Location: Milwaukee, WI
Date Posted: 02/04/2026
Description
As a member of this team and working collaboratively with the other members of the Law Department, this attorney will:
- Serve as a point of contact on legal, regulatory, and other issues related to risk products and insurance operations.
- Provide business areas with timely and high-quality advice on law, regulation, industry standards, and best practices relating to issues impacting the Company’s risk products through the entire product life cycle, from product innovation, design, and development to the payment of claims.
- Act as a trusted advisor helping business professionals reach important decisions that mitigate legal and regulatory risks in a rapidly changing environment.
What this role needs:
- Candidates must have worked at least 3-6 years as an attorney practicing in-house, at a law firm, or in the governmental or regulatory space.
- Experience working with insurance or risk products (ideally life insurance, disability insurance, long-term care insurance, or annuities), insurance litigation, and/or financial services regulatory enforcement.
- Candidates must be able to research and analyze a variety of legal issues, synthesize complex information, work independently and with a team, and provide legal advice to business professionals at all levels of the Company.
- Candidates must have a strong academic record and a Juris Doctorate degree. A license to practice law in the State of Wisconsin or a commitment to become licensed within the first year of employment is required.
Desired attributes:
- The scope of this role may change over time to respond to business needs. The successful candidate will be flexible and adaptable in terms of general skills and aspirations.
- Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, a highly analytical and curious mind, creativity, comfort dealing with ambiguity, integrity, high ethical standards, and a positive demeanor, both with the Company’s business areas and Law Department attorneys.
- Demonstrated ability to collaborate and contribute effectively in a team environment and to manage a multi-jurisdictional practice.
- Ability to “own” issues and work autonomously while effectively prioritize multiple tasks.
- A keen problem-solving approach using sound legal reasoning and practical business judgment to identify and address risks to achieve results that balance benefits for all partners of the Company.
Information About the Northwestern Mutual Law Department:
Of the Northwestern Mutual Law Department’s approximately 130 members, about 80 are lawyers, having come to Northwestern Mutual from all around the country after having graduated from a multitude of law schools and undergraduate institutions and having practiced in a wide variety of settings. The balance of the Department consists of highly skilled paralegals and research and administrative professionals who support significant aspects of the Department’s operations. Our Law Department is inclusive and diverse, comprising a rich mixture of people who come from a wide variety of ethnic and religious backgrounds and includes people of color and those who are openly gay or lesbian.
The Northwestern Mutual Law Department provides the vast majority of legal services in nearly all disciplines directly to the Company, with only select utilization of outside counsel. There are nine main legal practice teams within the Law Department: Investment Products and Advisory Services; Digital and Enterprise Operations; Insurance Products and Operations; Corporate; Distribution; Litigation; Enterprise Governance; Institutional Investments; and Real Estate Investments. Members of the Law Department have the opportunity to develop a thorough understanding of the Company’s business needs, and we are fully engaged in the execution of the Company’s business strategy.
Northwestern Mutual has been helping people and businesses achieve financial security for more than 165 years. With $378 billion in total assets, $38 billion in revenues, and nearly $2.4 trillion worth of life insurance protection in force, Northwestern Mutual delivers financial security to more than 5 million people. Northwestern Mutual ranks 109th on the 2025 FORTUNE 500 and is recognized by FORTUNE® as one of the “World’s Most Admired” life insurance companies.
Compensation Range:
- Pay Range – Start: $126,000.00
- Pay Range – End: $234,000.00
We believe in fairness and transparency. Final salaries are based on a number of factors, including the skills and experience of the candidate; the current market; location of the candidate; and other factors uncovered in the hiring process. The standard pay structure is listed but if you’re living in California, New York City or other eligible location, geographic specific pay structures, compensation and benefits could be applicable.
Skills
- Risk Assessment & Identification (NM) – Advanced
- Cross Functional Partnering & Planning (NM) – Advanced
- Project Management (NM) – Advanced
- Continuous Improvement (NM) – Advanced
- Policy & Procedure (NM) – Advanced
- Attention to Detail (NM) – Advanced
- Decision Making (NM) – Advanced
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