Workers' Compensation Associate Managing Counsel

Travelers; Walnut Creek (CA); On-site; USD 153,700 - 253,700; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health Insurance

401(k) Matching Retirement Plan

Paid Time Off

Job summary

Travelers is seeking an Associate Managing Attorney in Walnut Creek, CA to lead a team of attorneys delivering high-quality and proactive case handling for our insured customers.

You will recruit, retain, develop, and manage staff performance, apply litigation expertise, and drive cost-effective results while upholding Travelers’ values and local focus.

This role offers leadership, professional growth, and a national legal framework with local impact.

Qualifications

• Juris Doctorate or equivalent International legal degree; graduate of an accredited law school.
• Active license to practice law in the required state(s) and status in good standing.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage the office within the line of business, practice group or satellite office, including acting as backup for Managing Counsel in absence of Managing Counsel.
• Ensure that the line of business provides outstanding advocacy to clients and achieves excellent results on own cases and those assigned to Counsel within the practice group.
• Assist in managing the office to meet all financial expectations of the program.
• Responsible for talent management, including staffing, performance management, engagement, development and compensation.
• Drive and promote a culture of inclusion, engagement, integrity, and teamwork.
• Assign cases to Staff Counsel, matching experience and skills.
• Maintain caseload expectations and ensure timely, quality work products.
• Develop and implement strategies to address development opportunities and conduct training.
• Maintain high standards of client service and quality reviews.
• Assist with office and Staff Counsel program initiatives; participate in regional and national projects.
• Ensure ethical standards and compliance across offices.
• Handle a caseload as determined with Managing Counsel.
• Collaborate to use management information to drive performance and cost-effectiveness.
• Submit required reports and time/expense documentation.

Skills

Trial experience

Superior writing

Legal advocacy

Change leadership

Integrity

Team collaboration

Communication to partners

Influential presentations

Feedback for under-performers

Strategic thinking

Education

Juris Doctorate or equivalent law degree

Active license to practice law

Tools

None

Job description

Who Are We?

Taking care of our customers, our communities and each other. That’s the Travelers Promise. By honoring this commitment, we have maintained our reputation as one of the best property casualty insurers in the industry for over 170 years. Join us to discover a culture that is rooted in innovation and thrives on collaboration. Imagine loving what you do and where you do it.

Job Category

Claim, Legal

Compensation Overview

The annual base salary range provided for this position is a nationwide market range and represents a broad range of salaries for this role across the country. The actual salary for this position will be determined by a number of factors, including the scope, complexity and location of the role; the skills, education, training, credentials and experience of the candidate; and other conditions of employment. As part of our comprehensive compensation and benefits program, employees are also eligible for performance-based cash incentive awards.

Salary Range

$153,700.00 - $253,700.00

Target Openings

1

What Is the Opportunity?

Are you committed to professional growth and exceptional client service? Imagine a career as a Travelers lawyer where you can be the best you. As an Associate Managing Attorney with Travelers you'll be responsible for leading and managing a group of lawyers in the delivery of high quality and proactive case handling results for Travelers' insured customers. Responsible for recruitment, retention, development and performance management of assigned staff. As a technical line of business expert, you will have the opportunity to use your legal expertise and litigation skills to independently handle an appropriate number of moderate to complex legal matters and deliver optimal results for Travelers' insured customers. Travelers offers the strength of a national legal organization committed to your professional development while maintaining a local focus so you can be positioned as a strong legal advocate and valued business partner.

What Will You Do?

• Your responsibilities will include:


• Lead and manage the office within the line of business, practice group or satellite office, including acting as backup for Managing Counsel in absence of Managing Counsel.


• Ensure that the line of business, practice group or satellite provides outstanding advocacy to clients and achieves excellent results on own cases and those assigned to Counsel within the practice group.


• Assist in managing the office to meet all financial expectations of the program. Ensures office compliance with Staff Counsel reporting requirements, including monthly reports, productivity standards, Code of Conduct and company ethics initiatives and office best practices.


• Responsible for all talent management, including but not limited to staffing, performance management, ensuring engagement, professional development and compensation.


• Drive and promote a culture of inclusion, engagement, integrity, and teamwork designed to lead to successful and cost-effective results.


• Assign cases and initiatives to assigned Staff Counsel, matching experience, knowledge and skill level of attorneys, while adhering to specialization philosophy and established procedures.


• Maintain caseload expectations set by Managing Counsel, ensuring completion of, initial case analysis, litigation plans, case evaluations, summaries, legal research, pretrial reports, trial reports and other required items (all case handling guidelines) in a timely and quality manner.


• Develop and implement strategies to address any identified office development opportunities including prompt follow up and resolution of issues. Conduct training as needed.


