Assistant General Counsel

Department: Office of Legal Affairs
Employment Status: Regular/Full-Time/Exempt

OVERVIEW:

The Assistant General Counsel position provides an exciting opportunity to provide legal counsel to the largest funder of civil legal aid in the United States. The Office of Legal Affairs (OLA) serves as in-house counsel to the Legal Services Corporation (LSC). Under the general supervision of the Vice President for Legal Affairs/General Counsel, the Assistant General Counsel is a core member of a small legal team that provides hands-on counsel to all levels of management, staff, and Board of Directors within the organization on a wide range of diverse corporate and legal issues. They are responsible for researching and analyzing legal issues that affect LSC and its grantees; handling employment and labor matters; reviewing and drafting contracts and other transactional documents; drafting legal opinions and memoranda; providing counsel on best practices that affect workplace and policy initiatives; analyzing legislation related to LSC’s functions; and assisting with LSC’s rulemaking activities. 

ABOUT LSC: 

Established by Congress in 1974, the Legal Services Corporation is the country’s single largest funder of civil legal aid for low-income Americans. LSC currently funds 131 independent nonprofit legal aid organizations with more than 800 offices throughout the nation. LSC’s mission is to promote equal access to justice and provide grants for high-quality civil legal assistance to low-income Americans. 

This position is based in Washington, DC, and will require working from an office in DC in accordance with LSC’s hybrid work model. The successful candidate must live in the DC metropolitan area.

PRINCIPAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Supports OLA’s corporate practice by:

• Overseeing procurement and guiding staff through each step of the contracting process; reviewing, drafting and negotiating contracts, and ensuring compliance with LSC’s procurement policies. 
• Drafting policies and procedures governing LSC’s operations in conjunction with the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Program Manager and staff from the Office of Human Resources, Office of Information Technology, and Office of Financial and Administrative Services.
• Advising on regulatory compliance issues and researching and drafting corporate governance and risk management policies. 
• Advising on labor relations and employment issues affecting LSC, including advising on employee personnel matters, working with OLA’s labor management team on union matters, and ensuring compliance with state and Federal employment laws. 
• Assisting with the Corporate Secretary function, including ensuring compliance with the Government in the Sunshine Act, LSC regulations, bylaws, and DC Nonprofit Corporation Act; and preparing Board resolutions. 
• Assisting with processing Freedom of Information Act requests and preparing related reports. 
• Assisting with litigation involving LSC. 
• Performing other duties as assigned. 

Supports LSC’s administrative and regulatory practice by:

• Independently planning and conducting necessary legal research.
• Analyzing and drafting opinions and memoranda regarding issues of relevance to the operations of LSC and its grantees, including interpretation of LSC’s governing statutes, LSC regulations, and contracts. 
• Analyzing proposed and/or enacted legislation related to LSC’s functions and advising LSC’s Office of Government Relations and Public Affairs about the effects of the legislation on LSC and its grantees.
• Conducting rulemaking, including drafting proposed and final rules, drafting Federal Register notices associated with rulemaking, leading listening sessions and rulemaking workshops where appropriate, and presenting rulemaking matters to LSC’s Board of Directors. 
• Performing other related duties as assigned.

COMPETENCIES REQUIRED:

General:  

Excellent written communication skills. An ability to produce professional, clear, well-written work product that requires minimal editing.  Excellent oral communication and interpersonal skills, including ability to reach different audiences and manage conflicts. Excellent project management skills and the ability and interest to own projects and create processes to improve the delivery of legal services to LSC’s internal clients.  A strong commitment to public service and to LSC’s mission of providing legal services to low-income persons. Unimpeachable integrity and adherence to the highest standards of ethics and professionalism. Ability to function in a discreet, diplomatic, and confidential matter. Sound judgment, strong organizational skills, and ability to manage multiple priorities. Ability to work effectively both independently and in a team environment.

Technical/ Specialized: 

A law degree, admitted to, or eligibility to waive into the DC Bar, and at least four years of experience in the practice of law. Must be in good standing with any bar to which applicant is admitted. Must have proven ability to analyze statutes and complex regulations. Must have strong research and analytical skills.  

SALARY AND BENEFITS:

Salary range: $111,029-$139,341

LSC has a competitive market-based salary structure that establishes a specific salary based on experience.  

Excellent benefits package.

APPLICATION PROCESS:

Please apply through LSC’s online application portal at www.tinyurl.com/applytoLSC. Applications must include the following three items: a cover letter, résumé, and a writing sample demonstrating your ability to identify and analyze legal issues or interpret statutes and regulations.  
 

Note: If you need a reasonable accommodation in the application process, please notify OHR at jobs@lsc.gov. 

DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION STATEMENT:

We are committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion. Our differences fuel excellence, and we strive to create an environment where every individual is valued and feels empowered to bring their full, authentic self to work. We are building a community rooted in openness and trust where colleagues have the resources to grow, thrive and fully contribute to achieving equal access to justice. 

LSC is an equal opportunity employer.