Staff Attorney

Cesar Chavez Foundation•Los Angeles, CA

56d•$95,000 - $150,000

About The Position

The Staff Attorney provides legal support to the Chavez Foundation (CCF) and its funds and departments. Reporting to the President or General Counsel, the attorney leads the development of corporate strategic and tactical legal initiatives, advises senior management on organizational strategies and implementation, manages the legal function, and obtains and oversees outside counsel. The role is directly involved in complex business transactions and critical contract negotiations and serves as a key advisor to executive and senior leadership. The position includes litigation, legal and governance advice, oversight of corporate compliance and Employee Relations functions, review of organization-wide policies and procedures, and preparation of reports for the President and senior management. The Staff Attorney directly supervises legal department staff and may travel to CCF’s states and counties of operation. The posting is open to experienced attorneys as well as recent graduates or early-career attorneys who have passed the bar; title and compensation may be adjusted based on experience and competencies.

Requirements

Law degree.
Admission to practice in California, Texas, Arizona, or New Mexico; California bar admission is preferred.
Minimum of six years of experience in a law environment is stated, although recent graduates and early-career attorneys who have passed the bar will also be strongly considered.
Knowledge of litigation principles and procedures in state and federal courts and of administrative agency procedures.
Knowledge of computer research methods and ability to conduct legal and statutory research.
Ability to communicate effectively with outside attorneys, senior management, and business associates.
Ability to perform supervisory and personnel-management responsibilities.

Nice To Haves

California bar admission.
Past experience working in-house or for a nonprofit corporation.
Experience with 501(c)(3) and 501(c)(4) formation and regulation, lobbying, and campaign finance.
Significant experience in, or coordination with outside counsel on, civil litigation, federal court hearings, or appellate work.
Background working with low-income, immigrant, or specialized populations, including Latino, Native American, or LGBTQ+ communities.
Recent graduates or early-career attorneys with superior research and writing skills who have passed the bar are invited to apply.

Responsibilities

Participate in all aspects of litigation, including factual investigation, legal research, discovery, preparation of legal documents, negotiations, trials, and appellate work.
Appear at administrative and court hearings, voluntary civil mediations and settlement conferences, and depositions.
Advise Fund VPs and organizational leadership on operations and corporate governance; travel to CCF’s states and counties of operation may be involved.
Supervise and train legal department staff and volunteers; participate in organizational hiring and attend required office and program meetings.
Prepare and submit reports to the President and senior management, including General Counsel reports, updates on pertinent statutes and legislation, Employee Relations reports, and operations reports as needed.
Attend continuing legal education seminars and keep abreast of changes in the law.
Review company-wide policies and procedures before implementation.
Manage relationships with outside counsel and report updates to executive leadership.
Oversee and vet Employee Relations functions.
Oversee corporate compliance and corporate governance.
Conduct legal and statutory research to support tax, employment, and corporate organizational compliance.
Participate in interviewing, hiring, training, planning and assigning work, directing work, appraising performance, rewarding and disciplining employees, addressing complaints, and solving problems.
Work on complex business transactions and negotiate critical contracts.
Obtain and oversee the work of outside counsel.