Assistant General Counsel

Title: Assistant General Counsel

Department: Legal & Strategic Initiatives

Status: Exempt

Reports To: General Counsel & SVP of Strategic Initiatives

Positions Reporting to this Positions: None

Location: Flexible (the employee may work remotely and/or from an LCV office)

Travel Requirements: Up to 5%

Union Position: No

Job Classification Level: M-II

Salary Range (depending on experience): $99,418 - $140,400

General Description:

LCV believes our earth is worth fighting for because everyone has a right to clean air, water, and a safe, healthy community. To ensure those rights are protected, we help people use their power to shape policy, hold politicians and polluters accountable, and influence elections.

For more than 50 years, LCV has grown into a potent political force for protecting our planet and everyone who inhabits it. We have built a powerful national movement with 30 state affiliates, and grassroots and community organizing programs across the country.

LCV is hiring an Assistant General Counsel who will be responsible for providing legal counsel and guidance of all LCV family organizations, including a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation, a 501(c)(4) nonprofit corporation, and various political entities. The Assistant General Counsel serves as the primary employment and labor attorney within the Legal & Strategic Initiatives department. They also manage a portfolio of additional issue areas, including immigration, cybersecurity and data privacy, intellectual property and other risk management matters. The ideal candidate brings expertise in key legal issue areas, and is an effective communicator who will embed equity throughout their work.

Responsibilities:

• Provide legal counsel on a wide range of employment and labor law issues, including issues related to Title VII, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA), Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), and other federal and state employment laws.
• Conduct and assist in internal investigations, in collaboration with the Human Resources team and other departments, including but not limited to, anti-harassment, EEO, and grievances.
• Aid the department in responding to immigration, intellectual property, and cybersecurity matters, working with outside counsel as appropriate.
• Center racial justice and equity in the design and execution of work, staff engagement, and leadership, and contribute to the goal of becoming an anti-racist organization.
• Draft and advise on the content of contractual documents, including consulting agreements, operations-side contracts, nondisclosure agreements, liability and other release forms, severance agreements, as well as review other contracts.
• Handle issues relating to interactions with federal and state government agencies relating to employment and employment matters, including subpoenas and information requests.
• Track laws, regulations, and litigation that affect the organization's Human Resources and operational policies, and collaborate with the Human Resources team in drafting organizational and personnel policies and procedures in accordance with applicable federal and state laws and regulations, and that apply a racial justice and equity lens.
• Develop subject-matter expertise on organizational policies and procedures and deliver training for staff on a variety of topics, with a focus on employment law, that are designed to instill organizational values and accountability.
• Monitor activities related to state affiliates and provide guidance on joint activities, including joint employment.
• Ensure, as part of broader Legal & Strategic Initiatives Department work and in collaboration with others on the team, that LCV and affiliated entities are in compliance with applicable federal, state and/or local election, tax and corporate laws.
• Lead or participate in other special projects and initiatives as assigned.
• Help supervise law clerk(s).
• Travel up to 5% of the time for staff retreats, training, and conferences, as needed.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications:

• Education: JD degree from an accredited law school; bar membership in good standing in at least one state or the District of Columbia required.
• Work Experience: Required - 3 years of legal experience with the range of federal, state, and local laws that govern employment relationships in the workplace, such as anti-discrimination and anti-harassment law, wage and hour law, family and medical leave and sick and safe leave laws, and labor law, as well as with workplace compliance issues such as obligations under express and implied employment contracts and best practices for handling discipline and separations. Experience conducting employment and/or labor investigations in adherence to laws and regulations, corporate policies, and collective bargaining grievance procedures. Preferred - Familiarity with tax-exempt organization law, federal or state election law, and/or immigration law.
• Skills: Required - Excellent verbal and written communication skills and ability to translate legal concepts effectively with non-lawyers. Demonstrates expertise in a variety of legal field's concepts, practices, and procedures. Demonstrated relationship building skills; solid judgment; critical thinking skills; a sense of teamwork and community; ability to handle multiple tasks; highly organized. Ability to participate effectively in fact-finding investigations, present findings and develop related recommendations. Deep understanding of structural and institutional inequity and interpersonal power dynamics and the interplay with our legal system. Demonstrated ability to build relationships with staff at all levels, and to maintain confidentiality and discretion. Strong legal research and writing competencies, including Westlaw competency, with ability to draft, review, revise and edit documents in Word, Excel, Google Drive and PowerPoint. Ability to work under pressure under multiple deadlines. Preferred - Spanish language competency a plus.
• Cultural Competence: Demonstrated awareness of one’s own cultural identity, views about difference, and the ability to learn and build on varying cultural and community norms. Commitment to equity and inclusion as organizational practice and culture. Understands how environmental issues intersect with racism, economic and social inequality in the U.S. and has a passion for working to dismantle these systems.
• Working Conditions: This job operates in a professional office environment, and routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, phones, photocopiers, and audiovisual systems. This position is largely sedentary, often standing or sitting for prolonged periods. Applicants need to be located in and legally authorized to work in the United States. LCV requires all employees working from our offices or participating in in-person meetings or events to be fully up-to-date on their COVID-19 vaccinations, subject to reasonable accommodation as required by law.

LCV offers a comprehensive and competitive benefits package that includes vacation, sick and parental leave, personal days, paid holidays, health insurance (two plan options for staff to choose from), dental and vision insurance, life and disability insurance (short- and long-term), Flexible Spending Account, 401(k) retirement plan with company matching contribution, commuter benefits program, sabbatical, and student loan assistance.

To Apply: Send cover letter and resume to hr@lcv.org with “Assistant General Counsel” in the subject line by January 25, 2024. No phone calls please.

LCV is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to a racially just, equitable and inclusive workplace. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran status, or genetic information, or any other protected status. LCV is committed to providing access, equal opportunity and reasonable accommodation for individuals with disabilities in employment, its services, programs, and activities. If you require reasonable accommodation in completing this application, interviewing, completing any pre-employment testing, or otherwise participating in the employee selection process, please contact hr@lcv.org.

https://www.lcv.org/careers/assistant-general-counsel/