---
title: 'Associate Counsel at Protective'
canonical: 'https://feeny.ai/job/associate-counsel-protective-birmingham-20atjpf6dqp6'
type: 'job'
last_seen: '2026-09-09'
---

# Associate Counsel at Protective

- **Company:** Protective
- **Location:** Birmingham, AL
- **Compensation:** $80k–$95k
- **Employment:** full-time
- **Work type:** hybrid
- **Posted:** 2026-08-26
- **Last confirmed live:** 2026-09-09
- **Apply:** https://jobs.lever.co/protective/0f0e7920-834a-4873-87ff-4750f18c5b88

## Job description

The work we do has an impact on millions of lives, and you can be a part of it. We help protect our customers against life’s uncertainties. Regardless of where you work within the company, you’ll be helping provide protection and peace of mind when our customers need it most.

The Associate Counsel, as a member of the Corporate Legal team, provides legal support to the company’s variable insurance products business, primarily assisting with matters related to variable universal life, variable annuity, fixed, and registered index-linked annuity (RILA) product development and regulatory compliance. This is an entry-level legal role designed to provide exposure to federal securities laws, insurance product regulation, underlying mutual fund relationships, and regulatory filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Associate Counsel will work under the direction and supervision of managing counsel, senior attorneys, and will work with an established experienced team of legal analysts. This role impacts the achievement of customer, operational, and sales/business goals. This is a hybrid position (3 days on-site, 2 days remote) with offices in Birmingham, Alabama. Responsibilities:

- Assist with legal counsel and support to the Protection and Retirement Division on matters related to variable annuity and variable universal life products, including product development, regulatory filings, and ongoing compliance.
- Collaborate with key stakeholders within the Protection and Retirement Division on product changes, new product designs, underlying fund management, and operations, to support business goals and initiatives.
- Develop working knowledge of federal securities laws including the Securities Act of 1933, the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and the Investment Company Act of 1940 as they apply to the registration, regulatory compliance, and maintenance of variable insurance products and RILAs.
- Assist with the preparation and filing of Securities and Exchange Commission registration statements for variable annuity and registered indexed linked annuity (Form N-4), variable universal life (Form N-6), and other required filings under Rule 24F-2, N-CEN, Rule 485, Rule 497, 497VPI (Initial Summary Prospectuses), 497VPU (Updating Summary Prospectuses), and N-VP (Annual Notices).
- Assist with the review and maintenance of underlying fund legal arrangements including fund related agreements (Fund Participation, Administrative Services, and other ancillary agreements) and any amendments thereto. Assist with the response to underlying fund certification requests to meet any required due diligence and compliance requirements.
- Support legal due diligence and integration efforts related to acquisition of variable products.
- Other job duties as assigned by managing counsel and senior attorneys.

Qualifications:

- Juris Doctor (JD) from an ABA Accredited or Alabama State Approved law school.
- Active license to practice law in at least one U.S. jurisdiction.
- 0-2 years of legal experience and will consider a recent law school graduate with an active license as stated above.
- Exceptional communication, organizational, project management, and critical thinking skills.
- Ability to manage multiple priorities and work collaboratively in a team environment. TO BE CONSIDERED PLEASE SUBMIT A COVER LETTER AND RESUME WITH YOUR FINAL LAW SCHOOL CLASS RANK.

## #LI-SB1

Employee Benefits: We aim to protect the wellbeing of our employees and their families with a broad benefits offering. In addition to offering comprehensive health, dental and vision insurance, we support emotional wellbeing through mental health benefits and an employee assistance program. Work/life balance is important and Protective offers a variety of paid time away benefits (e.g., paid time off, paid parental leave, short-term disability, and a cultural observance day). The financial health of our employees is just as important as physical and emotional health.  Some of the financial wellbeing benefits include contributions to healthcare accounts, a pension plan, and a 401(k) plan with Company matching. All employees are encouraged to protect their overall wellbeing by engaging in ProHealth Rewards, Protective’s platform to improve wellbeing while earning cash rewards.

Eligibility for certain benefits may vary by position in accordance with the terms of the Company’s benefit plans.

Accommodations for Applicants with a Disability: If you require an accommodation to complete the application and recruitment process due to a disability, please email eric.hess@protective.com. This information will be held in confidence and used only to determine an appropriate accommodation for the application and recruitment process.

Please note that the above email is solely for individuals with disabilities requesting an accommodation.  General employment questions should not be sent through this process.

We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer committed to being inclusive and attracting, retaining, and growing an inclusive workforce.

## About Protective

## Company Overview
- **One-liner**: Protective is a financial services company providing life insurance, retirement solutions, employee benefits, and asset protection products to individuals and businesses.
- **Entity Type**: Private (Subsidiary of Dai-ichi Life Holdings, Inc., TSE:8750)
- **Headquarters**: Birmingham, Alabama, United States
- **Founded**: 1907
- **Founders**: Not publicly available

## Core Business
- **Primary industry/industries**: Insurance (Life, Annuity, Asset Protection, Employee Benefits)
- **Target customers**: B2C (individuals) and B2B (employers, partners)
- **Mission or purpose statement**: "To help everyone deserve confidence through life's moments — big, small and everything in between." [protective.com](https://www.protective.com/about-us)

## Products & Services
- **[Life Insurance]**: Offers term life, whole life, and universal life policies for individuals and families.
- **[Retirement Solutions]**: Fixed and variable annuities, retirement income planning products.
- **[Asset Protection]**: Commercial mortgage investments, structured settlements, and stable value products via Protective Asset Division.
- **[Employee Benefits]**: Group life, disability, and other workplace benefit programs for employers.
- **[Acquisitions & Stable Value]**: Manages and acquires in-force blocks of life insurance and annuity policies.

