Legal Counsel - Litigation Manager

Credit Acceptance is proud to be an award-winning company with local and national workplace recognition in multiple categories! Our world-class culture is shaped by dedicated Team Members who share a drive to succeed as professionals and together as a company. A great product, amazing people and our stable financial history have made us one of the largest used car finance companies nationally.

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.  Through the consistent delivery of quality services and understanding the needs of our business, we develop innovative improvements as we strive towards our company’s Big, Hairy, Audacious Goals!

As a member of our in-house litigation team, attorneys in this role will handle a diverse portfolio of litigation and pre-litigation disputes and take reasonable steps to make certain that the Company, its team members, dealers, and third-party service providers are complying with Company policies and procedures and applicable consumer protection laws and regulations. Attorneys will research and resolve complaints, manage outside counsel where necessary and within a reasonable budget, and help counsel the business on lessons learned.

 

Outcomes and Activities:

• This position will work from home; occasional planned travel to an assigned Southfield, Michigan office location may be required.  However, this position is permitted to work at a Southfield, Michigan office location 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