Assistant General Counsel (Hybrid)

Description:

Overview:
The Assistant General Counsel will work closely with other Legal Department members in a small legal team and report directly to the General Counsel. This position will provide day-to-day legal advice and counsel to stakeholders throughout the Library on a wide variety of legal issues and involves frequent collaboration with internal stakeholders and senior management. This is a generalist role, and specific responsibilities may shift based on the candidate's experience and the Legal Department's needs.

We are looking for someone we can count on to:
Own:

• Independent handling of legal matters and projects ranging from basic to complex
• Management of work product records
• Client relationships with supported departments

• Clients and stakeholders about the law, policies and procedures related to legal matters

• The complexities and diversity of matters faced by the Library's Legal Department
• Library's internal procedures, policies, stakeholders and various department functions

• Template forms and processes
• Workflow by ensuring that appropriate clients and team members are involved in projects and the decision-making process

1 month, this person will:

• Conduct in-person introductions with key stakeholders of supported departments
• Become familiar with the organizational structure of the Library and its leadership
• Learn how to navigate Legal Department's document management system

• Learn about the Library's departments and obtain a strong knowledge of their functions and objectives
• Independently handle legal matters

• Be fully immersed in the Library and its work
• Build rapport and good working relationships with stakeholders
• Establish themselves as primary Legal Department point of contact with clients
• Suggest potential refinement of the Legal Department's processes and procedures
• Establish relationships with other attorneys at peer institutions

Responsibilities:

• Provide legal advice and counsel to internal clients on a variety of matters, including the following areas of law: labor & employment, contracts, compliance, tax exempt organizations, and litigation
• Work closely with Human Resources on labor & employment matters, including internal investigations, reasonable accommodations and employment litigation
• Draft, review, and negotiate a wide variety of contracts
• Draft key documents
• Identify and analyze legal issues and provide advice
• Ensure compliance with applicable laws, regulations, and industry standards - and provide guidance to Library's departments
• Stay informed and up to date about emerging legal and regulatory issues that may impact the Library and proactively recommend appropriate action and/or strategies
• Collaborate with cross-functional stakeholders to develop and implement policies and procedures that align with legal requirements, best practices and Library values
• Manage litigation claims and administrative agency complaints with outside insurance counsel
• Review subpoenas and third-party information requests and manage responses
• Engage and supervise various outside counsel
• Notarize documents
• Provide general legal support with a focus on protecting the Library's interests, furthering its non-profit mission and mitigating risk
• Other legal matters as needed

Required Education & Certifications

• Juris Doctorate (J.D.) from an accredited law school
• Active New York State Bar Membership in good standing
• NY State Notary Public License preferred

Required Experience:

• 4+ years of relevant legal experience, preferably in-house within a nonprofit in a generalist role
• Experience drafting, reviewing, and negotiating contracts
• Experience in labor & employment law
• Experience with providing counsel and advice to clients and maintaining client relationships

Required Skills:

• Proven ability to work collaboratively with cross-functional teams and effectively manage projects and multiple priorities in a timely manner
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to convey complex legal concepts to a non-legal audience
• Ability to problem solve on a broad range of legal questions and provide sound, thoughtful & practical advice on actions and policies
• Handle matters with confidentiality and discretion and exercises sound judgment
• Demonstrated integrity and adhering to high ethical values in dealings with others
• Able to work well both independently and as part of a team environment
• Build and maintain strong working relationships and effectively liaise with internal clients, outside counsel and others at all levels
• Flexible working style and ability to adjust when needed
• Excellent organizational skills
• Ability to supervise, delegate work to and provide constructive feedback to Legal Department interns
• Interest in the Library's mission and desire to join a mission-driven nonprofit organization

• Supervise one Legal Department law student intern per semester

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