## Market Standing
- **Valuation/Market Cap**: Not publicly available (subsidiary of Dai-ichi Life Holdings, TSE:8750)
- **Key Metric**: $6.4B annual revenue (PLICO financials) [wellfound.com](https://linkedin.com/company/protective-life)
- **Total Assets**: $142 billion as of December 31, 2025 [protective.com](https://investor.protective.com/Company-Overview/default.aspx)
- **Net Income**: $389 million USD (2024) [linkedin.com](https://linkedin.com/company/protective-life)
- **Notable Investors/Partners**: Parent company Dai-ichi Life Holdings (Japan), one of the largest life insurers globally.
- **Growth Signals**: 
  - Over 14.4 million customers served.
  - 61 acquisitions in company history. [protective.com](https://investor.protective.com/Company-Overview/default.aspx)
  - ~32 million policies and contracts in force.
  - $1 trillion life insurance in force.
  - 3,800+ employees as of Jan 1, 2026 (up from 3,800 reported in 2023).
  - Fastest growing core site in the greater Cincinnati area. [protective.com](https://www.protective.com/about-us/careers)

## Competitive Advantages
- **115+ Years of Stability**: Founded in 1907, the company has a long track record of financial strength and reliability.
- **Parent Backing**: As part of Dai-ichi Life Group, a global top-tier insurer, Protective has access to significant capital and a long-term strategic focus.
- **Diversified Portfolio**: Multiple business segments (Protection, Retirement, Asset Protection, Acquisitions) create revenue stability and cross-selling opportunities.
- **Strong Financial Ratings**: A focus on conservative risk management and a large asset base ($142B) provides market confidence.
- **Scale and Distribution**: A massive in-force block ($1T life insurance) and a large, established customer base.

## Strategic Focus
- **Organic & Inorganic Growth**: Continues to acquire blocks of policies and companies (61 in history) while expanding its core product lines.
- **Virtual Workforce Expansion**: More than half of employees are now remote, signaling a commitment to a flexible, distributed workforce. [protective.com](https://www.protective.com/about-us/careers)
- **Digital Transformation**: Investments in technology and data to improve customer experience and operational efficiency.
- **Talent Development**: Strong focus on internal mobility, continuous learning, and career enrichment programs.

## Why Work Here
- **Culture**: Emphasizes a "protector" mindset, focusing on service to customers, colleagues, and communities. Recognized for workplace engagement and inclusivity. [protective.com](https://www.protective.com/about-us/careers)
- **Hybrid/Remote Work**: Over 50% of the workforce is remote/virtual. Three core sites in Birmingham (HQ), Greater Cincinnati, and St. Louis offer hybrid options. [protective.com](https://www.protective.com/about-us/careers)
- **Benefits**: Comprehensive package including medical/dental/vision with HSA/FSA, a pension plan funded by the company, 401(k) with employer match, paid time off, paid parental leave, short- and long-term disability, adoption assistance, and life insurance. [protective.com](https://www.protective.com/about-us/careers)
- **Career Development**: Company-sponsored education courses, tuition reimbursement, scholarship opportunities for dependents, and a semi-annual "Pulse Survey" to shape culture and learning opportunities. [protective.com](https://www.protective.com/about-us/careers)
- **Notable Perk**: Pension plan remains a differentiator in the current job market.

## Sources
1. [protective.com - Company Overview](https://www.protective.com/about-us)
2. [protective.com - Careers Page](https://www.protective.com/about-us/careers)
3. [investor.protective.com - Company Overview](https://investor.protective.com/Company-Overview/default.aspx)
4. [linkedin.com - Protective Life](https://linkedin.com/company/protective-life)
5. [jobs.lever.co/protective - Job Listings](https://jobs.lever.co/protective)

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- [2027 Business Analytics Summer Internship](https://feeny.ai/job/2027-business-analytics-summer-internship-protective-birmingham-qyr213smb8pz) — Birmingham, AL
- [Commercial Real Estate Legal Assistant (Hybrid Birmingham, Alabama)](https://feeny.ai/job/commercial-real-estate-legal-assistant-hybrid-birmingham-alabama-protective-p4qgzbw9a5dy) — Birmingham, AL
- [Installation Technician- StarGard](https://feeny.ai/job/installation-technician-stargard-protective-los-angeles-brgqd300jmkv) — Los Angeles, CA
- [Regional Finance & Insurance Performance Manager](https://feeny.ai/job/regional-finance-insurance-performance-manager-protective-california-z7skhck3jka0) — California
- [Customer Service Specialist](https://feeny.ai/job/customer-service-specialist-protective-chesterfield-1jrhtr6y1a6k) — Chesterfield, MO
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- [Customer Experience Advocate](https://feeny.ai/job/customer-experience-advocate-protective-nebraska-1zf6rtw0mf9b) — Nebraska