Counsel

NORCAL Mutual originated as a physician-owned and directed company to meet the needs of physicians during a time when access to professional liability was scarce. As a leader in the industry for over 30 years, NORCAL Mutual has fought for physician rights and tort reform to ensure the availability of affordable coverage now and in the future.

Reports to the SVP, Chief Compliance and Legal Officer, and Corporate Secretary. Provides legal coverage advice to Claims department of NORCAL Mutual Insurance Company and its subsidiaries (collectively, “NORCAL Group” or “Company”).This position can be based in any of the following locations: California, Pennsylvania, or Texas.

**Essential Functions:** Individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The essential functions listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required with or without reasonable accommodation. * Provides legal advice and legal review to the Company’s Claims Department. This position is primarily focused on supporting Claims on coverage issues, review and advice on pending and potential claims, and employee training to ensure the highest quality of claims handling. * Serves as a primary resource to our national Claims team on coverage reviews. Reviews and revises most reservations of rights and denials for Claims. Advises Claims on state-specific issues, including recommendations for filing declaratory judgment actions and appointing independent counsel. Contributes to Claims round-table discussions by advising on coverage issues, and separately coordinates with Senior Counsel responsible for management of bad faith litigation to advise as to emerging issues. * Works closely with Senior Counsel responsible for management of corporate and extra-contractual litigation to provide substantive input into content declaratory judgments, pleadings, and motions, as well as providing status reports and strategy recommendations to management. In coordination with such Senior Counsel, may participate in the defense of NORCAL Group in litigation, or act as liaison between outside counsel and the Company. * Contributes to NORCAL Group’s success by identifying trends within Claims department, including synthesizing data regarding coverage disputes. * Identifies topics, creates content, and provides at least quarterly training to Claims and other internal client groups, as appropriate. * Responsible for identifying current coverage trends and changes in law; creating and managing database of same; and communicating relevant information to impacted individuals in Claims. This will include researching, studying, and interpreting laws, court decisions, regulations, and other legal authorities to advise Claims on legal matters and in an attempt to mitigate exposure to litigation. * Reviews and assists in drafting company letters, corporate department manuals, other legal instruments, and marketing materials, as necessary. * Oversight of assigned budget for outside counsel expenses. * Preparation of quarterly and annual reports, including related Enterprise Risk Management reporting regarding Claims litigation. * Performs other duties as assigned. **Fiscal Responsibilities:** * Annual Budgets **Supervisory Responsibilities:** * N/A **Expenses:** * Employees must be able to pay for certain business expenses in advance. Examples include such items as airline tickets, rental cars, hotel deposits, seminar registrations, etc. Employees are eligible for reimbursement for such expenses through NORCAL’s Expense Reimbursement Policy. **Non-Essential Functions:** * N/A

**Physical/Environmental Working Conditions:** * General office environment which requires the following physical activities: standing, sitting for prolonged periods of time up to 7.5 hours per day, walking up to 4 hours per day, bending and reaching up to two hours per day, lifting up to 15 pounds on a regular basis, finger dexterity, grasping, repetitive motions, talking, hearing and visual acuity. * Exposure to LCD on a daily basis. * A moderate noise level is usual. **Education:** * Juris Doctor Degree, with license to practice law in one or more U.S. jurisdictions, and, if not licensed in the state in which the position is filled (California, Texas, or Pennsylvania), registered as in-house counsel with the state bar. **Experience Required:** * Approximately 5-7 years of comparable experience in property and casualty insurance law, preferably with at least some of that experience in an in-house counsel position. **Skills Required:** * Ability to work under pressure to meet deadlines. * Ability to travel * Ability to work independently without direction or supervision. * Must be able to manage a multitude of projects simultaneously and exercise independent judgment in solving complex problems. * Prepare and effectively present comprehensive reports and recommendations. * Establishes and maintains effective working relationships with NORCAL management team.