A Juris Doctorate from an ABA-accredited law school, and a member in good standing of the District of Columbia Bar or a state bar with ability to waive into DC.  Minimum of 15+ years of experience practicing law in many or all preferred subject areas, and required experience serving as legal counsel to complex non-profit organizations. 

Required expertise in many or all of the following areas: tax-exempt organization law, including non-profit tax, fiduciary duty and other areas of association law, employment, benefits, ethics, education law and accreditation, and lobbying/FEC compliance.  Ability to serve as a generalist and learn new areas of law as needed highly valued.

Exceptional analytic and critical thinking skills. Strong interpersonal, negotiating and collaborative skills. Strong writing and oral communication skills including explaining legal terms and recommending strategies to non-lawyer executive level stakeholders and to Association Board, members of Council of Representatives, Committees and Divisions, and providing both immediate and long-range strategic advice.

Must be able to be a team player in a small, busy and highly efficient general counsel’s office.  Must be skilled in working with non-lawyer clients from staff and governance in guidance, project planning, compliance implementation.  Prefer candidates who are skilled relationship builders and partners to in-house teams.

Computer Skills Required (including level of expertise):

General fluency with Microsoft office and remote meetings platforms; technical ability to adapt to new systems.

Responsibilities:

Serves as APA’s lead attorney in several assigned areas of legal expertise.  This includes advising multiple organization entities, staff, and volunteer leadership on wide range of legal, policy and strategy issues, training and education of staff and volunteer leaders, representing APA in dealing with third parties, and direct supervision and management of outside counsel, and Associate General Counsel. 

Provide legal strategic and policy advice on tax exempt organization law, including non-profit governance, tax, employment, benefits, education law and accreditation, political law, ethics, litigation and other legal issues; provide general advice on in house legal issues as situations arise.

Work independently with staff, governance and third-party entities, and effectively manage outside counsel.

Functions in the place of the General Counsel in her absence.  Works with the GC in the design and implementation of office procedures and methods designed to provide more efficient and effective legal services to APA, direct supervision of Associate General Counsel, functional supervision of Office of General Counsel staff.