Sr. Trial Attorney - McAllen, TX (Remote)

Value of Working at Client Legal Services

•    Provide great service to our clients and policy holders in their time of need to make a difference
•    Great place to learn to try cases and handle litigation
•    Ability to feel empowered to handle your own docket 

Job Summary:

Represents insureds and the Company in the defense of bodily injury and property damage lawsuits. Prepares for and conducts hearings, trials, arbitrations, mediations, and depositions. Prepares and argues pre and post-trial motions. Assists colleagues in the resolution of calendar conflicts.  Provides counsel to business clients on day-to-day issues.  Provides coordination and collaboration between legal teams. Monitors and reviews new laws, regulations, and case law; identifies and summarizes relevant issues; collaborates with other areas of Law & Regulation department; proactively provides advice and counsel to business unit on the impact of new laws on  active cases. While this is a remote position, it is imperative that the candidate be located in or near the McAllen area for various in person appearances (trials, hearings, depositions and mediations)

Key Responsibilities:

• Review new file assignments and approve  initial pleadings, propound discovery, and/or develop strategy
• Contacts clients to discuss their case and answer any questions.Maintains contact at a minimum of 90 days
• Contact claims (initial litigation plan, recurring minimum 90 day contact, strategy conferences, etc.)
• Review all documentary evidence
• Prepares witnesses and clients  for depositions, arbitrations, mediations and trials including expert witnesses
• Conducts depositions and examinations under oath and prepares summary documents
• Prepares and conducts court appearances (matter management conferences, hearings, status conferences, etc.)
• Conducts settlement/dispositive proceedings (e.g. mediations, arbitrations, etc.)
• Try and/or arbitrate cases and prepares motions in liminie and summary documents
• Draft post-trial motions
• Provide legal opinions to claims clients
• Manages cases

Supervisory Responsibilities:

Knowledge/Skills/Abilities/Experience

• Juris Doctorate degree and member in good standing of Texas State Bar
• Some Insurance Defense, Subrogation and/or Personal Injury litigation experience preferred
• Trial and/or Arbitration experience is preferred, with flexibility to work across several disciplines that may include SIU and UM/UIM.
• SIU experience is a plus.
• Computer skills required; experience with Microsoft Office, Lexis, Teams, Adobe Acrobat and the internet
• Ability to work well with others on a team of attorneys, paralegals, administrative assistants, supervised by an attorney Lead Counsel
• Must be able to handle an active and evolving caseload
• Excellent verbal, written and interpersonal skills are key to working with a variety of internal and external contacts as well as for preparing reports, pleadings, and correspondence, collaborating with others, etc. Will work independently as well as part of a cohesive team.
• Ability to travel to and from in person appointments such as depositions, mediations, hearings, and trials
• Periodically lifting in excess of 20 pounds throughout the day, depending on court matters being handled. Attorneys are required to cover court matters for each other; attorneys have laptops.
• Bending to pick up the computer bag which sometimes is more than 20 pounds, entering and exiting a vehicle, maneuvering files and computer at security checkpoints
• Turning and twisting at work
• Driving at least 40-50 miles daily depending on the activities being covered such as court, doctors’ depositions, discovery depositions, and case evaluations, etc.
• Sitting for pro-longed periods of time en route to court, in court or at court proceedings, depositions, etc.
• Walking and rolling brief case with files from vehicle to the legal proceeding and/or deposition and facilitations, etc.
• Trial preparation could require lifting in excess 20 lbs. because of exhibits, materials, records from plaintiff, etc.  These materials are printed for some proceedings.
• Regular, predictable attendance is an essential function of this job.

Notes:

The preceding description is not designed to be a complete list of all duties and responsibilities. May be required to perform other related duties as assigned. Regular, predictable attendance is an essential function of this job.