Description:

Position Overview:
We are seeking an experienced Pre-Litigation Personal Injury Attorney to join our Los Angeles office with a primary focus on settlement negotiations and maximizing case value.

In this role, you will work closely with our case management team to evaluate and develop personal injury claims and negotiate directly with insurance carriers to achieve the best possible settlements for our clients. You will review case facts, medical treatment, damages, liability, and supporting documentation to determine case value and develop effective negotiation strategies.

The ideal candidate is a confident and skilled negotiator who understands California personal injury law and knows how to position a case for maximum recovery. You should be highly organized, detail-oriented, proactive, and comfortable working in a fast-paced environment. This position offers an opportunity for a motivated attorney to make an immediate impact while continuing to develop their knowledge and experience in personal injury litigation and trial work.

This is a full-time position based onsite at our Westwood headquarters. It is not hybrid or remote.

Key Responsibilities:

Manage and negotiate a portfolio of pre-litigation personal injury cases with a primary focus on obtaining favorable settlements.
Manage a pre-litigation caseload while maintaining exceptional client service, timely case progression, and strategic focus on maximizing case value.
Evaluate liability, injuries, medical treatment, damages, insurance coverage, and other factors affecting case value.
Identify applicable insurance coverage, policy limits, additional insured coverage, uninsured/underinsured motorist benefits, and other available avenues of recovery.
Develop settlement strategies designed to maximize recovery for each client.
Negotiate directly with insurance adjusters and carriers from initial offers through final resolution.
Review and analyze medical records, bills, evidence, reports, and other documentation to support settlement demands.
Evaluate complex injuries and damages, including catastrophic injury, traumatic brain injury, wrongful death, and other high-exposure matters, when applicable.
Draft, prepare, review, and finalize comprehensive settlement demand packages and supporting materials designed to maximize recovery and effectively present liability, damages, and future exposure.
Work closely with case managers to identify missing information, strengthen claims, and maximize the value of each case.
Conduct regular case review meetings with case managers to assess progress, case value, and negotiation strategy.
Communicate with clients regarding case status, settlement negotiations, offers, and resolution.
Advise clients regarding settlement offers and assist in determining appropriate resolution strategies.
Exercise independent judgment in evaluating settlement authority, recommending settlement strategy, and advising clients regarding risks and potential outcomes.
Negotiate and settle cases when appropriate, and identify liability disputes, damages issues, coverage defenses, policy limit concerns, or settlement impasses that warrant escalation to litigation. Collaborate with litigation counsel to ensure a smooth transition of qualifying matters.
Direct and support investigation of assigned pre-litigation matters as needed.
Prepare and draft legal documents and correspondence on behalf of clients.
Follow up on settlement disbursements and ensure cases are properly concluded.
Identify and coordinate resolution of liens, subrogation interests, Medicare, Medi-Cal, ERISA, and other reimbursement claims impacting settlement distributions.
Maintain accurate and comprehensive case notes, correspondence, negotiations, and settlement activity in the firm's case management system.
Oversee case progression and ensure timely completion of all responsibilities necessary to move matters efficiently toward resolution.

Qualifications & Experience:

Minimum of 2 years of personal injury pre-litigation experience, with strong settlement negotiation experience.
J.D. degree required.
Active and in good standing with the California State Bar.
Strong understanding of California insurance coverage issues, policy limit investigations, lien resolution, and settlement-related legal considerations.
Experience handling significant bodily injury claims and negotiating complex or high-value settlements preferred.
Strong understanding of California personal injury law.
Demonstrated ability to evaluate personal injury claims and negotiate settlements for maximum value.
Strong knowledge of medical treatment, medical records, damages, and the role of medical experts in personal injury cases.
Ability to assess when a case should be resolved through settlement versus referred to litigation.
Experience evaluating policy limits, excess exposure, comparative fault, venue considerations, and litigation risk factors is highly desirable.
Experience with litigation and trial preparation is a plus.
Strong written and verbal communication skills.
Excellent organizational and time-management skills.
Strong technology skills and ability to learn new case management software quickly.

Who You Are:

An exceptional negotiator: You are confident at the negotiation table and understand how to strategically position a case to achieve the strongest possible result.
Results-driven: You are motivated by achieving meaningful outcomes for clients and maximizing the value of every case.
Business-minded: You understand the financial and strategic drivers behind successful case resolution and consistently seek opportunities to maximize case outcomes.
Analytical: You can quickly evaluate liability, medical treatment, damages, insurance coverage, and other factors to determine the strengths and weaknesses of a claim.
Strategic thinker: You understand how to build leverage, position claims effectively, and negotiate from a position of strength.
Resourceful and proactive: You take ownership of your cases, identify what needs to be done, and take action without waiting to be asked.
Highly detail-oriented: You understand that the details matter and are meticulous when reviewing records, damages, demands, and settlement offers.
Client-focused: You are committed to providing excellent client service while advocating strongly for each client's interests.
A strong communicator: You communicate clearly and professionally with clients, insurance representatives, case managers, attorneys, and other team members.
Adaptable under pressure: You thrive in a fast-paced environment where priorities can change quickly and deadlines matter.
Collaborative: You work well with case managers and other members of the team to develop strong cases and achieve the best possible outcomes.
Technology-savvy: You are comfortable using case management systems and can quickly learn new technology and software.
Ambitious and growth-oriented: You are eager to deepen your personal injury knowledge and have the opportunity to grow from pre-litigation settlement work into litigation and trial.
Positive and team-oriented: You bring professionalism, energy, and a positive attitude to the workplace—and you believe work should be rewarding and enjoyable.