Insurance litigation attorneys work on cases that may involve a settlement from an insurance company on behalf of an individual or group. Workers' compensation claims and car accidents are just some of the cases that would be addressed by an insurance litigation attorney.
Essential Information
Insurance litigation attorneys handle many different types of insurance-based claims. They can be either prosecutors or defense attorneys. Cases might include workers' compensation claims, car accidents or wrongful death claims. Insurance attorneys are required to have the educational background required for any lawyer, which includes a Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree and licensure by passing their state's bar.
| Required Education | Juris Doctor |
| Licensing | Obtain law license by passing state bar examination |
| Projected Job Growth (2014-2024)* | 6% for all lawyers |
| Median Salary (2015)* | $115,820 for all lawyers |
Source: * U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS)
Jobs Duties of an Insurance Litigation Attorney
Many different types of insurance litigation attorneys perform various tasks on specific cases. For example, insurance subrogation lawyers deal with things such as workers' compensation, group health, and uninsured motorist lawsuits. Insurance defense lawyers handle cases regarding car accidents, asbestosis claims, and wrongful deaths. Insurance coverage litigation attorneys cover both defense and prosecution cases having to do with commercial risk policies, insurance contracts, and environmental coverage.
All insurance attorneys are required to be involved in mitigation insurance law cases and perform case investigation along with his or her aides. Case investigation includes assembling facts and evidence to support their claims. Additionally, insurance litigation attorneys may be hired to oversee the writing of new contracts to ensure that they are legally sound.
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Insurance Litigation Attorney Salary Information
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), lawyers in general earned a median salary of $115,820 in 2015. The middle-half of lawyers earned between $76,300 and $174,280 or more per year.
Requirements to be an Insurance Litigation Attorney
Insurance litigation attorneys must begin on the same educational path as any other lawyer, which usually takes seven years of work after graduating high school. While a pre-law degree is not necessary to enroll in law school, undergraduates should focus on courses, which will help them become an attorney, such as English, economics, and history. After graduating from a bachelor's degree, aspiring insurance attorneys must pass the Law School Admission Test (LSAT) and apply to J.D.-granting schools accredited by the American Bar Association (ABA).
Licensure is also required for insurance litigation attorneys, which is acquired by passing a written bar examination and usually a written ethics examination as well. After passing the bar exam, lawyers can specialize by working for a firm that is dedicated to insurance litigation.
Insurance litigation attorneys are highly trained professionals with several years of postsecondary education. Aspiring attorneys enter law school after completing a bachelor's degree. When they graduate from law school, they must pass the state bar exam.
