Trial Attorney - Insurance Defense

Overview

Being good neighbors – helping people, investing in our communities, and making the world a better place – is who we are at State Farm. It is at the core of how we operate and the reason for our success. Come join a #1 team and do some good!

Grow Your Skills, Grow Your Potential


Responsibilities

As a Fortune 50 company, we hire the best employees to serve our customers, making us a leader in the insurance and financial services industry. In 2024, the Leadership Council on Legal Diversity named State Farm a Top Performer and Compass Award Winner. Additionally, Fortune named State Farm one of the World’s Most Admired Companies. 

Our mission is to provide high quality legal services in a cost-effective manner and to act as strategic thinking partners for our client and customers. To succeed, we need self-starters who are agile, creative, collaborative, strategic, passionate, and communicative.

James T. Shott & Associates, insurance staff counsel for State Farm Insurance Companies, is seeking Attorneys to join their expanding Costa Mesa Claim Litigation office. While every day can provide different experiences and opportunities, State Farm attorneys maintain their own caseload from inception to conclusion. The role involves case ownership, participating in litigation events, and meeting with clients. We encourage a collaborative environment where our attorneys can assist each other and have access to support staff while maintaining ownership of their files. As a result of not being billed by the hour, our attorneys have the opportunity to strategize on trial and case development as it passes through litigation. State Farm creates an environment inclusive of career development opportunities. The position is classified as a hybrid role, meaning the work arrangement calls for hours in the office and virtually. Everyone in a hybrid role is required to spend time in the office.  Work arrangements could change over time based on business needs. 
LOCATION: 611 Anton Boulevard, Suite 900, Costa Mesa, CA 92626

Responsibilities include, but are not limited to

• Handles litigation and other legal assignments in accordance with guidelines established by the Law Department
• Prepare and summarize reports for proceedings
• Trial strategy and case development
• Attends litigation events including trials, mediations, depositions, and hearings

Qualifications

• Previous Experience required
  • 2-15 years of civil trial litigation and jury trial experience preferably in the practice areas of insurance defense, medical malpractice, personal injury, or workers compensation
  • Significant criminal jury trial experience as first chair will be considered
• Key Skills required
  • Jury trial, mediation, and deposition experience
  • File ownership
  • Knowledge of local and state discovery rules, trial procedures, and applicable substantive law commensurate with level of experience
  • Effective written and oral communication skills
  • Ability to work in a team setting
• Technology/software experience required
  • Ability to work efficiently with cases in electronic form
  • Working knowledge of a Case Management system
  • Working Knowledge of a Document Storage system
• Education requirements including licenses and certifications
  • Must have an active law license to practice in the state of California and a member in good standing with the State Bar of California 

Additional Details

• Applicants are required to be eligible to lawfully work in the U.S. immediately. State Farm will not sponsor applicants for U.S. work opportunities
• Other than authorized and pro bono work, State Farm attorneys are not permitted to handle any legal business outside of State Farm and candidates must cease all outside practice and all suit involvement before joining State Farm
• Travel via personal or commercial transportation to job related activities is an essential function
• Irregular hours may be required
• For Los Angeles candidates: Pursuant to the Los Angeles Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring, we will consider employment qualified applicants with criminal histories
• For San Francisco candidates: Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records     

Our Benefits

State Farm values work-life balance and offers competitive compensation!

• Potential starting salary range: $129,250.00 - $180,000.00
• • Starting salary will be based on skills, background, and experience
  • High end of the range limited to applicants with significant relevant experience
• Potential yearly incentive pay with a target of 16% and maximum potential of 24% 

At State Farm, we offer more than just a paycheck. Check out our suite of benefits designed to give you the flexibility you need to take care of you and your family!

• Get Paid! On top of our competitive pay, you are eligible for an annual raise and bonus.
• Stay Well! Focus on you and your family’s health with our robust health and wellbeing programs. State Farm pays most of your healthcare premium, and we offer multiple healthcare plan options, including a high deductible plan. All medical plans provide 100% coverage for in-network preventative care, AND you and your family have access to vision, dental, telemedicine, 24/7 mental health professionals, and much more!
• Develop and Grow! Take advantage of educational benefits like industry leading training programs, top-notch tuition assistance programs, employee resource groups, and mentoring.
• Plan Ahead! Plan for those big moments in life with benefits like fertility/IVF/adoption assistance, college coaching, national discount programs, interactive monthly financial workshops, free financial coaching, and more. You can also start a savings account or consider financing through our State Farm Federal Credit Union!
• Take a Little “You” Time! You will have access to our generous time off policies designed so you can plan around holidays, family events, volunteering, or just to take a relaxing day off. With the opportunity to initially earn up to 20 days annually plus parental leave, paid holidays, celebration day, life leave (40 hours/year), bereavement leave, and community service/education support days, there will be plenty of time for you!
• Give Back! We offer several ways to give back through our Matching Gift Program, Good Neighbor Grant Program, and the Employee Assistance Fund.
• Finish Strong! Plan for retirement using free financial advisors and a 401(k) plan with company contributions of up to 7% of your salary.

Visit our State Farm Careers page for more information on our benefits, locations, and the hiring process of joining the State Farm team!

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