General Counsel (Remote)

Description:

L4GG seeks an experienced, mission-driven General Counsel to join our senior management team as L4GG's chief legal advisor on all legal matters impacting the organization. This role is ideal for an experienced attorney with a deep understanding of nonprofit law (including compliance, audits, and investigations); contract law; professional responsibility rules, particularly in connection with litigation; and social justice frameworks.

Key Responsibilities:
Legal Strategy, Risk Management & Compliance

• Provide strategic legal counsel to the Executive Director, management team, and board of Directors on legal and regulatory matters that impact our work.
• Anticipate and mitigate legal risks that could affect the organization's operations, reputation, and/or ability to fulfill our mission.
• Ensure compliance with IRS 501(c)(3) and 501(c)(4) regulations, lobbying and advocacy restrictions, state charitable registration requirements, grant conditions, and applicable local and federal laws.
• Ensure that the organization (including staff and pro bono attorneys) upholds all professional responsibility requirements associated with delivering legal services, including drafting retention letters and establishing client/matter protocols to ensure compliance with all applicable laws
• Build and maintain policies, procedures and internal systems to manage risk and uphold ethical standards.
• Advise leadership on liability and insurance matters, working with external brokers to determine appropriate insurance liability products.
• Draft and negotiate co-counsel agreements, expert agreements, and retention letters that support litigation, transactional, administrative agency and other direct legal services; provide guidance on questions regarding conflicts and privilege.

• Advise the Board of Directors on governance best practices, bylaws, conflict of interest policies, and fiduciary responsibilities. Support the Board in meeting compliance, reporting, and governance obligations.
• Draft and/or review and negotiate contracts, subgrant agreements, MOUs, and partnership agreements to ensure clarity and compliance.
• Serve as primary liaison with outside counsel to ensure the quality of legal services delivered to the organization.

Employment Law and Intellectual Property

• Provide counsel on employment law, HR policy, and workplace practices that advance equity and inclusion.
• Partner with HR and senior leadership to maintain legally compliant and equitable employment systems.
• Protect the organization's intellectual property, including trademarks and copyrights.

Qualifications:
Required:

• Juris Doctor (JD) degree from an accredited law school and active license to practice in at least one U.S. jurisdiction.
• Access to a quiet workspace with high-speed internet and the ability to take calls and video meetings during working hours while protecting the privacy and confidentiality of all participants and information shared during the meetings.
• Minimum 10-15 years of progressive legal experience, including at least 5 years in a senior leadership or management role, preferably including work with mission-driven nonprofits, advocacy organizations, or foundations.
• Strong understanding of nonprofit and tax-exempt law, professional liability rules for attorneys, employment law, and laws affecting advocacy, lobbying and political activity rules, and grassroots organizing.
• Strong negotiation skills.
• Familiar with laws governing charitable giving.
• Demonstrated experience supervising outside counsel and/or junior attorneys, preferably in a mission-driven or advocacy setting.
• Experience supporting complex partnerships, coalitions, or grant-funded initiatives.
• Deep commitment to the mission of Lawyers for Good Government.
• A proactive thinker who can foresee challenges and propose effective solutions.
• Highly organized, detail-oriented, and professional; capable of representing the organization both internally and externally.
• Tech-savvy, comfortable with quickly mastering new digital tools.
• Excellent judgment, communication, and relationship-building skills; able to communicate complex legal issues to both lawyers and non-lawyers effectively.

Preferred:

• Experience with one or more of the following program areas: Civil and human rights, democracy and rule of law, and climate change and environmental justice.
• Familiarity with foundation grantmaking requirements and lobbying compliance frameworks (e.g., 501(h) election, LDA).
• Experience supporting or advising executive leadership and Boards.
• Lived experience or community connection relevant to L4GG's mission.
• Experience with any or all of the following digital tools: Google Suite, Clio, Zoom, Slack, Airtable and/or Asana.

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