Staff Attorney

Cesar Chavez Foundation; Los Angeles (CA); On-site; USD 150,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

The Cesar Chavez Foundation in Los Angeles, CA is seeking a Senior Staff Attorney to lead the legal function and advise executive leadership on corporate strategy and compliance. The role oversees outside counsel, negotiates critical contracts, and steers complex transactions to support the foundation's missions.

The successful candidate will supervise the legal team, coordinate with Fund VPs and operations, participate in governance matters, and stay current on nonprofit/tax-exempt law through

Qualifications

• Law degree required with bar admission in CA, TX, AZ or NM.
• Minimum six years of legal experience.
• Experience in nonprofit/tax-exempt law (501(c)(3)/(c)(4)).
• Experience with litigation, outside counsel coordination.
• Experience working with low-income, immigrant, or minority communities.

Responsibilities

• Lead in developing corporate strategic and tactical legal initiatives.
• Provide senior management with advice on company strategies and implementation.
• Manage the legal function and oversee outside counsel.
• Involved in complex business transactions and negotiating critical contracts.
• Advise executive leadership on legal matters and governance.
• Supervise and train staff in the legal department.
• Prepare reports to President and senior management; ensure contract compliance.
• Attend continuing legal education to stay current on changes in the law.

Skills

Legal research

Litigation

Contract negotiation

In-house counsel

Staff supervision

Education

Law Degree

Bar admission CA/TX/AZ/NM

Nonprofit/Tax-Exempt Law

Job description

The taff Attorney will report to the Cesar Chavez Foundation's ("CCF") President or General Counsel. The primary responsibility of the Senior Staff Attorney is providing legal support to CCF and its various funds/departments, which includes, but is not limited to, serving as the lead in developing corporate strategic and tactical legal initiatives. This position will provide senior management with effective advice on company strategies and their implementation, manage the legal function, and obtain and oversee the work of outside counsel. The Senior Staff Attorney will be directly involved in complex business transactions and negotiating critical contracts. The Senior Staff Attorney serves as a key advisor to executive and senior leadership.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

include the following. Other duties may be assigned.

• Participate in all aspects of litigation including, but not limited to, factual investigation, legal research, discovery, preparation of legal documents, negotiations, trials, and appellate work;
• Appear at administrative and court hearings, voluntary civil mediations/settlement conferences, and depositions;
• Provide legal advice and guidance to Fund VPs and organizational leadership operations and corporate governance, which may involve travel to CCF's various states and counties of operation;
• Supervise and train other staff and volunteers within the legal department. Participate in hiring of staff within the organization, and attend required office and program meetings;
• Prepare and submit necessary reports to the President and senior management, including contract compliance and administration; reports include but are not limited to; GC reports, reports on pertinent statutes and legislation, Employee Relations Reports, and operations report on an as-needed basis;
• Attend continuing legal education seminars and to keep abreast of changes in the law through reading or other means;
• Knowledge of the principles and procedures of litigation in State and Federal Courts, the principles and procedures of administrative agencies, principles of community development and establishment of working relationships, the theories of changes in the law and how to implement strategies for developing changes; principles and procedures of supervision and training of personnel; the importance of written reports to management, knowledge of computer research methods;
• Other duties include: 1) reviewing company wide-policies and procedures before implementation, 2) managing outside counsel relationships and reporting updates to Executive Leadership, 3) overseeing and vetting the Employee Relations functions, 4) overseeing corporate compliance and corporate governance and 5) knowledge and expertise in conducting legal and statutory research to ensure tax, employment, and corporate organizational compliance.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES

Will directly supervise the organization's staff within the legal department. Carries out supervisory responsibilities in accordance with the organization's policies and procedures. Responsibilities will include participation in interviewing, hiring, and training employees; planning, assigning, and directing work; appraising performance; rewarding and disciplining employees; addressing complaints and solving problems.

QUALIFICATIONS

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

EDUCATION AND/OR EXPERIENCE

Law Degree. Admitted to practice in either CA, TX, AZ, NM, with preference for CA bar admission. Minimum of six years of experience in a law environment. Past experience working In-House or for a non-profit corporation preferred. Nonprofit/Tax-Exempt Law: Experience with 501(c)(3) and 501(c)(4) formation and regulation, lobbying, and campaign finance. Litigation/Advocacy: Significant experience in, or coordination with outside counsel on, civil litigation, federal court hearings, or appellate work. Legal Services/Public Interest: Background in working with low-income, immigrant, or specialized populations (e.g., Latino, Native Americans, LGBTQ+ communities). Ability to communicate effectively with a variety of contacts, including outside attorneys, senior management, and business associates.

OPEN TO EXPERIENCE:

While 6+ years of experience is preferred, we will strongly consider recent graduates or early-career attorneys who possess superior research/writing skills and have already passed the bar exam. We invite both experienced attorneys and recent graduates who have passed the bar to apply, with compensation and title adjusted to match experience level. The pay rate will be adjusted to reflect competencies and experience.