Summit Public Schools · 13 hours ago
Associate General Counsel
Redwood City, CA
Full-time
Hybrid
Mid, Senior Level
$158K/yr - $187K/yr
3+ years expSummit Public Schools is looking for an Associate General Counsel who will support the Chief Legal Officer on various legal issues impacting the organization. This role involves navigating complex legal matters related to education law, compliance, and governance while working closely with school leaders and external stakeholders.
Association
Responsibilities
Serve as a thought partner to the Chief Legal Officer and senior leadership on governance, compliance, and risk strategy
Navigate complex issues across multiple jurisdictions (California and Washington), with exposure to evolving charter law and nonprofit governance
Advise on charter and education law and apply it to Summit’s schools in California and Washington
Manage outside counsel in litigation, dispute resolution, and other high-risk matters
Draft, review, and negotiate agreements critical to operations and innovation
Oversee compliance with federal and state laws and regulations
Provide legal advice and resolve disputes in special education matters
Support the development and implementation of organizational policies
Advise on corporate law, nonprofit operations, and education codes
Deliver training and actionable guidance on legal and compliance issues to staff
Support the Diverse Learners team on special education matters, including FAPE
Serve as lead attorney on labor and employment matters, including collective bargaining, contract administration, and employee relations
Represent Summit with charter authorizers, oversight agencies, and external stakeholders
Advise on high-stakes charter renewals, policy shifts, and public accountability
Support school leaders on state and federal law obligations under our charters
Advise on finance, governance, philanthropy, and strategic partnerships
Ensure legal alignment with Summit’s innovation and growth initiatives
Support the Government and Public Affairs team on legislation and external engagement
Draft, review, and negotiate commercial and strategic agreements
Draft, review, and prepare governance documents, including board memoranda, resolutions, and policies
Provide legal advice on student matters, including safety, confidentiality, and school norms
Provide legal expertise and guidance to the network leadership team
Ensure compliance with California’s Brown Act, Political Reform Act, and Public Records Act
Ensure compliance with Washington’s Open Public Meetings Act and nonprofit governance laws
Advise governing boards and leadership teams on legislative trends and recommend responses
Partner with HR to ensure employment law compliance and resolve employee relations matters
Provide legal support to finance and data operations teams
Lead or contribute to cross-functional projects and take on related duties as assigned, with opportunities to expand expertise while advancing Summit’s mission
Qualification
Required
A true passion for our organization's mission to empower all students with the skills necessary to succeed in college, career, and life
Bachelor's Degree and Juris Doctor degree from an accredited school of law
Member in good standing of the State Bar of California and/or Washington State Bar Association
3-5 years of experience in either education law or legal experience representing a local education agency in some capacity
Experience with applicable federal and state laws and regulations relating to public education, including the California Education Code and Revised Code of Washington, with an emphasis on special education and/or employment law preferred
Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively in cross-functional teams and across diverse stakeholders
Excellent interpersonal, writing, communication and presentation skills
Outstanding organizational skills with extraordinary attention to detail
Ability to work in a fast-paced environment, managing multiple projects, under tight deadlines
Ability to analyze statutes and regulations quickly to provide practical advice
Ability to independently make decisions balancing legal requirements and business/managerial needs, and to efficiently and effectively communicate with non-lawyers
Ability to present complex and sensitive issues to managers in a concise and effective manner
Experience taking on projects involving unfamiliar subject matters
Ability to collaborate and build relationships with a wide variety of stakeholders
Ability to evaluate risk and resolve complex issues in creative and effective ways
Proficiency in Google Suite (Docs, Sheets, Slides) or Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, and Powerpoint)
Preferred
Experience with applicable federal and state laws and regulations relating to public education, including the California Education Code and Revised Code of Washington, with an emphasis on special education and/or employment law preferred
Spanish language proficiency is a plus
Benefits
Retirement plan
"take what you need" personal leave policy
12 paid holidays
3 weeks of organization-wide closures during the year
Multiple health, dental, and vision plans at 25% cost (we cover the other 75%)
Employee life and disability insurance at no cost
Company
Summit Public Schools
Summit Public Schools is the first Charter Management Organization (CMO) based in Silicon Valley.
201-500 employees
Funding
Current Stage
Growth StageLeadership Team
Felix Li
Chief Operating Officer
Brett van Zuiden
Chief Information Officer
Company data provided by crunchbase