Closing Date: 1st October, 2025
Description:
Role Description:You will provide the Animal Legal Defense Fund with guidance and counsel to internal stakeholders on a range of matters, which may include general operations and administration, nonprofit governance, contracts, fundraising, labor and employment, litigation, intellectual property, tax, data privacy and cybersecurity, and lobbying. You will work closely with the General Counsel and other Associate General Counsel at ALDF to protect and support the organization.
How You Will Make a Difference:
- Advising ALDF on all aspects of day-to-day legal issues, including labor and employment, contracts, insurance, intellectual property, nonprofit corporate governance, lobbying, privacy and security, and lobbying.
- Establishing, implementing, and updating ALDF policies and procedures to mitigate risk and ensure compliance with various legal requirements and best practices.
- Providing timely and comprehensive advice on labor and employment matters to the human resources department, to facilitate compliance with federal, state, and local laws and regulations.
- Drafting, reviewing, and negotiating a variety of contracts and other agreements requested by various departments across the organization, and overseeing the contract management function.
- Providing counsel and drafting and reviewing agreements related to charitable fundraising, to ensure compliance with laws and regulations governing charitable solicitation, tax issues, and bequests.
- Drafting memoranda, correspondence, standard operating procedures, policy documents, and other written materials.
- Conducting timely legal research into unique legal issues that arise in the course of operating a nonprofit animal advocacy organization.
- Assisting with various administrative tasks from time to time, including updating internal monitoring systems relating to contracts and lobbying.
- Advising and counseling on various intellectual property matters relating to trademarks, copyrights, trade secrets, and licensing.
- Consulting, coordinating with, and supervising outside counsel as needed.
- Working with the General Counsel manage the in-house legal department, assisting the General Counsel with the development and management of the annual department budget and developing and implementing new practices to improve efficiency.
- When requested, providing services to the Animal Legal Defense Legislative Fund, an affiliated 501(c)(4) organization.
- Performing other duties as assigned.
- Occasional Travel may be required for organizational retreats or other functions.
Requirements:
We Are Looking for Candidates With:
- J.D. from an accredited U.S. law school and admitted to practice in at least one jurisdiction
- At least 6 years of experience in the practice of law, with prior corporate or transactional experience preferred
- Excellent judgment, prioritization, and time management skills necessary to manage competing requests from a variety of internal stakeholders
- Thorough working knowledge in the following areas is preferred:
- Contracts, including prior experience managing contract workflows as an in-house counsel
- Labor and employment, including prior experience with a multi-state, remote employer or union environment
- Nonprofit governance, tax, and compliance, including prior experience advising public charities on the federal and state laws that apply to them
- Ability to work with minimal guidance and a solutions-oriented mindset
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills
- A clear understanding of and commitment to the Animal Legal Defense Fund's mission
- Strong attention to detail, integrity, and high ethical standards
- Experience with basic software applications