OVERVIEW:

The Legal Services Corporation (LSC) seeks an experienced attorney with strong leadership skills and a passion for access to justice to join its team as Vice President for Legal Affairs and General Counsel. LSC is a dynamic, collegial nonprofit organization driven by its mission of promoting equal access to justice and awarding grants to legal aid organizations in all 50 states and the U.S. territories to provide high-quality civil legal assistance to low-income Americans. LSC is the largest funder of civil legal aid in America. The successful applicant will lead a high-performing team of nine experienced attorneys and staff, manage all aspects of LSC’s legal affairs, advise LSC’s Board of Affairs and management team, and play a key role in LSC’s efforts to raise awareness about the need to expand access to justice.

ABOUT LSC:

Established by Congress in 1974, the Legal Services Corporation (LSC) is the country’s single largest funder of civil legal aid for low-income Americans. LSC currently funds 132 independent nonprofit legal aid organizations with more than 800 offices throughout the nation. LSC’s mission is to promote equal access to justice and provide grants for high-quality civil legal assistance to low-income Americans.

This position will require working from an office in Washington, DC, but is remote for the immediate future. If the successful candidate lives outside the region, they will need to relocate to the region but will have some flexibility over timeline.

BASIC FUNCTION:

Under the general direction of the President, the Vice President for Legal Affairs and General Counsel (General Counsel) is responsible for actively managing all aspects of legal affairs for LSC, including managing the staff and operations of the Office of Legal Affairs (OLA); providing legal advice to LSC’s management; managing and resolving litigation; overseeing rulemaking activities; and ensuring compliance with the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), the Government in the Sunshine Act (Sunshine Act), the federal Lobbying Disclosure Act (LDA), the District of Columbia Nonprofit Corporation Act, the Legal Services Corporation Act (LSC Act) and its implementing regulations, appropriations legislation, and LSC’s articles of incorporation and bylaws. The General Counsel also actively manages the negotiation and drafting of legal instruments and the issuance of advisory opinions interpreting LSC’s appropriations measures, the LSC Act and implementing regulations. The General Counsel is responsible for providing legal advice to LSC’s Board of Directors and its committees. 

PRINCIPAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

1. Serves as the legal advisor to LSC’s management, Board of Directors, and Board committees; develops solid working relationships with these groups; and provides timely legal updates and advice and counsel on all legal matters. 
2. Establishes corporate policies, procedures, and programs for managing legal risk and monitoring and ensuring compliance with applicable laws, policies, regulations, and governance documents.
3. Serves as a member of the President’s senior leadership team and assists in the development and implementation of policies and procedures for the optimal operation of LSC. 
4. Manages litigation and other disputes through negotiation and drafting of necessary filings and responses and supervising the work of outside counsel.
5. Develops and manages the OLA budget.
6. Builds, motivates, and retains a strong, professional, innovative, service-driven, productive, effective, results-oriented Office of Legal Affairs that is proactive, operationally excellent, and is -- and is perceived to be -- ethical, collaborative, and fair. Evaluates job performance of OLA staff, sets annual goals and objectives, and identifies appropriate training.
7. Provides leadership, strategic direction, and oversight of the day-to-day operations of OLA, including active management of staff to ensure appropriate development and growth and the timely production of high quality work product.
8. Understands the complexities of the LSC Act, the federal appropriations process, and regulations affecting LSC, including the FOIA, the Sunshine Act, the federal Lobbying and Disclosure Act (LDA), and the District of Columbia Nonprofit Corporation Act.
9. Manages rulemaking activities.
10. Serves as the Chief FOIA Officer and manages and ensures timely and complete compliance with all FOIA reporting requirements.
11. Leads negotiations and the drafting of a variety of legal instruments, reports and memoranda, including advisory opinions interpreting LSC’s appropriations measures and the LSC Act and implementing regulations.
12. Develops and manages the OLA budget to effectively support operations, including salaries and benefits for OLA employees.
13. Participates in collective bargaining negotiations and promotes harmonious and productive labor-management relations.
14. Keeps abreast of all federal and local laws related to the work of LSC, including non-profit management, the various statutory and regulatory requirements and restrictions applicable to LSC grantees, as well as those applicable to labor and employment, employee benefits, contracts, insurance, appropriations law, administrative law/matters, and other general corporate counsel issues.
15. Performs additional duties as assigned.

SALARY AND BENEFITS:

Salary: $202,632

LSC offers a competitive benefits program, including a generous CareFirst medical insurance plan. The benefits package includes a choice of two dental plans, vision insurance, Flexible Spending Accounts, employer-paid disability insurances, and a choice of life insurance options. Our 403(b) retirement plan offers immediate employer contributions -- an automatic contribution equal to 6% of your eligible compensation and an additional employer match of up to 3.51%. Employer contributions vest on a 3-year schedule, with immediate vesting for those age 59 1/2 or older.

Ancillary benefits include wellness offerings like a health fitness reimbursement, free financial advising with a licensed advisor, professional development opportunities, and a public transportation allowance or on-site parking.

This position provides 20 vacation days, 13 paid sick days, 2 personal days, and approximately 11 paid holidays annually. There is a paid maternity/paternity leave benefit. 

APPLICATION PROCESS:

Submit a complete application (provide ALL of the information requested and answer ALL of the questions) and attach a résumé and cover letter explaining why you are a good fit for this position. Incomplete applications will not be considered. Apply directly on our website at: https://www.lsc.gov/about-lsc/careers.

If reasonable accommodation in the application process is required, please notify OHR at jobs@lsc.gov.

DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION STATEMENT:

We are committed to diversity, equity and inclusion. Our differences fuel excellence, and we strive to create an environment where every individual is valued and feels empowered to bring their full, authentic self to work. We are building a community rooted in openness and trust where colleagues have the resources to grow, thrive and fully contribute to achieving equal access to justice.

LSC is an equal opportunity employer.