What are the responsibilities and job description for the Claim/Legal Internship - Summer 2025 (Downtown Chicago - Hybrid) position at RLI Insurance Company?
About Us
We’re not like other insurance companies. From our specialty products to our business model, our culture to our results — we’re different. Different is who we are, and how we work, interact, deliver and succeed together. At RLI, we're always looking to hire and develop tomorrow's leaders. Our goal is to attract, develop and retain the best talent from diverse backgrounds while promoting an environment where all viewpoints are valued and individuals feel respected, are treated fairly and have an opportunity to excel. Our unique internship program is a paid, hands-on learning experience that allows students to gain practical industry knowledge, network with RLI professionals in their field of interest, develop and refine skills, and build confidence in their abilities.
RLI is a Glassdoor Best Places to Work company with a strong, successful background. For decades, our financial track record has been stellar — a testament to our culture and validation of our reputation as an excellent underwriting company. Our insurance subsidiaries are rated A “Superior” by AM Best company and A “Strong” by Standard & Poor’s. Check out our strong financial track record here.
RLI is a company where you will be learning from some of the best claim professionals in the industry and helping them resolve claims in a fast-paced, collaborative, and fun environment. In this paid internship, you will join the RLI team and contribute to meaningful work that makes a measurable impact on our company and its customers. At RLI’s Chicago office, you will get the chance to experience complex problem-solving across multiple claims teams, including General Liability, Professional Liability, Directors & Officers, Employment Practices Liability, Surety, and others.
Did you know that the insurance industry spends as much or more on litigation expenses than any other industry? As an RLI intern, you will get to experience how an insurance company interacts with law firms, decides which lawyers to hire, and strategizes with our legal partners to optimize outcomes. Our experienced team of claim professionals – over a third of whom are lawyers, including over 85% of our Chicago Claim team – are tasked with conducting factual and legal investigations into new claims made by or against RLI’s insureds, evaluating coverage under the insurance contract and relevant law, and working in a collaborative environment to develop strategies which drive the claim and litigation process.
At RLI, we focus on underwriting for profit — a different kind of business model that has helped us build a strong, successful company.
Be different.
Position Purpose
Under frequent supervision, gain a broad understanding of the RLI business, including claim handling and insight into corporate legal issues, through a real-world experience and on-the-job training.
Principal Duties & Responsibilities
Young professionals at RLI are some of the best and brightest in the industry. Our internships have been nationally recognized as a top 50 internship within the Insurance industry and was the highest rated company for providing high quality assignments. When recruiting the next generation of RLI employees, we look for candidates who have:
When participating in an internship at RLI, salary is determined by the group that is being supported as well as relevant educational factors.
RLI is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate in hiring or employment on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, citizenship, gender, marital status, sexual orientation, age, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law.
We’re not like other insurance companies. From our specialty products to our business model, our culture to our results — we’re different. Different is who we are, and how we work, interact, deliver and succeed together. At RLI, we're always looking to hire and develop tomorrow's leaders. Our goal is to attract, develop and retain the best talent from diverse backgrounds while promoting an environment where all viewpoints are valued and individuals feel respected, are treated fairly and have an opportunity to excel. Our unique internship program is a paid, hands-on learning experience that allows students to gain practical industry knowledge, network with RLI professionals in their field of interest, develop and refine skills, and build confidence in their abilities.
RLI is a Glassdoor Best Places to Work company with a strong, successful background. For decades, our financial track record has been stellar — a testament to our culture and validation of our reputation as an excellent underwriting company. Our insurance subsidiaries are rated A “Superior” by AM Best company and A “Strong” by Standard & Poor’s. Check out our strong financial track record here.
RLI is a company where you will be learning from some of the best claim professionals in the industry and helping them resolve claims in a fast-paced, collaborative, and fun environment. In this paid internship, you will join the RLI team and contribute to meaningful work that makes a measurable impact on our company and its customers. At RLI’s Chicago office, you will get the chance to experience complex problem-solving across multiple claims teams, including General Liability, Professional Liability, Directors & Officers, Employment Practices Liability, Surety, and others.
Did you know that the insurance industry spends as much or more on litigation expenses than any other industry? As an RLI intern, you will get to experience how an insurance company interacts with law firms, decides which lawyers to hire, and strategizes with our legal partners to optimize outcomes. Our experienced team of claim professionals – over a third of whom are lawyers, including over 85% of our Chicago Claim team – are tasked with conducting factual and legal investigations into new claims made by or against RLI’s insureds, evaluating coverage under the insurance contract and relevant law, and working in a collaborative environment to develop strategies which drive the claim and litigation process.
At RLI, we focus on underwriting for profit — a different kind of business model that has helped us build a strong, successful company.
Be different.
Position Purpose
Under frequent supervision, gain a broad understanding of the RLI business, including claim handling and insight into corporate legal issues, through a real-world experience and on-the-job training.
Principal Duties & Responsibilities
- Provide assistance to Claim professionals through legal research and various claim-related projects.
- Participate in meetings and discussions to gain an understanding of claim handling processes and considerations.
- In order to gain a wide array of exposure and experience, rotate through the summer among different Claim teams, including General Liability, Director & Officer Liability, Employment Practices Liability, Professional Liability, Transportation, and Property.
- Complete project-based assignments as assigned.
- Work closely with experienced professionals, colleagues, and fellow interns to gain knowledge and develop team-building skills.
- Attend planned education and social activities in order to gain an understanding of the RLI business as well as network.
- 2L law student interested in gaining experience in an insurance/claim handling setting.
- Ability to analyze and resolve basic issues utilizing critical thinking skills.
- Ability to conduct thorough legal research into discrete issues.
- Ability to clearly and effectively communicate with others.
- Demonstrates strong work ethic and excellent customer service skills.
- Possesses basic computer skills including Microsoft Outlook, Word, Excel and PowerPoint.
Young professionals at RLI are some of the best and brightest in the industry. Our internships have been nationally recognized as a top 50 internship within the Insurance industry and was the highest rated company for providing high quality assignments. When recruiting the next generation of RLI employees, we look for candidates who have:
- Critical thinking/analytic skills
- Strong communication skills
- Ability to work independently
- Integrity and reliability
- Technical accuracy
When participating in an internship at RLI, salary is determined by the group that is being supported as well as relevant educational factors.
- General Internship: $20/hour
- IT & Underwriting: $22/hour
- Legal: $25/hour
- Actuarial: $22-$28/hour*
- Dependent on number of completed actuarial exams.
- For those who get through the initial review, someone from our recruiting team will reach out for an initial phone call.
- Qualified candidates will receive an invitation for first-round interviews with the team (could be in-person or virtual depending on circumstances).
- Some internships may require a second-round interview in a similar format to the initial interview.
- If an offer is received and accepted, the final step is completing a brief background check consisting of criminal check, education verification, and reference.
- Typical intern hours are dependent on the time of year that an individual is working for RLI. 10-15 hours/week during the school year and 30 hours/week during the summer.
RLI is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate in hiring or employment on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, citizenship, gender, marital status, sexual orientation, age, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law.
Salary : $20 - $28
