Legal Counsel School Advisory

Justia, Inc.; New York (NY); Hybrid; USD 125,000 - 140,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

403(b) retirement plan

Generous paid time off

Cellphone stipend

Commuter benefits

Performance-based earning incentives

Job summary

Success Academy Charter Schools seeks a highly motivated Legal Counsel to join its collaborative legal team, focusing on school advisory matters. You will work directly with school leaders to solve issues affecting scholars, families, and staff, translating complex law into clear, actionable guidance.

The role requires ownership, sound judgment under pressure, and the ability to move quickly with practical, well-supported advice.

Qualifications

• 4+ years of relevant legal experience in litigation, investigations, education law, or advisory practice.
• In-house experience preferred; transferable skills from other settings considered.
• Licensed to practice in at least one U.S. state, with NY Bar eligibility for in-house.
• J.D. from an accredited U.S. law school (or equivalent).

Responsibilities

• Provide practical legal advice on school operations including student discipline and privacy.
• Respond promptly to inquiries; assess risk and offer clear recommendations.
• Own regulatory responses, gather facts, draft submissions, meet deadlines.
• Collaborate on disputes and investigations; preserve evidence and strategy.
• Translate legal requirements into workable policies and training.
• Conduct focused legal research and produce concise written work.

Skills

Ownership

Clear communication

Teamwork

Judgment under pressure

Speed

Analytical rigor

Continuous improvement

Education

J.D. degree

Job description

Thanks for your interest in Success Academy! Running a large, fast-growing, and high-performing network of public charter schools takes a village - families, children, teachers, staff and faculty, advocates, and supporters alike. We are growing fast in New York and expanding to Florida, and we would love to welcome you to our community! We work tirelessly every day to ensure children have access to a fun, rigorous, whole-child education regardless of zip code or economic status. When you join SA, you play a part in giving every student who walks through our doors a fair shot at reaching his or her potential.

About the Role

Success Academy Charter Schools is seeking a highly motivated Legal Counsel to join its collaborative legal team, with a focus on school advisory matters. This is an opportunity for a resourceful attorney to take ownership of consequential work advancing SA’s mission to deliver excellent public education to all children. You will work directly with school leaders and Network colleagues to solve problems that affect scholars, families, and staff. We hold ourselves to high standards and move with urgency because schools need clear answers they can act on. The right lawyer combines rigorous analysis with practical judgment, takes initiative without waiting for detailed instructions, and follows through until the work is done.

Key Responsibilities

• Collaborate with school leaders and Network teams to provide practical legal advice on school operations, including student discipline, special education and disability accommodations, enrollment, student records and privacy, school safety, family law, and regulatory compliance.
• Respond promptly to school inquiries, including urgent and sensitive situations; establish the key facts, assess risk, and give a clear recommendation and next steps, identifying when further review or escalation is needed.
• Own responses to regulatory and government inquiries, coordinating fact gathering, drafting clear and persuasive submissions, and meeting deadlines.
• Partner with litigation colleagues on school disputes, investigations, and litigation strategy; develop the factual record, preserve relevant evidence, and help resolve matters before they escalate.
• Translate legal requirements into workable policies, procedures, and training; help school teams implement them and address recurring issues at their source.
• Conduct focused legal research and produce concise, accurate written work tailored to the decision at hand; improve templates and workflows to deliver faster, more consistent support.

Qualifications

• At least 4 years of relevant legal experience in litigation, investigations, education law, or a demanding advisory practice, with demonstrated responsibility for matters and client counseling.
• In-house experience preferred; strong candidates from other practice settings who demonstrate transferable skills and the ability to learn quickly are encouraged to apply.
• Licensed to practice in at least one U.S. state, with admission to the New York Bar or eligibility for in-house qualification in New York.
• J.D. from an accredited U.S. law school (or equivalent).

Competencies

• Ownership and drive: You take responsibility from the first question through resolution, identify what needs to happen next, and pursue missing facts and decisions without repeated prompting.
• Clear communication and collaboration: You listen carefully, learn how schools operate, make complex issues understandable, build trust, involve the right colleagues early, and disagree constructively while keeping shared goals in view.
• Team-Orientation and Flexibility: You readily pitch in to support teammates, cover for colleagues, and take on whatever work the team needs, including matters outside your usual responsibilities.
• Sound judgment under pressure: You distinguish material risks from remote possibilities, recommend a workable path, know when to act independently versus escalation, and deliver candid advice when answers are difficult.
• Speed and execution: You manage a substantial, varied workload, prioritize by urgency and impact, deliver accurate work on short timelines, flag obstacles early, propose solutions, and close the loop.
• Analytical rigor and curiosity: You ask incisive questions, gather and test facts, conduct effective interviews, learn unfamiliar areas of law quickly, and investigate thoroughly while keeping scope proportionate.
• High standards and continuous improvement: You care deeply about SA’s mission, seek and apply direct feedback, adapt as priorities change, and bring initiative, resilience, humility, and humor to demanding work.

Compensation, Benefits, & Perks

At Success Academy, we invest boldly in our Network team with a comprehensive package designed to support your health, financial future, and overall well-being:

• Day-One Health & Wellness: Medical, dental, and vision coverage starting your first day (SA covers 82% of our core medical plan), plus a free One Medical membership and confidential mental health support via EAP/Talkspace.
• Financial Security: 403(b) retirement plan with a 3% employer match, up to $2,400/year in employer HSA contributions, employer-paid life/disability insurance, and Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) eligibility.
• Time to Recharge: Generous paid time off, paid holidays, and paid parental leave.
• Perks & Stipends: A $50/month cellphone stipend ($600/year), pre-tax commuter benefits, backup family care, and performance-based earning incentives.

This is a hybrid position based in our NYC Financial District office, requiring on-site work Tuesday through Thursday and remote work on Monday and Friday.

Exact compensation may vary based on skills and experience. This position is not bonus eligible.

Compensation Range

$125,000 - $140,000 USD

Success Academy Charter Schools is an equal opportunity employer and actively encourages applications from people of all backgrounds. Compensation is competitive and commensurate with experience. Success Academy offers a full benefits program and opportunities for professional growth.

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We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our organization. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status. We actively seek applications from people of all backgrounds to strengthen our community and the perspectives needed to flourish in a multicultural world. Success Academy offers a full benefits program and opportunities for professional growth.

Success Academy Charter Schools does not offer employment-based immigration sponsorship.