General Counsel

National Legal Aid & Defender Association; Los Angeles (CA); On-site; USD 222,000 - 268,000; Full time

Job summary

The General Counsel for HACLA is the chief legal advisor to HACLA’s executive staff, Board of Commissioners, and senior management, overseeing all internal legal services and coordinating with outside counsel to support HACLA’s operations.

The role reports to the Chief Administrative Officer and guides governance, policy development, enterprise risk management, and the legal strategy across contracts, regulatory matters, and nonprofit entities affiliated with HACLA.

Qualifications

• Foundational knowledge of public-sector and housing law.
• Experience advising executive leadership and boards on legal risk.
• Ability to manage litigation, contracts, and regulatory matters.
• Strong leadership of a legal team and outside counsel.

Responsibilities

• Provide executive-level legal advice to HACLA Board, executive leadership, and senior management on legal matters affecting HACLA’s operations and governance.
• Oversee corporate governance, compliance with Brown Act, and related regulatory requirements.
• Develop and interpret agency policies, procedures, and training on legal matters.
• Lead and manage outside counsel engagements and procurement for legal services and budget.
• Oversee litigation, regulatory actions, and settlement strategy for HACLA and affiliated entities.
• Negotiate complex contracts, transactions, and inter-agency agreements.
• Identify and manage legal risks, and advise on mitigation strategies.
• Direct staff in the Legal Department and mentor attorneys and support staff.

Skills

Public housing law

Public agency law

Contract law

Real estate law

Administrative law

Leadership in legal team

Job description

Position Description

Special Note: The posted salary is an estimate of the potential annual pay. Final offer will be dependent on qualifications and experience.

Anticipated Hiring Pay Scale: Candidates can expect to be hired within the 8-step annual salary range of $221,823.30 - $267,816.22.

Definition: The General Counsel is a senior level position that serves as the chief legal advisor to the Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles (HACLA), including but not limited to its executive staff, senior management, and HACLA's Board of Commissioners. The General Counsel oversees all legal services, manages the internal legal team, and oversees outside counsel to support HACLA’s operational, regulatory, and strategic objectives.

The General Counsel reports directly to the Chief Administrative Officer and provides strategic legal counsel to the President & CEO, the Board of Commissioners, executive leadership, and senior management. The General Counsel also acts as lead counsel for litigation, procurement services, all affiliated entities and instrumentalities that own and manage various HACLA assets, including but not limited to HACLA’s fundraising and nonprofit program, Build Hope Inc., and LA LOMOD, a separate non-profit contracted with HUD to oversee Project-Based Rental Assistance (PBRA) contracts across Southern California. The role serves as a key member of the President & CEO’s senior management team and as a key advisor on organizational governance, policy development and interpretation, and enterprise risk management.

Examples of Essential Functions – Essential and other important responsibilities and duties may include, but are not limited to the following:

• Serves as the chief legal counsel and provides legal advice and strategic guidance to the Board of Commissioners, executive leadership, and senior management on all legal matters involving HACLA’s business operations, business activities, business transactions, contract administration, programs, governance, and the legal implications of all proposed or enacted policies and procedures.


• Participates in the development of agency policies and procedures as well as interpretation, guidance, and enforcement of applicable federal, state or local laws, policies, or regulations that may impact HACLA and its affiliate nonprofits and instrumentalities.


• Attends the Board of Commissioners’ meetings and advises on legal and procedural matters; reviews and approves staff reports, proposed resolutions, and related documents presented to the Board of Commissioners.


• Oversees corporate governance matters, including but not limited to maintaining, updating, and ensuring compliance with corporate formation documents and other related filings, and compliance with the Brown Act and other public-agency regulations.


• Establishes and oversees systems and processes to identify, investigate, address, and ensure compliance and continuous improvement of policies, procedures, and practices.


• Identifies potential and actual conflicts of interest under state and federal laws, rules, regulations and programs, and manages resolution processes, using external counsel when appropriate.


• Identifies legal risks and advises executives and management on exposure to identified risks, mitigation strategies, and compliance requirements.


• Evaluates litigation, regulatory actions, and other administrative matters affecting HACLA; and develops legal strategies and recommends settlements as warranted.


• Advises on legislation that may affect HACLA and assists with the preparation of legislative proposals, as requested.


• Negotiates complex contracts, transactions, agreements, and settlements consistent with HACLA’s interests and professional obligations and responsibilities.


• Oversees legal services and provides support for administrative public-agency functions including public records requests, administrative hearings, and related legal matters.


• Develops and delivers training programs and activities to executives, managers, and staff on legal requirements, regulatory changes, and best practices.


• Directs, manages, and evaluates the litigation and transactional staff in the Legal Department; assigns matters as appropriate; and mentors and develops attorneys and support staff.


• Oversees and manages the selection, engagement, and performance of outside counsel in compliance with procurement requirements.


• Develops and manages the budget for internal legal operations and outside legal services.


• Performs other related duties as assigned or as needed.

Knowledge Of

Knowledge, Abilities, and Skills:

• Foundational legal principles, best practices, procedures, and regulatory obligations applicable to public-sector agencies, corporate and municipal entities.


• Methods, procedures, and practices used in the conduct of civil litigation.


• Methods and techniques for evaluating legal risks and liabilities.


• Provisions of federal, state, and local legislation, statutes, codes, procedures and court decisions related to public housing programs and operations.


• Municipal law; public agency law; litigation; real estate law; contract law; employment law; corporate and business law; and administrative law.


• General principles of business administration, public administration, public relations, and community relations.


• Principles of training, supervising, managing, and leading a legal team.

Ability To

• Provide executive-level leadership on enterprise risk identification, assessment, and mitigation.


• Develop strategic plans, legal service frameworks, and operational goals.


• Manage risk, promote compliance, and contribute organizational effectiveness.


• Effectively communicate highly technical information concisely and in understandable terms in presentations, reports, recommendations, and legal analyses.


• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with industry representatives, officials of public and private organizations, internal stakeholders, and the public.


• Establishes framework for legal policies, procedures, practices, and service delivery models.

Skills In

• Performing highly complex and significant legal work on matters related low-income housing in a public entity setting.


• Managing, overseeing and directing litigation, regulatory matters, and legal strategies.


• Working directly with governing board members in a public entity setting.


• Drafting and negotiating complex contracts and agreements including but not limited to real estate development agreements, ground and premises leases and related instruments, inter-agency agreements, financial agreements and securitized instruments.