Claims Counsel/ Coverage Specialist

Job Title: Coverage Specialist

Location: Oak Brook, IL

About Us: At USLI, we’re not just about insurance — we are committed to making a difference, both internally and externally. Our community is built upon five values: Caring, Attitude, Respect, Empathy and Energy. Our commitment to these values leads us to make better decisions and furthers our true sense of community. By joining our team, you'll be part of a vibrant organization that values innovation, collaboration, and growth. Here, you’ll have the opportunity to shape the future of insurance and make a meaningful impact.

Your Role: You will use your legal expertise to provide guidance on coverage issues across various claim types. You will play a pivotal role in evaluating and analyzing coverage, overseeing coverage litigation, and providing legal opinions to claims personnel.

Key Responsibilities:

• Coverage evaluation: Identify, evaluate, and analyze coverage issues across Professional, Casualty, and Property claims
• Letter drafting: Draft comprehensive coverage and denial letters to ensure clarity in communication with policyholders and other stakeholders
• Litigation oversight: manage outside counsel in litigated matters
• Claims counsel: Serve as internal claims counsel to support claims adjusters and help resolve complex coverage matters
• Settlement negotiation: Proactively negotiate settlement of claims within evaluation and designated authority levels
• Legal research: Perform legal research and provide legal opinions to claims personnel. Keep abreast of insurance coverage case law, trends and experience and prepare summaries for dissemination of information within the company on coverage cases and trends
• Training: Develop and present training programs on legal coverage matters to internal claims teams
• Policy language development: Assist in drafting policy language, working closely with underwriting and corporate legal teams
• Travel: Occasional travel. Travel to attend arbitrations, mediations, settlement conferences, or trials, and participate in customer service visits as necessary

What You’ll Bring:

• Legal expertise: Juris Doctorate and a strong background in claims handling, claims counsel, or relevant legal experience
• Analytical skills: Ability to evaluate complex coverage issues and apply legal principles to claim situations
• Negotiation skills: Strong negotiation abilities to effectively resolve coverage disputes and manage settlements
• Communication skills: Excellent oral and written communication skills for drafting letters, providing legal opinions, and training staff
• Organizational skills: Ability to work independently, manage multiple cases simultaneously, and maintain efficient operations

Qualifications:

• Education: Juris Doctorate (JD)

• Experience: 3 to 7 years of law firm/litigation experience and/or 3-7 years of claims handling experience
• Technical skills: Good working knowledge of Westlaw and the ability to perform legal research efficiently

Passion and drive can be just as important as experience. If you’re excited about this opportunity, we’d love to hear from you!

Position affords 5 days per month to work remotely.

Salary Range: $75,000 - $115,000

What We Offer: One of the advantages of working at USLI is the competitive salary and benefits program we offer full-time and eligible part-time employees. Benefits include performance-based triannual bonuses, medical benefits paid at 100% for full-time employees and 80% for eligible part-time employees, a profit-sharing program, free lunch every day while onsite, and more than 450 annual personal and professional development courses. Explore more company benefits.

Why USLI? At USLI, we are committed to fostering a vibrant and inclusive community that celebrates the rich diversity of all ethnicities, nationalities, abilities, genders, gender identities, sexual orientations, ages, religions, socioeconomic backgrounds, and life experiences. We understand the importance of continuous learning, self-reflection, acknowledging our biases, and expanding our perspectives beyond our own. We actively encourage open dialogue on diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging to support a workplace where every individual feels valued, respected, and empowered to contribute at their fullest potential. Join us in building a diverse and inclusive environment where our shared values drive us toward excellence.

Pay: $65,000.00 - $115,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• Dental insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Health insurance
• Paid time off
• Tuition reimbursement
• Vision insurance

Work Location: In person

Salary : $65,000 - $115,000