• Maintain high quality standards and ensure excellent service to clients/customers by employing methods and strategies commensurate with the provision of high quality legal and customer services. Review files monthly focusing on quality as articulated on Quality Review Form. Use file review database. Provide feedback and coaching to attorneys.


• Assist with initiatives within the office and throughout the Staff Counsel program. Achieve desired results through effective advocacy and trial skills.


• Ensure clients are counseled effectively through prompt and appropriate communication, sharing expertise and legal advice to clients and other business partners on legal matters and changes in the law.


• Assist Managing Counsel in ensuring the office(s) adheres to high ethical standards of professionalism and integrity.


• Ensure office(s) compliance with all elements of Staff Counsel expectations.


• Handle an appropriate caseload as determined in consultation with the Managing Counsel.


• Support and collaborate with Managing Counsel around the analysis and utilization management information to drive performance and execute upon value proposition strategies, utilizing office resources and technology to assure a smooth workflow and cost effectiveness.


• Complete and submit all required reports, time records, expense reimbursements requests and other materials appropriate to performance of job duties in a timely manner.


• Serve as part of the Staff Counsel Leadership team by providing meaningful and thoughtful input to program‑wide initiatives and by chairing committees on selected projects, participates in Regional Reviews and handles national projects, attend management meetings and contributes to Staff Counsel Program initiatives, as requested by Regional Counsel or Head of Staff Counsel.


• Understands the external legal, business and tort environment and keeps current on trends and issues affecting our business.


• Perform other duties as assigned.

What Will Our Ideal Candidate Have?

• Trial experience.


• Superior writing skills.


• Strong lawyering skills, including trial skills.


• Strong change leadership skills; ability to describe business rationale for change and gain understanding and adoption across a large and diverse organization.


• Demonstrates personal integrity and adherence to a high degree of professionalism and ethical competency.


• Strong ability to collaborate in a team environment.


• Ability to prepare and present information and advice in a clear, concise, logical and well‑organized manner to variety of business partners.


• Influential presentation skills that thoroughly demonstrate business acumen.


• Proven ability to influence at all levels and to develop effective strategies and implement/execute on those strategies.


• Utilizes and promotes the use of technology, leverages and maintains a level of proficiency with job‑related technologies.


• Demonstrates personal accountability that influences the team to perform in a similar manner.


• Exhibits relentless drive to meet deadlines and expectations.


• Superior business, legal and financial acumen.


• Encourages constructive problem solving.


• Continually challenges status quo.


• Ability to effectively provide direct feedback and effectively manage under performers.


• Proven change management skills.


• Organizational credibility.


• Focuses on big picture and long‑term business and/or product line goals.

What is a Must Have?

• Juris Doctorate or equivalent International legal degree; graduate of an accredited law school.


• 7 years of experience as a practicing attorney.


• Prior project leadership and/or demonstrated informal or actual management experience.


• Active license (in good standing) to practice law in the state(s) in which representation is required.


• Regularly handles hearings, trials, dispositive motion arguments, depositions or other court proceedings and has the ability to transport to those meetings. Valid driver's license required depending on the location.

What Is in It for You?

• Health Insurance:Employees and their eligible family members – including spouses, domestic partners, and children – are eligible for coverage from the first day of employment.


• Retirement:Travelers matches your 401(k) contributions dollar-for-dollar up to your first 5% of eligible pay, subject to an annual maximum. If you have student loan debt, you can enroll in the Paying it Forward Savings Program. When you make a payment toward your student loan, Travelers will make an annual contribution into your 401(k) account. You are also eligible for a Pension Plan that is 100% funded by Travelers.


• Paid Time Off:Start your career at Travelers with a minimum of 20 days Paid Time Off annually, plus nine paid company Holidays.


• Wellness Program:The Travelers wellness program is comprised of tools, discounts and resources that empower you to achieve your wellness goals and caregiving needs. In addition, our mental health program provides access to free professional counseling services, health coaching and other resources to support your daily life needs.


• Volunteer Encouragement:We have a deep commitment to the communities we serve and encourage our employees to get involved. Travelers has a Matching Gift and Volunteer Rewards program that enables you to give back to the charity of your choice.

Employment Practices

Travelers is an equal opportunity employer. We value the unique abilities and talents each individual brings to our organization and recognize that we benefit in numerous ways from our differences.

In accordance with local law, candidates seeking employment in Colorado are not required to disclose dates of attendance at or graduation from educational institutions.

If you are a candidate and have specific questions regarding the physical requirements of this role, please send us an email so we may assist you.

Travelers reserves the right to fill this position at a level above or below the level included in this posting.

To learn more about our comprehensive benefit programs please visit http://careers.travelers.com/life-at-travelers/benefits/.