Staff Counsel-Workers Compensation (California)

Overview

AmTrust North America seeks California-licensed attorneys who reside outside the State of California to represent AmTrust and its insureds in workers’ compensation matters pending before the California Workers’ Compensation Appeals Board (WCAB). Candidates must have at least 12 months of California workers’ compensation litigation experience. The position supports both full-time and part-time schedules. Counsel will appear at depositions, hearings, mediations, and other proceedings via secure video conference. The role demands competent, ethical, and diligent representation of AmTrust North America and its carriers in all assigned cases, including the preparation of pleadings, motions, discovery, trial preparation, arbitration, and appellate. work. This position requires efficient and creative management of a full phase litigation caseload.

Responsibilities

• Competently represents the Employer/Carrier before the Workers’ Compensation Appeals Board at administrative hearings, conferences, trials, and appeals on litigated and in pro per claims.
• Responsible for the prompt, efficient, and effective disposition of assigned cases.
• Appears remotely at depositions, cross-examinations, mediations, arbitrations, and other legal-driven activities outside of the WCAB.
• Analyzes complex legal and factual issues, conducts extensive legal research, and independently develops and presents defense strategies.
• Prepares pleadings, petitions, motions, correspondence, and briefs in support of defense strategies.
• Provides thorough and timely communication, information, legal advice, and other services to Claims, Underwriting, and employers on relevant legal and factual issues.
• Complies with AmTrust’s Litigation Management Guidelines with minimal supervision.
• Assists in developing training materials for Claims, Underwriting, and employers relevant to the application of current laws, practices, and trends in CA workers' compensation.
• Handles carve-out cases and is familiar with the practices and procedures of the Alternative Dispute Resolution Program (ADR).
• Communicates with Workers’ Compensation Judges, claims professionals, witnesses, opposing counsels, and clients in a manner consistent with established office procedures.
• Keeps current with market trends and demands. Attends continuing legal education seminars to maintain a high level of professional expertise.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Required Qualifications

• Licensed by the California State Bar.
• Strong technical knowledge and familiarity with the California Labor Code and Rules of Practice and Procedure, as well as current case law and their application.
• Ability to handle a caseload of up to 95 cases from inception to settlement and/or appellate level.
• 1+ year experience relevant to the practice of Workers’ Compensation.
• Strong working knowledge of EAMS, Lexis Advance, Microsoft Office.
• Trial and/or arbitration experience consistent with the years of experience above.
• Appellate experience consistent with the years of experience above.
• Technical ability to appear remotely at WCAB district offices and other legal venues in order to represent AmTrust’s interests and those of its insureds.

Preferred Qualifications

• Specialization in California Workers’ Compensation Law.
• Experience in Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR).
• Strong working knowledge of Legal Case Management system

The expected salary range for this role is $135,000-$175,000/year.

Please note that the salary information shown above is a general guideline only. Salaries are based upon a wide range of factors considered in making the compensation decision, including, but not limited to, candidate skills, experience, education and training, the scope and responsibilities of the role, as well as market and business considerations.

What We Offer

AmTrust Financial Services offers a competitive compensation package and excellent career advancement opportunities. Our benefits include: Medical & Dental Plans, Life Insurance, including eligible spouses & children, Health Care Flexible Spending, Dependent Care, 401k Savings Plans, Paid Time Off.

AmTrust strives to create a diverse and inclusive culture where thoughts and ideas of all employees are appreciated and respected. This concept encompasses but is not limited to human differences with regard to race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, culture, religion or disabilities.

AmTrust values excellence and recognizes that by embracing the diverse backgrounds, skills, and perspectives of its workforce, it will sustain a competitive advantage and remain an employer of choice. Diversity is a business imperative, enabling us to attract, retain and develop the best talent available. We see diversity as more than just policies and practices. It is an integral part of who we are as a company, how we operate and how we see our future.