Corporate Counsel

Corporate Counsel

Pay Information: Exempt E18 - $123,700 - $171,000 per year

Location: Remote first work environment with occasional travel and in office meetings.

Application Process: Please submit a two-page cover letter along with your resume. In the cover letter, please address:

1. Who you are, why this position interests you, and what you would bring to the California Dental Association.
2. Your regulatory experience, in any field. Tell us what kinds of questions you were asked, who was asking them, and what you were responsible for delivering.
3. A specific example of a time you had to investigate and understand a complex legal topic that was new to you, and then make it accessible to a non-attorney audience. Describe the topic, how you got up to speed, who your audience was, and what form your answer took.

We are more interested in a direct account of your actual work than in a general statement of your qualifications.

Company Benefits: At CDA, we offer a robust benefits package that enhances overall employee well-being and provides options to meet the needs of our diverse workforce. We listen to our employees on matters of wellness and devote time and resources to continuously evaluate our benefits to ensure we can best support their work-life goals.

• Remote and hybrid flexibility and technology to support remote work
• Generous time off program starting at 22 days of PTO and 13 paid holidays (includes a floating holiday and winter closure)
• Highly competitive medical, dental and vision plans, including FSA and HSA account options
• 401(k) plans, with a generous match and safe harbor contributions upon eligibility
• Paid parental leave
• Wellness programs, including incentives and an In-Shape Family Fitness discount
• Opportunities for professional development, training and leadership skill-building
• Critical illness, accident, life, pet, short term and long-term disability insurance options
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP) for support navigating day-to-day challenges

Universal Competencies:

• Collaboration: Proactively engages with an iterative mindset to enhance ideas and achieve organizational results; Cultivates relationships, builds partnerships, shares and learns without boundaries.
• Service: Focusing on meeting needs and exceeding expectations for those served inside and outside the organization.
• Respect: Embracing others for their true authentic self; nurture and promote an environment that values diversity of thought, input, experience and expertise.

Role Specific Competencies:

• Problem Solving: Applies analysis, creativity, resilience and logic to reach optimal outcomes; develops and implements solutions.
• Decision Making: Decides with intention, reflection and reason while maintaining a big-picture mindset; clarifies purpose, evaluates alternatives and analyzes risks.
• Approachability: Is consistently approachable, open to feedback and truthful; builds trust and authentic professional relationships.

Job Purpose: The Corporate Counsel is responsible for assisting in protecting the organization's legal interest and maintaining its operations within the scope established by law. The Corporate Counsel will assist the Chief Legal Officer in identifying and analyzing legal issues, drafting key documents, presenting clear recommendations, and assuring legal compliance for the California Dental Association, The Dentists Insurance Company (TDIC), TDIC Insurance Solutions (TDICIS) and related companies.

• Engages in creative, original legal thought in an experienced and poised manner while addressing legal issues in a variety of formats, across multiple states, multiple lines of business, and for-profit and not-for-profit contexts. Partners and collaborates with other legal staff to deliver exceptional service and results for internal customers.
• Advises the California Dental Association, CDA Foundation, The Dentists Insurance Company and TDIC Insurance Solutions on all legal, legislative, governance and regulatory matters, with an aptitude for insurance matters.
• In partnership with the Chief Legal Officer, takes accountability for interpreting laws, rulings and regulations, including current and past legislation, analyzing legal implications, and providing optional strategies for responsive actions. Must be able to quickly and confidently identify relevant regulations, analyze them accurately, and deliver actionable, understandable analysis enabling rapid business decision making for supported lines of business. Able to work in a multi-state, highly regulated environment and navigate multiple levels of law and governance.
• Communicates directly with senior leadership and boards of directors in a fashion that builds confidence and understanding of legal operations and applicable law by virtue of clear, concise and precise guidance. Able to respond to questions confidently in a variety of contexts, including response to verbal questioning during meetings.
• Assists staff in negotiation and drafting of legislation and regulations. Works with outside regulatory agencies to review legal impact of past and newly introduced legislation.
• Researches and prepares legal memoranda as requested by Chief Legal Officer.
• Develops communications to inform and educate members regarding laws and regulations affecting members. Researches and stays abreast of changes in the law related to associations, non-profits, and the insurance industry.
• Engages with and supervises utilization of specialty external counsel to support the organization's legal needs on highly technical or specialized areas of law, or with respect to litigation or actions in other states. Includes directly managing and overseeing external counsel involved in the defense or prosecution of legal actions on behalf of multiple regulated entities.
• Assists with regulatory filings with the various state governmental agencies that oversee the insurance industry in California and the other states in which TDIC and TDIC Insurance Solutions are licensed to sell insurance.
• Assists with development of policy forms, underwriting guidelines and procedures in compliance with department of insurance requirements. Participates in development and preparation of all form and rate filings. Works with outside legal counsel to create policy forms. Serves as TDIC's liaison with state insurance regulators.
• Provides legal support in the development of new products and services for TDIC and TDIC Insurance Solutions.
• Coordinates work with Department of Insurance for all market conduct exams.
• Reviews treaty language in conjunction with TDIC reinsurance renewal.
• Assists Chief Legal Officer in management of pending litigation involving either TDIC or TDIC Insurance Solutions. Monitors and acts as a resource for outside counsel to manage various matters. May be responsible for small litigation cases in-house.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Juris Doctorate required, with a minimum of three years of experience in a related industry.
• Active State Bar licensure in at least one state required; eligibility for Registered In House Counsel status in California preferred; California law license highly preferred.
• Requires strong computer skills, including mastery of Windows/Microsoft Office and the ability to quickly learn and adopt other technology platforms, as well as the ability to conduct computerized legal research.
• Requires confident, legal analysis and the ability to deliver clear, direct responses to complex questions.
• Excellent research and drafting abilities coupled with attention to detail and the ability to self-generate professional contracts, pleadings, memos, responses to inquiries and similar documents, while offering internal peers in the organization a high level of professionalism, responsiveness and customer service.
• Familiarity with insurance law.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Willingness and ability to learn insurance codes and regulations in California and other states.
• Knowledge and understanding of the insurance industry, particularly related to professional liability, property, cyber and workers' compensation insurance.
• Experience with the Knox-Keene Act, insurance law, and healthcare law preferred.
• Experience with negotiation and drafting of legislation and regulations preferred.
• Requires excellent interpersonal, verbal and written communication skills.
• Must demonstrate diplomacy and tact while interacting with all levels within and outside of the organization.
• Must be able to make effective and persuasive speeches and presentations on complex topics to top management, public groups, and/or boards of directors.
• Must be able to perform job duties independently, exercising good judgment and professionalism.
• The ability to quickly and accurately analyze complex regulatory, statutory or contractual matters and provide concise, practical, actionable and useful guidance that is legally appropriate and also aligned with business needs.
• Well-developed organizational skills enabling the management of multiple matters at the same time with complex or intersecting work product, deadlines and production expectations, including the ability to use project tracking tools and electronic resources to track and provide visibility into project and matter status.