dues, and professional development.