Defendant Motor Damage Team Leader

Direct Line Group; Birmingham; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - GBP 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading UK legal services firm is seeking an experienced Team Leader in Defendant Litigation to manage litigated motor damage claims while ensuring high-quality legal outcomes. This 15-month fixed-term contract allows for hybrid working from Birmingham, Leeds, or Bristol. The successful candidate will provide strong technical oversight and leadership to a dedicated team, developing a customer-focused culture and driving continuous improvement. Candidates must be a qualified solicitor or CILEx member with relevant experience and a strong technical background.

Benefits

22 days holiday rising to 30 days

Company pension contributions of 9%

Income protection for 5 years

Life assurance cover

Flexible benefits scheme

Qualifications

• Solid experience in civil litigation, ideally with motor damage or insurance-related matters.
• Experience supervising, coaching, or directing junior or non-qualified staff.
• Sound commercial awareness and understanding of cost-effective litigation decision-making.

Responsibilities

• Lead and oversee litigated Defendant Motor Damage claims.
• Provide technical leadership and supervision across the team.
• Manage and develop team performance and set clear expectations.
• Drive continuous improvement by identifying process enhancement opportunities.
• Ensure compliance and governance regarding complaints handling and regulatory obligations.

Skills

Civil litigation

Leadership

Technical drafting

Negotiation

Case strategy

Education

Qualified Solicitor (England & Wales) or CILEx with a current practising certificate

Job description

About DLG Legal Services

DLG is evolving. Across every facet of our business, our teams are embracing new opportunities and putting customers at the heart of everything they do. Whether you’re already part of the team or thinking about joining us, you’ll be working in a place where empathy meets expertise. Within our own dedicated law firm, our diversely experienced team support and guide customers through life’s toughest moments. It’s a fast-paced and collaborative working environment, but our comprehensive training and tools will help ensure you’re ready for the challenge. You can find more details about DLG Legal Services on our website.

We currently have an exciting new opportunity for an experienced Team Leader to join our Defendant Litigation team at DLG Legal Services. This is a 15‑Month Fixed Term Contract and will be based from our Leeds, Birmingham or Bristol office (hybrid working).

Role

Reporting to the Defendant Operations Lead, you will be responsible for leading the effective delivery of litigated motor damage claims, ensuring high‑quality legal outcomes for customers while meeting business performance objectives. The role provides strong technical oversight, people leadership, and operational control across a specialist litigation team. By combining legal expertise with leadership capability, the role ensures claims are handled proactively, compliantly, and cost‑effectively. The Team Leader also plays a key role in developing people, embedding a customer‑focused culture, and driving continuous improvement across the function.

Responsibilities

• Lead and oversee the conduct of litigated Defendant Motor Damage claims, ensuring files progressed proactively, compliantly, and in line with client strategies and Civil Procedure Rules.
• Provide technical leadership and supervision across the team, ensuring consistently high standards of legal advice, drafting, and decision‑making.
• Manage and develop team performance, set clear expectations, coach individuals, and support engagement, capability, and progression in line with performance frameworks.
• Plan and manage resources effectively, including capacity, workflow, recruitment, absence, and succession planning, to ensure service standards and productivity targets are met.
• Embed a strong customer‑focused culture, ensuring ownership, accountability, and clear communication throughout the customer journey.
• Drive continuous improvement, acting as a positive change agent by identifying opportunities to enhance processes, efficiency, and team performance.
• Ensure compliance and governance, including complaints handling, SARs, people management processes, and regulatory obligations.
• Contribute to financial and operational performance, supporting budget management and cost‑effective litigation strategies.

Requirements

• Qualified Solicitor (England & Wales) or CILEx with a current practising certificate and the right to conduct litigation.
• Solid experience in civil litigation, ideally within motor damage or insurance‑related matters.
• Experience supervising, coaching, or directing junior or non‑qualified staff.
• Strong technical capability in drafting, negotiation, and case strategy.
• Sound commercial awareness and understanding of cost‑effective litigation decision‑making.

Benefits

Basics

• 22 days holiday rising to 30 days depending on your role, plus the chance to buy and sell up to 5 days.
• Company contributions of 9% of your salary towards your pension.
• Income protection on 50% of your salary for 5 years.
• Life assurance cover at four times your salary.

Discounts

• Free Green Flag breakdown cover.
• 50% off Direct Line Group products in motor, home, and pet insurance when you’re named on the policy.
• Discounts and cashback savings across hundreds of other well‑known brands.

Flexibility

• Flexible benefits scheme to adjust income protection, life assurance, and benefits package.
• Salary sacrifice scheme for fully electric and plug‑in hybrid cars, and private dental and medical cover.
• Enhanced maternity, paternity, shared parental, and emergency dependant leave.

Wellbeing

• Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) offering information on financial and mental wellbeing as well as emergency support and advice.
• Trained mental health first aiders (MHFA) for support whenever you need it.
• Volunteering opportunities through our partnership with Neighbourly.
• Donation matching up to £50 a month to match any contributions you make to your local community.

Ways of Working

Our hybrid model offers a ‘best of both worlds’ approach. When you’ll be in the office depends on your role and team, but colleagues spend 50% of their working week in the office. We’ve looked beyond the financial rewards and created an offer that takes your whole life into account, offering real choice, flexibility, and a greater work‑life balance.

Be Yourself

Direct Line Group is an equal opportunity employer, and we think diversity of background and thinking is a big strength in our people. We're delighted to feature as one of the UK's Top 50 Inclusive Employers and are committed to making our business an inclusive place to work, where everyone can be themselves and succeed in their careers. If you need any adjustments to our recruitment process, please speak to the recruitment team who will be happy to support you.

Our Commitment to Customers

We’re here for our customers when they need us most, providing expert legal support during life’s toughest moments. From personal injury claims to securing fair compensation, we handle every case with care, empathy, and efficiency – making a real difference when it matters.