Legal counsel - litigation manager

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.

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 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.

This position is not currently open to individuals who require sponsorship now or in the future to work legally for Credit Acceptance, such as H-1b / H-4 or F-1 OPT visa holders.

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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

Advice!

We understand that your career search may look different than others. Our hiring team wants to make sure that this would be a fit not just for us, but for you long term. If you are actively looking or starting to explore new opportunities, send us your application!

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.