Litigation Associate, General Liability Defense

Distinct | North America; Tampa (FL); Hybrid; USD 125,000 - 200,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work arrangement

Own your own files

Job summary

Distinct Recruitment in Tampa is seeking a Litigation Associate for an insurance defense firm focusing on general liability. You will own a docket and manage your own files, with partners providing supervision but not taking the core work.

The role targets 2+ years of litigation experience, a hybrid work pattern in Tampa, and a salary range of $125,000 to $200,000. You will work closely with carriers and insured clients on a variety of liability matters.

Qualifications

• 2+ years of litigation experience.
• Experience in general liability or insurance defense is beneficial.

Responsibilities

• Arguing motions and attending hearings.
• Leading mediations.
• Trial preparation and time in the courtroom.
• Day-to-day contact with carriers and insured clients.
• Manage own docket and files with partner support.

Skills

Litigation experience

Client communication

Job description

Litigation Associate | Tampa, FL | $125,000 to $200,000 | General Liability

1,900 billable hours. I'm putting the number in the first line because it's the question most associates are too polite to ask until the third interview.

Here's the rest of it, just as plainly.

I'm Ryan Jaiswal of Distinct Recruitment. I'm hiring a Litigation Associate for an insurance defense firm in Tampa, working on general liability defense.

The numbers

• Salary: $125,000 to $200,000. Wide on purpose, to cover mid level associates through to counsel level attorneys
• Billables: 1,900 a year
• Working pattern: hybrid, based in Tampa
• Experience: 2+ years of litigation

The work

• Premises liability, negligent security, products and commercial general liability claims
• A docket of your own, not a share of someone else's
• Arguing motions and attending hearings
• Leading mediations
• Trial preparation and time in the courtroom
• Day to day contact with carriers and insured clients

The exposure

This is the part I'd underline. The firm wants associates to own their files. That means you're the one the adjuster calls, the one who drafts the strategy report and the one standing up at the hearing. Partners supervise and support, but they don't take the interesting parts away from you. For someone with two or three years behind them, that's the difference between learning litigation and watching it.

For more senior associates, it means a practice where your judgment is trusted and you can build relationships with clients that are genuinely yours.

The people who do well

• Associates who like responsibility and handle it calmly
• Lawyers who prepare properly and enjoy being on their feet
• People who communicate well with clients, because carriers notice
• Anyone who has been told "next year" about trial experience more than once

Why Tampa

The Tampa Bay insurance defense market is lively, the work is varied and the lifestyle still makes sense. A hybrid general liability seat here gives you a strong practice and a life outside it.

The numbers once more

1,900 hours. $125,000 to $200,000. Hybrid in Tampa. Your own files. That's the deal.