Senior Legal Counsel

Job summary

Manage complex Alberta insurance defence litigation files, including bodily injury, commercial liability, and property loss matters. Provide strategic legal advice and mentor junior counsel to ensure effective trial preparation and advocacy.

Job details

As a Senior Legal Counsel in Calgary, you will provide senior-level in-house litigation services for complex property and casualty insurance matters in Alberta, with a focus on bodily injury, commercial liability, property loss and/or subrogation claims. This role is intended for an experienced Alberta litigation lawyer who can assume carriage of complex files, develop and execute strategy, and independently conduct trials, applications, questionings, mediations, Judicial Dispute Resolutions, pre-trial processes and arbitrations. You will play a key role in protecting the organization’s legal and business interests by delivering practical, strategic and cost-effective litigation advice to claims partners. You will assess liability, damages, coverage, causation, quantum and litigation risk, and make recommendations that reflect Alberta litigation practice, local court processes, and the realities of defending insureds in a complex and changing insurance environment. In addition to carrying your own complex litigation portfolio, you will serve as a senior resource, mentor and coach to junior and intermediate counsel. A significant part of the role involves helping other lawyers prepare for trial, strengthen their advocacy skills, develop litigation strategy, and build confidence in handling contested matters in Alberta. The role also requires adaptability to the evolving use of technology in litigation and trial advocacy, including virtual and hybrid proceedings, electronic evidence, digital presentation tools, AI-enabled legal workflows and other emerging tools that are changing how matters are prepared, argued and resolved. The successful candidate will bring substantial Alberta insurance defence experience, strong judgment, sound advocacy skills and the ability to influence outcomes on high-value or strategically important matters. More specifically, you will be required to: * Manage complex Alberta insurance defence litigation files, including bodily injury, commercial liability, property loss, and subrogation matters * Develop and execute litigation strategies from initial file assessment through mediation, Judicial Dispute Resolution (JDR), arbitration, trial, and resolution * Represent clients in trials, arbitrations, applications, questionings, mediations, JDRs, and other contested proceedings * Prepare and review pleadings, application materials, mediation briefs, trial materials, witness preparation plans, and other advocacy documents * Provide strategic legal advice and opinions on liability, damages, coverage, causation, quantum, litigation risk, and settlement opportunities * Utilize litigation technology effectively, including electronic evidence management, digital hearing materials, and virtual or hybrid proceedings * Support and mentor junior and intermediate counsel by providing guidance on litigation strategy, advocacy, trial preparation, and professional development * Contribute to team excellence through knowledge sharing, legal education, precedent development, and support for high-priority matters requiring senior trial expertise What we offer* * Competitive salary and annual bonus * 4 weeks of flexible vacation starting in the first year * Defined benefit pension plan that provides predictable, stable income throughout retirement * Group insurance including telemedicine * Reimbursement of health and wellness expenses and telework equipment * Benefits apply based on eligibility criteria. #LI-Hybrid What you bring to the table * Bachelor's degree in a related field * A minimum of nine years of relevant experience * Please note that other combinations of qualifications and relevant experience may be considered Action oriented, Collaborates, Complexity, Customer Focus, Decision quality, Differences, Drive results, Nimble learning Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Accessibility At Desjardins, we believe in equity, diversity and inclusion. We're committed to welcoming, respecting and valuing people for who they are as individuals, learning from their differences, embracing their uniqueness, and providing a positive workplace for all. At Desjardins, we have zero tolerance for discrimination of any kind. We believe our teams should reflect the diversity of the members, clients and communities we serve. If there's something we can do to help make the recruitment process or the job you're applying for more accessible, let us know. We can provide accommodations at any stage in the recruitment process. Just ask! Trade Union (If applicable) Job Family Legal Affairs (FG) Unposting Date 2026-09-23

What you’ll do

Manage complex Alberta insurance defence litigation files, including bodily injury, commercial liability, and property loss matters. Provide strategic legal advice and mentor junior counsel to ensure effective trial preparation and advocacy.

Requirements

Requires a Bachelor's degree and a minimum of nine years of relevant experience in Alberta insurance defence. Candidates must possess strong advocacy skills and the ability to independently conduct trials and complex legal proceedings.

Benefits

• Competitive salary • Annual bonus • 4 weeks of flexible vacation • Defined benefit pension plan • Group insurance • Telemedicine • Reimbursement of health and wellness expenses • Telework equipment

Listed skills

• Negotiation · Preferred

Other relevant skills

Identified from the job description. Confirm important requirements above.

• Litigation strategy
• Insurance defence
• Trial advocacy
• Bodily injury claims
• Commercial liability
• Property loss
• Subrogation
• Judicial dispute resolution
• Legal research
• Mentoring
• Electronic evidence management
• Risk assessment
• Negotiation
• Court processes
• Advocacy
• Strategic legal advice
• Trial Preparation
• Influencing Skills
• Action Oriented
• Experimental Learning
• Workflow Management
• Legal Pleadings
• Adaptability
• Artificial Intelligence
• Arbitration
• Casualty Insurance
• Lawsuits
• Customer Service
• Dispute Resolution
• Evidence Management
• Settlement
• Litigation Strategy
• Mediation
• Telehealth

Job areas

• Legal
• Management & Leadership
• Finance & Accounting
• Litigation Associate
• Litigation Lawyer
• Lawyers