Legal Expense Analyst I

RLI Insurance; Peoria (IL); Hybrid; USD 30,000 - 41,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual bonus plans

ESOP (Employee Stock Ownership)

3% company 401(k) contribution

Job summary

RLI Insurance is seeking a Legal Expense Analyst I to support the legal invoice review and expense management within the Claim Department. You will work with claim examiners and outside counsel to ensure accuracy and compliance with billing guidelines, while helping monitor and analyze defense costs.

Preferred candidates have a paralegal degree or equivalent, plus experience in legal billing or a law firm environment. The role offers a comprehensive benefits package and a Hybrid work arrangement.

Qualifications

• Paralegal degree or certificate or equivalent legal education/experience.
• 0+ years in legal billing, claims, insurance, or legal industry.
• Experience in a law firm or corporate legal environment preferred.
• Experience with legal billing, invoice review, or time entry preferred.

Responsibilities

• Review and audit legal invoices for accuracy and compliance with billing guidelines.
• Analyze time entries to identify potential violations or inconsistencies.
• Prepare bill analysis reports and document findings in claim files.
• Collaborate with claim examiners and outside counsel on billing questions.
• Assist with tracking legal spend and identifying billing trends.

Skills

Legal billing understanding

Attention to detail

Analytical thinking

Clear communication

Education

Paralegal degree or certificate

Tools

Microsoft Office Suite

Job description

About Us

We’re not like other insurance companies. From our specialty products to our business model, our culture to our results —we’re different. Different is who we are, and how we work, interact, deliver and succeed together. Creating a different and better insurance experience doesn’t just happen. It takes focus and a shared passion for going beyond the expected to forge relationships and deliver care that makes a difference. This approach rises from and is supported by our talented, ethical and smart team of employee owners united around a single purpose: to work alongside our customers and partners when they need us, in unexpected ways, with exceptional results.

RLI is a Glassdoor Best Places to Work company with a strong, successful background. For decades, our financial track record has been stellar — a testament to our culture and validation of our reputation as an excellent underwriting company.

Position Purpose

Under frequent supervision, the Legal Expense Analyst I supports the legal invoice review and expense management process for RLI’s Claim Department. This position reviews legal invoices for accuracy, reasonableness, and compliance with RLI’s Billing Guidelines and assists in monitoring legal spend associated with claim matters.

The Legal Expense Analyst I works closely with RLI claim examiners and outside counsel to address billing questions and support the appropriate management of defense costs. Prior experience working in a law firm or legal office environment is preferred, as familiarity with legal terminology, litigation processes, and law firm billing practices is beneficial to the successful performance of this role.

Principal Duties & Responsibilities

• Review and audit legal invoices for accuracy, reasonableness, and compliance with RLI Billing Guidelines.
• Analyze attorney, paralegal, and other legal professional time entries to identify potential billing guideline violations, billing inconsistencies, duplication of effort, excessive time, or other issues requiring further review.
• Apply a foundational understanding of litigation activities and legal terminology when evaluating billed services.
• Prepare Bill Analysis Reports and document invoice review findings in claim files.
• Evaluate payment recommendations based on legal bill audits and communicate with claim examiners regarding the appropriateness of billed defense counsel activities in support of the claim’s defense.
• Communicate with law firms regarding routine invoice, billing, and guideline compliance questions.
• Work collaboratively with claim examiners to address legal billing issues and obtain additional information when necessary.
• Identify complex, unusual, or unclear billing issues and escalated them to senior Legal Expense Management staff as appropriate.
• Assist with tracking and analyzing legal spend and identifying billing trends or recurring compliance issues.
• Perform other duties and responsibilities as assigned.

Education & Experience

• Typically requires a paralegal degree or certificate, or equivalent legal education or experience.
• 0+ years of related legal billing, claims, insurance, or legal industry experience.
• Prior experience working in a law firm, corporate legal department, insurance defense practice, or other legal office environment is preferred.
• Experience with legal billing, invoice preparation or review, attorney time entry, or law firm billing practices is preferred.
• Experience in insurance defense, litigation, or claims-related legal work is a plus.
• [OR] equivalent combination of education and relevant experience.

Knowledge, Skills, & Competencies

• Strong attention to detail and ability to identify discrepancies or inconsistencies in legal billing.
• Foundational understanding of legal terminology, litigation processes, and common activities performed by attorneys and paralegals.
• Ability to review legal time entries and develop an understanding of whether billed activities and time are reasonable in relation to the work performed.
• Analytical and critical-thinking skills with the ability to apply established billing guidelines consistently.
• Ability to communicate professionally and effectively with law firms, attorneys, claim examiners, and internal business partners.
• Ability to ask appropriate questions and seek clarification when billing entries or legal activities are unclear.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to organize and prioritize work while managing multiple invoices and matters.
• Foundational knowledge of Microsoft Office, including Outlook, Word, and Excel.
• Ability to learn and effectively utilize legal billing, invoice review, and claims management systems.

Compensation Overview

The base salary range for the position is listed below. Please note that the base salary is only one component of our robust total rewards package at RLI. The salary offered will take into account a number of factors including, but not limited to, geographic location, experience, scope & responsibilities of the role, qualifications/credentials, talent availability & specialization, as well as business needs. The below range may be modified in the future.

Base Pay Range $21.69 - $29.82

At RLI, we're all owners. We hire the best and the brightest employees and allow them to share in the company’s success through our Total Rewards. With the Employee Stock Ownership plan at its core, the Total Rewards program includes all compensation, benefits and perks that come with being an RLI employee.

Financial Incentives

• Annual bonus plans
• Employee stock ownership plan (ESOP)
• 401(k) — automatic 3% company contribution
• Annual 401k and ESOP profit-sharing contributions (Up to 15% of eligible earnings)

Work & Life

• Paid time off (PTO) and holidays
• Paid volunteer time off (VTO) to support our communities
• Parental and family care leave
• Flexible & hybrid work arrangements
• Fitness center discounts and free virtual fitness platform
• Employee assistance program

Health & Wellness

• Comprehensive medical, dental and vision benefits
• Flexible spending and health savings accounts
• 2x base salary for group life and AD&D insurance
• Voluntary life, critical illness, & accident insurance for purchase
• Short-term and long-term disability benefits

Personal & Professional Growth

RLI encourages its employees to pursue professional development work in insurance and job-related areas. We make a commitment to employees to provide educational opportunities that help them enhance their skills and further their career advancement. RLI fosters a true learning culture and encourages professional growth through insurance courses, in-house training and other educational programs. RLI covers the cost for most programs and employees typically earn a bonus upon successful completion of approved courses and certifications. Our personal and professional growth benefits include:

• Training & certification opportunities
• Tuition reimbursement
• Education bonuses

Diversity & Inclusion

Our goal is to attract, develop and retain the best employee talent from diverse backgrounds while promoting an environment where all viewpoints are valued and individuals feel respected, are treated fairly, and have an opportunity to excel in their chosen careers. We actively support, and participate in, initiatives led by the American Property Casualty Insurance Association that aim to increase diversity in the insurance industry. Cultivating an exceptional and diverse workforce to deliver excellent customer service reinforces our culture and is a key to achieving superior business results.

RLI is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate in hiring or employment on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, citizenship, gender, marital status, sexual orientation, age, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law.