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Mercury Insurance · 16 hours ago

Attorney III - Insurance Defense

California, United States

Full-time

Hybrid

Mid, Senior Level

$106K/yr - $254K/yr

5+ years exp

Mercury Insurance is consistently recognized for its achievements and culture, including being named one of America's Best Midsize Employers for 2025. The Attorney III will manage a caseload defending complex personal injury lawsuits, handling cases from inception through posttrial motions, and mentoring junior attorneys.

Insurance

Responsibilities

Essential job functions include a comprehensive review of new and transfer file assignments with initial evaluation letter to claims and service of initial discovery within 30 days of receipt of assignment

Summarizing discovery responses and medical records within 30 days of receipt

Taking and defending depositions of parties, lay witnesses, and expert witnesses and completion of deposition summaries within 20 days

Law and motion: legal research; preparation of motions, oppositions and replies to motion; court appearance at law and motion

Trial preparation, trial and posttrial motions. This includes but is not limited to preparation of pretrial documents, motions in limine and oppositions thereto; all facets of a jury trial, trial motions and posttrial motions

This position includes accepting file transfers on cases set for trial in the next 30-60 days

Mentoring of lesser experienced attorneys and other miscellaneous tasks as may be necessary to adequately defend the insured including assignments from managing and senior managing attorneys

Qualification

Insurance defense experienceTrial practiceCivil procedureAnalytical skillsEffective communicationPersuasion skillsOrganizational skillsIndependent work

Required

Requires a law degree and admission to the bar in the state(s) were practicing

5+ years of insurance defense or related experience

Experience as the primary attorney defending high exposure cases including but not limited to completed surgeries

10+ insurance defense personal injury trials to verdict or equivalent litigation experience

Comprehensive knowledge of insurance, torts, evidence, civil procedure, and trial practice

Effective communication, persuasion and analytical skills

Requires considerable automobile travel, up to 20% of work time

Must meet established company standards regarding personal driving history and current license status to be eligible for position

Must be able to work independently with minimum direction and good organizational skills necessary to manage a caseload of exposures up to $500,000

Preferred

Requires a law degree from a state accredited or ABA accredited law school and admission to the bar in the state(s) were practicing

10+ years of insurance defense experience; 3+ years of experience as the primary attorney defending higher exposure cases including but not limited to completed surgeries

Preferred 20 insurance defense personal injury trials to verdict 5 of which involved high exposure cases

Exceptional communication, use of persuasion and analytical skills

Advanced knowledge of insurance, tort, evidence, civil procedure, and trial practice