AMENDMENT TO EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

     This Amendment dated as of March 1, 2000 amends the Employment Agreement
(the  "Agreement") dated and effective as of January 5, 1998 between Zenith
National Insurance Corp. (the "Company") and John J. Tickner (the "Employee")

     Whereas, the parties desire to amend the Agreement, it is therefore agreed
as follows:

     1.   Section 2 - TERM - is deleted and the following substituted therefore:

          "2. TERM.  This Agreement shall be in effect for a term commencing on
          the  Effective Date and expiring on March 1, 2003, and such period
          shall be referred to herein as the "Term" of this Agreement, and such
          Term shall not be affected by the termination of the Employee's
          employment hereunder."

     2.   Section  3 -  SALARY  -  is  deleted  and  the  following substituted
          therefore:

          "3. SALARY.  Employee's minimum annual base salary shall be as
          follows: $311,163,  effective March 1, 2000; $349,376, effective
          March 1, 2001; $387,589 effective March 1, 2002.  Employee's annual
          base salary shall be payable in installments in conformity  with
          the Company's policy relating to salaried employees.  The
          Employee's  base salary may be subject to annual  adjustment (but
          not below the then current amount) in the sole discretion of the
          Board.

     3. Section  8(c)(i) - TERMINATION  (CONSTRUCTIVE  TERMINATION) - is deleted
and the following substituted therefore:

               (i) Mr.  Stanley R. Zax ceases to be full-time  Chairman of the
               Board and President of the  Company and Zenith other than by
               reason of death or disability or by reason of retirement on or
               after December 31, 2002; provided, however, this clause (i) shall
               in any event be deleted and of no further force or effect after
               December 31, 2002.



     4. In all other respects, the Agreement remains unchanged.

     In Witness Whereof, the parties have executed this Amendment as of the date
first written above.

Zenith National Insurance Corp.            Employee



By: /s/ Stanley R. Zax                     By:  /s/ John J. Tickner
   ----------------------------               --------------------------------
        Stanley R. Zax                              John J. Tickner

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