Associate General Counsel

The NAACP Legal Defense & Educational Fund, Inc. (LDF) is the country’s first and foremost civil and human rights law organization. Founded in 1940 under the leadership of Thurgood Marshall, who subsequently became the first Black U.S. Supreme Court Justice, LDF was launched at a time when the nation’s aspirations for equality and due process of law were stifled by widespread state-sponsored racial inequality. From that era to the present, LDF’s mission has been transformative—to achieve racial justice, equality, and an inclusive society.

LDF’s litigation, public policy advocacy and public education programs in the substantive areas of criminal justice, economic justice, education and political participation seek to ensure the fundamental and basic human rights of all people to quality education, economic opportunity, the right to vote and fully participate in democracy, and the right to a fair and just judicial system.

LDF seeks an experienced Associate General Counsel to act as an advisor and counselor on matters including, but not limited to, business transactions, contracts, tort law, labor and employment issues, corporate governance, charitable donations, tax matters, real estate matters, and federal and state regulations applicable to non-profit organizations. The Associate General Counsel will report to the Director of Litigation & General Counsel, but will exercise substantial autonomy in these areas, including having final sign off authority on a range of legal agreements. The Associate General Counsel will also provide counsel to the President & Director-Counsel, Associate Director-Counsel, Chief Operating Officer, and other members of the senior leadership team. In addition, the Associate General Counsel will manage negotiations and relationships with external parties and LDF’s outside counsel in many of these areas.

This position will be remote until June 2021. Beginning June 2021, any candidate selected should be prepared to report to work in the office location assigned to this position.

Responsibilities:

• Serve as advisor and counselor to President & Director-Counsel, Associate Director-Counsel, Director of Litigation & General Counsel, Chief Operating Officer, as well as other members of LDF’s senior leadership team;
• Provide legal advice on matters affecting LDF, including but not limited to, business transactions, contracts, labor and employment matters, Office of Foreign Assets Controls (OFAC) regulations, anti-money laundering laws, tax issues, charitable giving, federal and state laws and regulations, non-profit corporate governance, real property and tort law;
• Negotiate, draft and closely review general business, vendor, consultant, and real estate contracts and agreements;
• Work with the Director of Litigation & General Counsel to provide oversight for responding to claims, lawsuits, and subpoenas and representing, or protecting the legal interests of LDF in judicial and administrative proceedings;
• Assist the Chief Operating Officer and Director of Human Resources/Administration in drafting LDF policies and procedures involving legal issues and remain current on relevant federal state and local laws and regulations;
• Consult on employment matters as appropriate;
• Conduct legal research and prepare memoranda, correspondence and legal documents;
• Represent LDF before federal and state administrative agencies;
• Supervise outside legal counsel and provide advice regarding business disputes, employment issues and litigation;
• Follow up/respond to issues regarding estates/bequests;
• Consult with the Chief Operating Officer in reviewing insurance policies and negotiating with insurers on risk management, claims, and renewals;
• Assist with documentation process for compliance under federal and state laws governing non-profit organizations, including lobbying reports and Office of Foreign Assets Controls (OFAC) and anti-money laundering screening processes; and
• Other responsibilities as assigned.

Qualifications:

• A Juris Doctor degree with a minimum of 8 years of experience practicing law at a non-profit organization, law firm or as in-house counsel;

• Admitted to the bar in the jurisdiction, New York or DC, where the candidate is applying.
• Commitment to the racial justice mission of LDF;

• Substantial legal expertise in at least three of the following areas: contracts, real estate, labor and employment, non-profit governance, regulatory compliance, charitable giving, tax, and tort law;
• Significant experience negotiating contracts and business transactions, and managing relationships with other attorneys;
• Strong written and oral communication skills; and
• Ability to work both collaboratively and independently.

This is not an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, skills, efforts or requirements or working conditions associated with the job. While this is intended to be an accurate reflection of the current job, management reserves the right to revise the job or to require that other or different tasks be performed as assigned. This job description does not constitute a contract of employment and LDF may exercise its employment-at-will rights at any time.

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