What are the responsibilities and job description for the Associate Attorney - Insurance Defense (Pre-Litigation) position at Direct Counsel?
Glendale, CA
Full-Time | Onsite
Direct Counsel is seeking a Junior Associate Attorney to join a well-established California law firm specializing in Insurance Defense Pre-Litigation. This is an outstanding opportunity for a newly licensed attorney or someone with up to one year of experience looking to build a strong foundation in insurance defense while receiving mentorship from experienced litigators.
The ideal candidate is eager to learn, highly organized, and interested in developing litigation and case management skills within a collaborative and supportive environment.
Responsibilities
- Review and analyze insurance claims, policies, and supporting documentation to evaluate coverage and liability issues
- Conduct legal research using Westlaw and other legal research platforms
- Draft pleadings, motions, correspondence, reports, and other legal documents
- Assist with the management of insurance defense and pre-litigation matters
- Prepare cases for depositions, mediations, settlement negotiations, and litigation
- Organize case files and maintain accurate documentation
- Communicate with clients, insurance adjusters, opposing counsel, and other parties throughout the life of a matter
- Support senior attorneys in developing legal strategy and resolving claims efficiently
- Monitor deadlines and ensure timely completion of assignments
Qualifications
- J.D. from an accredited law school
- Active California Bar membership in good standing
- 0–1 year of legal experience
- Interest in insurance defense, civil litigation, or pre-litigation practice
- Strong legal research, writing, and analytical skills
- Experience using Westlaw or similar legal research tools
- Excellent organizational and time-management abilities
- Strong interpersonal and communication skills
- Ability to work independently while collaborating effectively with a team
- Detail-oriented with a proactive approach to problem-solving
Compensation & Benefits
- Salary: $110,000 annually
- Annual salary reviews
- Performance-based bonus program
- 401(k) with profit sharing
- Health insurance
- Life insurance
- Three weeks of paid time off
- Long-term career growth and mentorship opportunities
Why This Opportunity
- Excellent opportunity for a newly licensed attorney to gain hands-on experience
- Work closely with experienced insurance defense attorneys in a collaborative environment
- Receive meaningful mentorship and professional development
- Handle substantive legal work from the beginning of your career
- Stable, long-term opportunity with competitive benefits and advancement potential
Schedule: Full-time, fully onsite in Glendale, California.
Salary : $110,000