Deputy General Counsel

The NAACP Legal Defense & Educational Fund, Inc. (LDF) is the country’s first and foremost civil and human rights law organization. Founded in 1940 under the leadership of Thurgood Marshall, who subsequently became the first Black U.S. Supreme Court Justice, LDF was launched at a time when the nation’s aspirations for equality and due process of law were stifled by widespread state-sponsored racial inequality. From that era to the present, LDF’s mission has been transformative — to achieve racial justice, equality, and an inclusive society.

 

LDF’s litigation, public policy advocacy, and public education programs in the substantive areas of criminal justice, economic justice, education, and political participation seek to ensure the fundamental and basic human rights of all people to quality education, economic opportunity, the right to vote and fully participate in democracy, and the right to a fair and just judicial system. LDF continues to make an impact in the area of public service and was recognized by Fast Company as one of its 2023 Brands That Matter under its public service category.

 

LDF seeks an experienced Deputy General Counsel to partner with the Chief Operations Officer & General Counsel to operate an effective and efficient in-house legal department. The Deputy General Counsel must be a highly effective attorney with the legal skills, judgement, and customer-service orientation to help support teams and staff at LDF to deliver on our mission and goals. The Deputy General Counsel will be principally responsible for day-to-day legal department activities, including but not limited to legal research, advice and guidance; contract review and management; and managing the operations of the General Counsel’s office as set forth below. This role requires a dynamic approach to address the range of issues involved.

 

The Deputy General Counsel reports to the Chief Operations Officer & General Counsel.

 

LDF operates in a hybrid work environment where employees are expected to be in the office a minimum of two days per week, unless otherwise indicated.

 

Responsibilities:

 

High-quality legal advice and guidance

• Serve as a legal advisor to senior management and teams across LDF
• Conduct legal research and analysis to support decision-making and the resolution of business issues
• Provide legal advice and guidance in areas such as employment law, non-profit law, corporate governance, real property, business transactions, state regulations, intellectual property, and others
• Collaborate with the Risk & Compliance team on risk management and provide legal advice and research on multi-state compliance, lobbying and political activity restrictions, charitable solicitation, and insurance needs
• Support responses to claims, lawsuits, subpoenas, and similar actions involving LDF when needed, protecting the legal interests of LDF in judicial and administrative proceedings
• Assist in drafting and developing policies and procedures, including the personnel manual, employee policies, and volunteer policies
• Conduct legal research and prepare memoranda, correspondence, and legal documents
• Represent LDF on organizational issues before federal and state administrative agencies when needed
• Review estates and bequests and follow up on issues regarding same, including compliance with NYPMIFA and related laws
• Consult on employment matters including union negotiations and grievances, employee dispute resolution, employee disciplinary matters, investigations, and terminations
• Support the operation of LDF’s ethics, whistleblower, and conflict of interest policies
• Support with respect to practice-of-law and legal ethics issues as needed

 

Contract oversight

• Negotiate, draft, and review contracts of all types, including but not limited to vendor agreements, consulting agreements, grant agreements, leases, and license agreements, protecting LDF’s interests and advancing its mission
• Collaborate with the Operations team to continually improve use of the contract management system and completeness of LDF’s contracting records
• Develop and update template contracts aligned to business needs
• Develop and up