Lambda Legal · 1 day ago
General Counsel
New York, NY
Full-time
Hybrid
Senior Level, Lead/Staff
$215K/yr - $240K/yr
10+ years expLambda Legal is a national advocacy organization committed to achieving full recognition of the civil rights for the LGBTQ+ community and everyone living with HIV. The General Counsel serves as the organization’s chief legal advisor, overseeing legal compliance, employment and labor law matters, contract negotiations, and board governance.
AssociationConsultingNon Profit
Responsibilities
Serve as the organization’s chief legal advisor, providing timely, practical guidance to the CEO, Executive Team, and program leads
Advise on governance, compliance, enterprise risk, and nonprofit regulations
Anticipate and mitigate legal risks that could affect operations, reputation, or mission delivery
Provide guidance on legal ethics, privilege, and professional responsibility
Ensure compliance with all applicable federal, state, and local laws, including 501(c)(3) regulations
Build and maintain policies, procedures, and internal systems to manage risk and uphold ethical standards
Lead internal training and initiatives to foster a culture of compliance and accountability
Advise on employment and labor matters, including hiring, discipline, terminations, and investigations
Partner with People & Culture on policy development, labor relations, and workplace compliance
Stay current on evolving employment regulations to proactively guide organizational practice
Draft, review, and negotiate contracts including vendor, co-counsel, expert, and partnership agreements
Build and manage relationships with outside counsel and subject-matter experts, ensuring high-quality, cost-effective legal services
Manage the contract life cycle to streamline contract and vendor management across the organization
Serve as Corporate Secretary to the Board and provide legal support for all governance activities
Maintain governance records, prepare Board resolutions, and oversee conflicts of interest disclosures
Ensure compliance with nonprofit corporate law, bylaws, and Board policies
Qualification
Required
Juris Doctor (JD) degree and admission to practice law in at least one U.S. jurisdiction
10+ years of progressively responsible experience practicing or advising in matters related to employment and labor law
Sound legal and strategic judgment with discretion and confidentiality in handling sensitive matters
Experience developing and implementing policies and procedures that ensure compliance and advance organizational goals
Proven ability to partner effectively with senior leadership, staff, and external counsel
Excellent written, verbal, and presentation skills, with the ability to communicate complex legal concepts clearly
Strong negotiation, interpersonal, and relationship-building skills
Highly organized and detail-oriented, with the ability to manage multiple priorities
Professionalism, tact, and diplomacy in representing the organization internally and externally
Familiarity with laws governing charitable giving, including vetting, accepting, and holding of non-cash charitable gifts
Preferred
Experience working with or in a nonprofit legal advocacy organization
Prior work experience in a virtual and/or unionized workplace
Experience supporting or advising nonprofit boards, including governance or corporate secretary duties
Benefits
Medical benefits that begin on your start date
Dental, Vision, and Life insurance (effective 30 days from your start date)
Short & Long-Term Disability plans (effective 30 days from your start date)
403(b) Retirement Plan (employer contribution and matching program begins after 90 days of employment)
Paid Time Off:
Paid Vacation (15 Days)
Sick Leave (12 Days)
Personal Leave (3 Days)
Religious Observance Leave (3 Days)
Bereavement and Bereavement Anniversary Leave
Floating Holiday (1 Day)
12 paid holidays and 5 early office closures
Flexible Spending Account (FSA/DC FSA) and Commuter Benefits
Health Reimbursement Account
Annual professional development funds
$50 monthly mobile phone reimbursement
Summer Fridays from Memorial Day to Labor Day
Premium subscription to the Calm App
Paid sabbatical after 7 years of service at Lambda Legal (4 weeks for non-exempt positions and 8 weeks for exempt positions)
Company
Lambda Legal
Lambda Legal is a national legal organization promoting the rights of gay, bisexual, HIV positive, and transgender people.
51-200 employees
Funding
Current Stage
Growth StageLeadership Team
Gillian Power
Chief Technology Officer
Amanda Wyatt
Chief Financial Officer
Recent News
2025-06-21
Houston Chronicle
2025-05-30
Company data provided by crunchbase