If there is a conflict when the insurance company is using an outside law firm to represent its interests and your interest, you should be more skeptical of an attorney actually on the company payroll. I suggest to you that if your insurance company tries to get your legal problem solved with one of its own employees , then it may not have effectively appointed you adequate representation. A lawyer cannot represent anyone when there is a conflict of interest. In other words, your attorney must be able to attack anyone whose interests are adverse to yours. It is a good idea to pay an attorney out of your own pocket to make sure that the attorney appointed by the insurance company is truly looking out for your interests alone and no other.
Most attorneys are professionals and take the code of ethics very seriously.
Nothing in this article is meant to give you a crisis of confidence, rather it is to suggest that you pay close attention to the actions taken and recommended by the attorneys from the insurance company making sure that those actions are for your benefit and not just the insurance company's.