Legal Counsel - Litigation Manager

Credit Acceptance Corporation; Michigan; Remote; USD 150,000 - 175,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401(k) match

Parental leave

Tuition reimbursement

Medical insurance

Job summary

Credit Acceptance is seeking a licensed attorney with at least 5 years of law firm litigation experience to join our Corporate Legal Department. This role will defend the Company's interests in litigation and pre-litigation disputes, supervise outside counsel, and advise on risk and compliance with consumer financial protection laws.

The position offers a competitive base salary, annual bonus eligibility, and a comprehensive benefits package including retirement and tuition reimbursement.

Qualifications

• Licensed attorney with 5+ years of law firm litigation experience.
• Experience handling written discovery, depositions, motions, and trial/arbitration.
• Excellent legal research and writing skills; familiarity with Westlaw.

Responsibilities

• Defend the Company's interests in litigation and pre-litigation disputes.
• De-escalate and resolve disputes with customers, dealers, and service providers.
• Oversee outside counsel and manage litigation strategy and costs.
• Perform substantive litigation work and document findings for executives.

Skills

Legal research

Legal writing

Communication

Team collaboration

Education

Juris Doctor (JD)

Tools

Westlaw

Job description

Credit Acceptance is proud to be an award-winning company recognized both locally and nationally across multiple workplace categories. Our world-class culture is shaped by dedicated team members who are driven to succeed as professionals individually and together as a team. Backed by a strong product, exceptional people, and a stable financial foundation, we've grown into a leading provider of used and new car financing across the country. Our Support teams work with multiple departments in a dynamic environment that promotes flexibility and autonomy, while offering the opportunity to collaborate with a diverse group of professionals. We work to comply with our company standards, exceed customer expectations, and drive our Great Place to Work culture. We deliver high-quality services aligned to business needs, driving innovative improvements that support our company strategy and modern operating principles.

Outcomes and Activities

• This position will work from home; occasional planned travel to our Southfield, Michigan office may be required. However, this position is permitted to work at our Southfield, Michigan office if requested by the team member.
• Enforce and defend Company's interests in litigation and disputed matters. This includes:
  • Managing a diverse portfolio of litigation and pre-litigation complaints (such as those submitted to the Company for investigation through governmental agencies, the Better Business Bureau, or an email portal).
  • Working with team members, customers, dealers, and third-party service providers to de-escalate and resolve disputes.
  • Retaining, overseeing, and directing the scope of all work of outside legal counsel in litigation matters (such as negotiating fee arrangements, cost-effective staffing of matters, and setting and executing a litigation strategy to achieve the best possible outcomes).
  • Performing substantive work related to litigation and pre-litigation disputes, such as working with experts, editing legal briefs, preparing witnesses, and negotiating settlements.
  • Keeping legal management team apprised of and solicit their input as appropriate on significant legal issues.
• Execute aspects of the Company's Complaint Management Program. This includes:
  • Monitoring various listening posts, including complaints, industry litigation, and news publications, to enhance the Company's compliance with consumer financial protection laws;
  • Performing complaint trend analyses;
  • Reporting compliance, coaching, training, and policy opportunities identified;
  • Working with attorneys from the Corporate Legal Department to counsel the business on how to reduce risk based upon lessons learned; and
  • Summarizing observations for Company executives.
• Develop expertise in consumer financial protection laws.
• Perform legal research as requested and document findings in a formal white paper where appropriate.
• Periodic performance feedback from team members throughout the organization will be sought and will be considered when assessing your performance.

Knowledge and Skills

• Be organized and capable of meeting all deadlines.
• Remain positive, professional, determined, calm and focused when faced with challenging situations.
• Be a quick thinker, with an ability to understand and interpret information promptly and effectively.
• Convey complex information in a timely, efficient, and easily understood manner both verbally and written.
• Be self-driven, motivated to help and able to perform with minimal supervision in a team environment.
• Be receptive to ongoing feedback aimed at improving your performance for the purpose of helping the Company achieve its strategic goals.
• Possess and express a positive and enthusiastic attitude.
• Communicate clearly to all levels of the organization.
• Work independently and in a team environment.

Requirements

• Licensed as an attorney to practice law, with a minimum of 5 years as a practicing lawyer with law firm litigation experience.
• Litigation experience should include engaging in all aspects of written discovery, taking and defending depositions, motion practice, as well as trial or arbitration experience, and experience working directly with clients.
• Excellent professional and academic credentials.
• Have excellent legal research and writing skills, including familiarity with Westlaw.

Preferred

• Experience in some of the following areas: consumer finance law, debt collection, credit reporting, the Telephone Consumer Protection Act, commercial contract litigation, and arbitration.
• Experience representing clients in matters with state or federal regulators.

Targeted Compensation

$150,000 - $175,000 base salary + annual bonus plan.

Benefits

• Excellent benefits package that includes 401(K) match, adoption assistance, parental leave, tuition reimbursement, comprehensive medical/ dental/vision and many nonstandard benefits that make us a Great Place to Work

Our Company Values

To be successful in this role, Team Members need to be:

• Positive by maintaining resiliency and focusing on solutions
• Respectful by collaborating and actively listening
• Insightful by cultivating innovation, accumulating business and role specific knowledge, demonstrating self-awareness and making quality decisions
• Direct by effectively communicating and conveying courage
• Earnest by taking accountability, applying feedback and effectively planning and priority setting

Expectations

• Remain compliant with our policies processes and legal guidelines
• All other duties as assigned
• Attendance as required by department

P.S.

We have great details around our stats, success, history and more. We're proud of our culture and are happy to share why - let's talk!

Required degrees must have been earned at institutions of Higher Education which are accredited by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation or equivalent.

Credit Acceptance is dedicated to providing a safe and inclusive working environment for all. As part of our Culture of Compliance, we are proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer and value our culturally diverse workforce. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment regardless of the person's age, race, color, religion, sex, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran or disability status, criminal history, or any other legally protected characteristic.

California Residents: Please click here for the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) notice regarding the personal information Credit Acceptance may collect from you.

Play the video below to learn more about our Company culture.