Associate Attorney II

A career at The Auto Club Group (ACG) can be satisfying, exciting and rewarding. By aligning your professional development with our business objectives, ACG can help you attain your career goals — and make a difference. Get started by choosing the career that’s right for you.

Detroit, MI

The Auto Club Group

AAA was founded over 100 years ago for the purpose of lobbying for driver and passenger rights, fair laws and safer vehicles — all to better promote the love of the open road and the adventure of driving. Since then, AAA has grown to over 50 million members strong, while providing valuable membership services such as roadside assistance. Additionally, AAA has broadened its horizons to include all types of travel-related services, as well as offer a variety of insurance and financial products and services. Today’s AAA is a national federation comprised of more than 50 individual clubs throughout the United States and Canada. Whether you’re traveling around the world or to the corner grocery store, planning a honeymoon or weekend road trip, learning to drive or in need of a battery boost, the best way to begin your journey is with AAA. http://michigan.aaa.com/

keywords: about acg,work environment,compensation,legal,management,protect,relationships,defense,analysis,legal,knowledge,professional,values,education,performance

Full-Time

Competitive Compensation and Benefits Package

Overview: <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;" align="left"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium;">The Auto Club Group (ACG) provides membership, travel, insurance, and financial services offerings to approximately 9 million members and customers across 11 states and 2 U.S. territories through the AAA, Meemic, and Fremont brands. ACG belongs to the national AAA federation and is the second-largest AAA club in North America. </span></p>
Responsibilities: <ul> <li>Under moderate supervision, handle litigation and cases of intermediate-level exposure and complexity in which the insured or the Company is a defendant.</li> <li>Develops and applies skills to control all aspects of litigation, including trial preparation, discovery, negotiation, presentation and appeals from District to Circuit Court.</li> <li>Reviews and analyzes files, insurance policies, all allegations and pertinent medical and technical data.</li> <li>Consults with medical and accident reconstruction specialists regarding injuries and disabilities.</li> <li>Prepares responses to civil complaints, files and answers any appropriate motions when questions of law or liability are in dispute.</li> <li>Determines feasibility of including third-party defendants in pending suits.</li> <li>Selects legal investigators and arranges for service of subpoenas and summonses.</li> <li>Files additional motions as facts of case and proper timing warrant.</li> <li>Conducts discovery depositions; formulates interrogatories.</li> <li>Under moderate supervision of a Practice Leader, conducts examinations under oath.</li> <li>Analyzes information obtained through discovery and determines whether settlement is appropriate within his/her authority according to the Company guidelines.</li> <li>Prepares case for trial, examining facts and developing trial strategy for construction of a strong defense. Participates in jury selection.</li> <li>Prepares and submits pre-trial statements; attends pre-trial hearings before judge.</li> <li>Conducts defense of case, including delivery of opening statement, examination and cross-examination of witnesses, makes and argues motions, confers with judges and attorneys, delivers closing argument; prepares trial brief which includes insured&rsquo;s defense, applicable law, and jury instructions, when appropriate.</li> <li>Prepares mediation summaries and appears before Mediation Tribunal to advocate defendant&rsquo;s case.</li> <li>Evaluates award and makes decision as to whether to accept or go to trial within his/her authority.</li> <li>Prepares uninsured motorist cases for arbitration hearings.</li> <li>Researches all pertinent documents and data; presents cases before arbitration tribunals.</li> <li>Keeps client advised of status of case in accordance with office guidelines and client satisfaction goals and consults with third-party clients regarding litigation against them, particularly as to its effect on their personal assets.</li> <li>Advises insured and refers to independent counsel to protect insured&rsquo;s assets in event of an &ldquo;over-limits&rdquo; judgment as required.</li> <li>Coordinates trial or settlement activity with co-counsel, as necessary, to protect interest of insured.</li> <li>Applies cost/benefit considerations to all litigation activity in conjunction with evaluation with supervisor. Negotiates reasonable and equitable pre-trial settlements on behalf of Company and insured, when and where possible.</li> <li>Consults with senior-level Attorneys on more complex cases when necessary.</li> <li>Recommends to Appeals Committee whether judgments should be appealed based upon facts of cases and chances of recovery.</li> <li>Prepares memorandums and presents cases to Appeals Committee or Executive Committee.</li> <li>Participates in Claims Legal Council Program on a regular basis.</li> <li>With approval from Practice Leader, renders legal advice and opinions to branch claim personnel as requested. My provide guidance to lower level Attorneys.</li> </ul>
Requirements: <p style="line-height: normal; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0pt;"><strong><strong><u><span>Preferred Qualifications:</span></u></strong></strong></p> <p style="line-height: normal; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0pt; mso-outline-level: 1;"><span>Knowledge of claims procedures and branch organizations.</span></p> <p style="line-height: normal; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0pt;"><strong><u><span>Work Environment:</span></u></strong></p> <p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; mso-outline-level: 1;"><span><span>Work in a temperature-controlled office environment. Willingness to work irregular or extended hours to meet professional responsibilities and deadlines.</span></span></p> <p><strong><u><span>Required Qualifications:</span></u></strong></p> <p><span><u>Education:</u></span></p> <ul> <li><span>Juris Doctor Degree or graduate of accredited law school</span></li> <li><span>Member of the State Bar of Michigan</span></li> </ul> <p><u><span><span>Experience must include;</span></span></u></p> <ul> <li><span>Trial experience at District and/or Circuit Court level to include two personal injury and/or insurance related cases tried to verdict, one as first-chair attorney.</span></li> <li><span>Personal injury legal experience of 18 months or more</span></li> </ul> <p><u><span><span>Knowledge and Skills:</span></span></u></p> <p><u><span><span>Knowledge of:</span></span></u></p> <ul> <li><span>Civil law, judicial procedures and rules of evidence</span></li> <li><span>Principles, methods, materials and practices of legal research</span></li> <li><span>Discovery methods and techniques</span></li> <li><span>Mediation rules, procedures and summaries</span></li> <li><span>Michigan No Fault law, including current, significant case law</span></li> <li><span>Tort liability law, including applicable theories of recovery and the appropriate defenses to those theories</span></li> <li><span>Insurance Law, including familiarity with Uniform Trade Practices Law &amp; Principles of bad faith actions</span></li> <li><span>Principles of insurance contract construction and interpretation</span></li> <li><span>Michigan Court Rules and motion practice</span></li> <li><span>Standard Jury instructions and drafting non-standard jury instructions where appropriate</span></li> <li><span>Professional ethics relating to relationship of house counsel to insured</span></li> </ul> <p><u><span><span>Ability to:</span></span></u></p> <ul> <li><span>Communicate effectively with other attorneys, court officers, the general public and others in a work environment</span></li> <li><span>Analyze, organize, and present facts, evidence and related materials effectively in both written and oral forms</span></li> <li><span>Utilize office computer software including claims litigation management systems</span></li> </ul> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>The Auto Club Group offers a competitive compensation and benefits package including a base salary with performance based incentives; medical/dental/vision insurance, 401(k), generous time off, a complimentary AAA Membership and much more!</p> <p><span><strong>Important Note:</strong>&nbsp;The above statements describe the principal and essential functions, but not all functions that may be inherent in the job. This job requires the ability to perform duties contained in the job description for this position, including, but not limited to, the above requirements. Reasonable accommodations will be made for otherwise qualified applicants, as needed, to enable them to fulfill these requirements.</span></p> <p>The Auto Club Group, and all of its affiliated companies, is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, disability or protected veteran status.</p>