Senior Counsel

The Senior Counsel serves as in-house legal counsel for California Coast Credit Union and provides legal advice and guidance to management and business units on a broad range of corporate, contractual, employment, litigation, governance, operational, and financial services matters. The position works closely with internal stakeholders and outside counsel to review and negotiate contracts, support strategic initiatives, manage legal matters and disputes, and identify and mitigate legal risk throughout the organization. Active licensure to practice law in California is required. Banking, financial services, or credit union experience is preferred.

GENERAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE

1. Actively support and foster the credit union’s mission, vision and core values.
2. Serve as primary liaison with legal counsel on corporate legal matters.
3. Participate in the development of the strategic plan and carry out those items as assigned, personally or jointly

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES

This role would directly supervise the in-house Paralegal. This role would be the subject matter expert within the department on legal matters.

DIMENSIONS :

Administrative:

Internal Member Support:

25+ branches and headquarters office

565 staff in 25 branches and the Spectrum Center

Asset/Liability Management:

$3.5 billion in assets

NATURE & SCOPE:

Legal

• Provide legal advice and practical counsel to management and business units regarding operational, contractual, employment, governance, lending, deposit, vendor, and member-related matters.
• Draft, review, negotiate, and interpret contracts, agreements, policies, and other legal documents.
• Coordinate and manage relationships with outside counsel.
• Support litigation, subpoenas, regulatory inquiries, investigations, and dispute resolution matters.
• Advise management regarding legal risks associated with new products, services, strategic initiatives, and operational changes.
• Conduct legal research and provide guidance on applicable federal and California laws and regulations.
• Assist with corporate governance matters, including Board and committee support.
• Monitor legal and regulatory developments affecting the financial services industry and provide timely guidance to management.
• Develop and deliver legal training and educational materials as needed.
• Prepare reports, memoranda, and presentations regarding legal matters.
• Other duties as assigned.

Education, skills, & abilities :

The Eight Superpowers

1. Provides leadership through modeling of behaviors and bringing forward new ideas and new ways of doing things.
2. Demonstrates empathy , self-reflection, and adjustment of own behaviors, showing effective emotional intelligence.
3. Practices active listening in communications with others, giving someone full attention and listening to understand, not just respond.
4. Demonstrates grit , persisting in application of knowledge, skills, and behaviors to achieve goals and address obstacles.
5. Models intrinsic motivation ; is self-driven to meet or exceed objectives, timelines, and quality measures while building and sustaining effective relationships.
6. Applies creative problem-solving to provide clarity, handle resources under one’s control, and address stressful situations; finds ways to meet individual, team, and member goals, by navigating through barriers.
7. Shares a diverse set of perspectives, work and life experiences, as well as religious and cultural differences. Actively seeks out differences in values, ideas, and priorities. Respects and value the differences of others, including but not limited to: national origin, language, race, color, disability, ethnicity, gender, age, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, socioeconomic status, veteran status, and family structures. Believes a diverse workplace is essential to the company’s success.
8. Values and shows appreciating for the unique qualities and experiences of each person- inclusion ; appreciates and effectively utilizes the talents and skills of others to achieve objectives; is open to the perspective of others; and encourages collaboration, flexibility and fairness. Makes each employee feel valued and supported for their unique qualities.

Other Education, Skills, and Abilities

• Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree from an accredited law school required.
• Active membership in good standing with the State Bar of California is required and must be maintained throughout employment.
• Three to 5 years of legal experience, including experience in corporate, commercial, employment, financial services, banking, regulatory, or related practice areas. In-house experience is preferred but not required.
• Experience advising financial institutions, banks, credit unions, FinTechs, or other highly regulated organizations preferred. Credit union experience is a plus.
• Experience drafting, reviewing, and negotiating a broad range of contracts and legal documents.
• Strong legal research, analytical, negotiation, and written communication skills.
• Ability to provide practical, business-oriented legal advice and exercise sound judgment.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and work effectively with all levels of the organization.
• Comprehensive knowledge of financial service industry products, operations and procedures.
• Expertise in local, state and federal laws and regulations as they apply to credit union products and services.
• Strong analytical and quantitative skills, along with highly complex conceptual thinking ability, and the ability to handle multiple projects simultaneously to meet work deadlines. Ability to gather, assemble, correlate and analyze data and develop solutions as needed.
• Ability to interface and communicate both orally and in writing in a positive, professional manner with all levels of staff within the organization. Excellent communication skills with the ability to clearly convey detailed information and instructions and write reports, correspondence and procedures.
• Ability to deal with complex problems involving multiple facets and variables in non-standardized situations and ability to use resources to problem solve. Sound judgment, attention to detail and problem-solving abilities.
• Strong computer skills, advanced abilities with word processing and spreadsheet software.
• Ability to interact effectively with peers, subordinates and outside contacts.
• Ability to understand and follow policies and procedures, accept constructive criticism, and lead and manage others.

MAJOR ACCOUNTABILITIES :

Legal Advice (35%)

• Provides timely, practical, and business-oriented legal advice to management and business units.
• Identifies legal risks and recommends appropriate mitigation strategies.

Contracts and Transactions (25%)

• Drafts, reviews, negotiates, and interprets contracts, agreements, and legal documents.
• Supports strategic initiatives, vendor relationships, and business transactions.

Litigation and Dispute Management (15%)

• Coordinates litigation, subpoenas, investigations, member disputes, and other legal proceedings.
• Manages relationships with outside counsel and monitors legal spend.

Corporate Governance and Regulatory Support (15%)

• Supports Board and committee matters as assigned.
• Monitors legal and regulatory developments and advises management regarding implications to the organization.

Legal Research, Training, and Special Projects (10%)

• Conducts legal research.
• Develops training and educational materials.
• Assists with special projects and strategic initiatives.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Ability to clearly and effectively communicate, both verbally and in writing.
• Ability to use standard office equipment such as computer, printer, fax, copier and telephonic devices.
• Ability to tolerate periods of continuous sitting. This is largely a sedentary role; however, some filing is required. This would require the ability to lift files, open filing cabinets and bending or standing as necessary.
• Occasional travel for attending off-hours and off-site meetings and conferences may be required.

ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS:

• This job operates in a professional office environment. This role routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, printers, copiers, phones and filing cabinets.
• Subject to standard background noise found in an office environment and during travel time, subject to variable weather and traffic conditions.

POSITION TYPE/EXPECTED HOURS OF WORK

This is a full-time position and hours of work and workdays are generally Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. This position is considered hybrid with three in-office days and two remote days in line with Company policy. Employees are expected to live in San Diego/Riverside Counties.

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

Salary Range (annually):

$152,216.1040 - $190,270.1300