Legal Counsel

The Trust for Public Land; California (MO); Hybrid; USD 100,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

The Trust for Public Land is seeking a lawyer to support the field programs, primarily in California and Hawaii, by structuring, documenting, and closing park and conservation projects. You will work with staff to ensure legal soundness and alignment with mission and policies.

The role requires California Bar admission and 3+ years practice, strong drafting, negotiation, and communication skills, and the ability to manage multiple projects in a decentralized environment.

Qualifications

• Admission to California state bar and 3+ years in practice.
• Experience advising clients to meet business objectives while managing legal risk.
• Ability to draft quality legal documents quickly.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Ability to work independently within broadly defined policies and practices.

Responsibilities

• Assist staff in designing, negotiating and completing parks- and conservation-related projects.
• Draft and review land transaction documents and related agreements.
• Draft and review MOUs, RFPs and other procurement packages, grant proposals and contracts.
• Participate in negotiations with landowners, stakeholders, consultants and public agencies.
• Advise staff on project- and transaction-related issues including closings and administration.
• Address other mission-related legal issues as needed.

Skills

Advising clients

Drafting documents

Communication skills

Independent work

Multijurisdiction work

Education

California Bar Admission

Job description

• Hybrid preferred; remote candidates will be considered, Flexible

Who We Are:

The Trust for Public Land (TPL) is the leader of a movement to connect everyonein Americato the outdoors. A national nonprofit, TPL partners with communities to create high-quality parks and protect public lands—especially in communities that need them most—to improve public health, create social cohesion, strengthen historic and cultural connection to place, and increase climate resilience. Since 1972, TPL has protected more than 4 million acres of public land, created more than 5,500 parks, trails, schoolyards, and iconic outdoor places, generated over $112 billion in public funding for parks and public lands, and connected nearly 10 million people to the outdoors. To learn more, visit tpl.org.

Position Summary:

Working as part of a team of attorneys and legal assistants, this position will provide legal support to advance The Trust for Public Land’s field programs, primarily in the States of California and Hawaii – acquiring, creating and improving parks, trails, community schoolyards and public lands. Primary responsibilities are working with staff to structure, document, and complete parks and conservation projects and transactions that are legally sound and consistent with The Trust for Public Land’s mission, authority, policies and procedures.

Essential Functions

• Assists project/program staff in designing, negotiating and completing parks- and conservation-related projects and transactions.
• Drafts and reviews land transaction documents such as purchase & sale agreements, option agreements, donation agreements, professional services agreements, restrictive use easements, conservation easements and other documents for implementation of land protection transactions, including due diligence contracts and closing documents.
• Drafts and reviews MOU’s, RFP’s, and other procurement packages, grant proposals and agreements, design and construction contracts, contracts with public agencies and ensures that these documents are in accordance with laws, existing agreements, public policy, and internal policies and protocols.
• Participates with staff in landowner, stakeholder, consultant, and public agency negotiations.
• Advises and assists staff on all project- and transaction-related issues, including delays, variations, defects, insurance, bond claims, post-completion administration, real estate closings, and property management.
• Advises and assists with other mission-related legal issues as needed and desired.

Required Qualifications:

• Strong commitment to TPL’s shared values (Belonging, Creativity, Collaboration, Impact, and Hope) and mission to effectively work across the organization.
• Admission to California state bar, and 3+ years in practice.
• Minimum of 3 years applicable experience in the following areas:
  • Experience advising clients to meet business objectives and develop practical solutions within defined policies and practices in a manner that appropriately manages legal risk and advances the organization’s mission.
• Aptitude for independent work, exercising good judgment within broadly defined policies and practices.
• Ability to draft quality legal documents quickly, and to respond promptly and helpfully to the needs of project/program staff.
• Sense of humor and composure when dealing with project/program staff of diverse personalities and work styles.
• Ability to change the thinking of, or gain acceptance of, others in sensitive situations, both within and outside the organization.
• Ability to anticipate problems and identify probable issues of concern in advance.
• Results ‑ oriented and creative in problem ‑ solving.
• Comfortable working in multiple jurisdictions and managing multiple projects in a decentralized environment.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Real estate transactional experience. Practical skills and comfort with performing due diligence in connection with property acquisitions including, but not limited to analyzing title work, boundary surveys and environmental site assessments.
• Familiarity with municipal and state law, real estate law, federal grants, and working with tax-exempt organizations and public agencies a plus.
• Construction law experience including: drafting and negotiation of AIA forms and other design and construction contracts.
• A well-developed understanding of critical path planning from conceptual design to construction documentation to construction implementation to construction close‑out.

Compensation:

The Trust for Public Land is a hybrid work environment, and this role will ideally be located near a Trust for Public Land office. As a full-time employee, you will be eligible for The Trust for Public Land’s comprehensive benefits program which includes medical, dental, and vision insurance, vacation and sick pay plus holidays, a year end office closure, and a 403(b)-retirement plan, currently with up to a 7% company match. We offer competitive salaries commensurate with experience; the anticipated hiring range for this position is $100,000 to $120,000 per year DOE.

The Trust for Public Land’s active goal is to be an inclusive and equitable place to work and build community. As the organization actively works to eliminate racial and other disparities it welcomes candidates with diverse backgrounds and/or multicultural skillsets. We are open to the possibility that a great candidate for this job may not precisely meet all the above criteria; if you believe you are the right person for this job and can persuasively make that case, we encourage you to apply.