Associate General Counsel

Cuyahoga Metropolitan Housing Authority; Cleveland (OH); On-site; USD 102,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

The Cuyahoga Metropolitan Housing Authority in Cleveland, OH, seeks an Associate General Counsel to manage a wide array of legal matters, provide proactive counsel, and support CMHA's mission and values while enhancing workplace culture.

The role requires a JD, Ohio and Federal Bar admission, and at least seven years of experience in public sector or housing authority law with expertise in housing, real estate, contracts, and compliance.

Qualifications

• Juris Doctorate is required and bar admission in OH and the Northern District of OH is expected.
• Minimum seven years of legal experience, preferably in public sector or housing authority.
• Experience with housing, HUD regulations, Section 1983, and related areas is highly desirable.

Responsibilities

• Provide legal advice on housing, evictions, real estate, construction, labor, contracts and corporate matters.
• Manage eviction docket, pleadings, discovery, and litigation up to trial and settlements.
• Collaborate with external counsel and represent CMHA in mediations and hearings.
• Draft, review, negotiate, and revise contracts and transactional documents.
• Stay updated on legal trends affecting CMHA operations.

Skills

Legal research

Writing skills

Communication

Negotiation

Organizational skills

Independent work

Stakeholder relations

Office software

Education

Juris Doctorate

Ohio Bar admission

Federal Bar admission (Northern District of Ohio)

Tools

Lexis

Clio

Axon

Yardi

Microsoft Office

Adobe

Job description

JOB SUMMARY: Under the general supervision of the Chief General Counsel or designee, the Associate General Counsel manages a wide array of legal matters essential to protecting the legal interests of the Cuyahoga Metropolitan Housing Authority (CMHA) and its subsidiary and affiliate organizations, while ensuring compliance with all applicable laws. The ideal candidate will demonstrate a proactive, organized, and solutions-oriented approach to providing legal advice and counsel and will actively support the Authority’s mission, vision, and values while enhancing workplace culture for internal and external stakeholders.

SALARY RANGE: $102,000 – $110,000 annually

ESSENTIAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Daily in-office attendance is essential due to the highly unpredictable and rapidly changing nature of the job and the number of in-person and spontaneous meetings and assignments, the need to access hardcopy documents and files not readily available offsite, the need to shadow and/or provide other co-workers with hands-on training and instruction, the need to quickly locate and engage with co-workers who are on-site but not readily available by phone or email, the need to interact face-to-face and maintain a constant presence in the office to assist walk-in clients (both internal and external) and to build trust and rapport amongst colleagues while developing stronger interpersonal relationships that facilitate solid, trustworthy, and productive teamwork within the department and throughout the Authority as a whole.
• Provide legal advice and counsel on a wide array of legal issues (e.g., housing, evictions, real estate, construction, labor & employment, personal injury, transactional/contractual matters, corporate, bankruptcy, foreclosure, Section 1983 litigation, among other areas).
• Manage and oversee the Eviction Docket and all phases of litigation, including pleadings, discovery, motion practice, trial preparation, appeals, and drafting and negotiating repayment and settlement agreements.
• Collaborate with external/outside counsel, as needed, to manage various litigation matters, including the eviction process.
• Represent CMHA in mediations, arbitrations, administrative hearings, trials, and other court proceedings.
• Conduct legal research and analysis to support litigation strategies and ensure compliance with relevant laws.
• Provide comprehensive pre- and post- litigation counseling to mitigate risks and potential liability.
• Process, review, manage, and respond to subpoenas and public records requests.
• Collaborate with various internal departments to ensure effective handling of legal matters and consistent application of policies and procedures.
• Assist the transactional attorneys, as needed, with drafting, reviewing, negotiating, and revising a broad range of contracts/agreements and other legal and transactional documents.
• Maintain up-to-date knowledge of legal trends and developments affecting CMHA’s operations.
• Must be proactive and detail-oriented, with the ability to manage multiple projects and deadlines effectively.
• Must possess strong oral and writing skills to effectively communicate complex risk and legal concepts to various stakeholders, including executives, staff, and external vendors.
• Ability to artfully influence and persuade logically, cogently, and persuasively. This requires a diplomatic approach while remaining focused on the Authority’s goals and priorities.
• Perform other duties as assigned due to the ever-changing needs of the department.
• The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and essential functions of work being performed by employees assigned to this classification. They are not to be construed as an exhaustive list of all job duties performed by personnel so classified.

EDUCATION: Juris Doctorate Degree required. Must be admitted to the Ohio and Federal Bar for the Northern District of Ohio.

EXPERIENCE: Minimum of seven (7) years of legal experience, preferably in a public sector or housing authority environment. An understanding of public housing law, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development regulations, VAWA, and Section 504/disability law and reasonable accommodation analysis is highly desired.

SKILLS:

• Strong understanding of laws, regulations, and best practices related to a broad range of legal matters.
• Excellent communication, negotiation, and organizational skills.
• Proactive, detail-oriented, and capable of managing multiple matters simultaneously.
• Strong legal research and writing skills.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a fast-paced environment.
• Demonstrated ability to build positive relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, Adobe software, Lexis, Clio timekeeping, Axon, and Yardi.

OTHER: Possession of a valid Ohio Vehicle Operator’s license and insurability under CMHA standards.

The qualifications listed above are guidelines. Other combinations of education and experience that could provide the necessary knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform the job will be considered.

ABOUT THE DEPARTMENT: The Office of Legal Affairs provides strategic counsel on legal, business and operational matters to advance the Authority’s mission and strategy. Members are passionate about the Authority’s mission and strive to advance the mission, vision and values to internal and external stakeholders. The Department represents CMHA in all legal matters, including litigation, compliance with state and federal regulations, labor and employment issues and matters affecting the business operations of the Authority.