Staff Legal Sr. Liability Trial Attorney- Houston

Zurich North America; Houston (TX); Hybrid; USD 150,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Incentive plan

401K match

Second 401K contribution

Flexible work options

Great culture

Job summary

Zurich North America is seeking an experienced Sr. Liability Trial Attorney to join our Staff Legal Team in Houston, with the flexibility to work from home and access to a local office.

You will represent insureds in General Liability litigation, handling a challenging caseload from investigation through trial. The ideal candidate has a JD and 7+ years in Litigation, strong negotiation, and excellent communication skills.

Qualifications

• Juris Doctor degree required.
• Active Texas State Bar membership in good standing.
• Experience with MS Office and Adobe software.

Responsibilities

• Represent commercial insureds in defense of General Liability matters and trials.
• Prepare and try moderate to high exposure cases from discovery through trial.
• Perform legal analysis, draft pleadings, and provide strategic advice.
• Conduct pre-trial discovery, hearings, and post-trial activities as needed.
• Mentor junior attorneys and provide leadership within the team.

Skills

Negotiation skills

Oral and written communication

Team collaboration

Education

Juris Doctor

Tools

Microsoft Office

Adobe

Lexis/Westlaw

Job description

Zurich is currently looking for an experienced Trial Attorney to join our Staff Legal Team in Houston with the flexibility of working from home while having access to a local office with support staff. This litigator will be responsible for representing the commercial insureds of a prestigious and financially stable commercial insurance carrier, by preparing and trying moderate to high exposure General Liability cases from a challenging and varied caseload.

If you are ready for a career move, consider working for a company with a global footprint that offers terrific benefits including an incentive plan, 401K match and a second 401K company contribution, flexible work options and a great culture.

This is an exciting opportunity to work for a well-respected Company and represent its insureds in all phases of litigation, while being part of a high-performing law office. The ideal candidate will engage in the practice of law at all times in compliance with the ethical standards established by the Federal Courts and Texas State Bar.

Duties of this position encompass all aspects of insurance defense, including initial investigation, legal analysis and advice, evaluating damages, preparing and filing legal pleadings and documents, performing legal research, preparing for and conducting pre-trial discovery, preparing for and aggressively handling hearings and trials, and conducting post-trial activities where appropriate.

The candidate 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. In addition, they will be expected to mentor less experienced attorneys and provide leadership and training across the organization.

Basic Qualifications for the Sr. Liability Trial Attorney:

• Juris Doctor and 7 or more years of experience in the Litigation area AND
• Member of the Texas State Bar in good standing
• 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

Preferred Qualifications:

• 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
• Strong negotiation skills
• Effective problem solving skills
• Experience working in a team-based environment
• Strong collaboration skills
• PC literate

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 proposed salary range for this position is $150,000.00 - $180,000.00, with short-term incentive bonus eligibility set at 15%.

We offer competitive pay and comprehensive benefits for employees and their families. [Learn more about Total Rewards here.]

Why Zurich?

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.

Location(s): AM - Houston, AM - Texas Virtual Office

Remote Working: Yes

Schedule: Full Time

Employment Sponsorship Offered: No