General Counsel

Job Description

Job Description

WE ARE CASA & CASA IN ACTION SYNOPSIS:

We Are CASA’s mission is to create a more just society by building power and improving the quality of life in working-class: Black, Latino/a/e, Afro-descendent, Indigenous, and Immigrant communities. Our vision is a future where we stand in our own power, our families live free from discrimination and fear, and our diverse communities thrive as we work with our partners to achieve full human rights for all. We Are CASA has a sister organization, CASA in Action, a separate, but related, nonprofit organization that is exempt from federal income tax under section 501(c) (4) of the Internal Revenue Code. Although We Are CASA and CASA in Action share a common goal of supporting immigrants and working class people in Georgia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and nationally, they are separate organizations with their own boards of directors. A set of employees at the two organizations, including the person filling this position, shares their time between the two organizations. This has no effect on salary or benefits.

DEPARTMENT SYNOPSIS:

We Are CASA’s Operations division is tasked with overseeing and synchronizing efficient and effective organizational functions. The division encompasses areas such as human resources, IT, sites, and compliance. The legal component of the operations division is responsible for overall organizational protection, including but not limited to managing organizational threats and attacks, anticipating and addressing legal risks, ensuring regulatory compliance, reviewing contracts, providing legal guidance and advocacy, and addressing other legal concerns as necessary. The focus of the legal component is on ensuring the organization's adherence to legal and ethical guidelines. The operations division plays a vital role in furthering We Are CASA's overarching mission by ensuring the seamless running of day-to-day operations.

POSITION SUMMARY:

The General Counsel (GC) will serve as We Are CASA’s primary legal officer, advising senior leadership on key institutional decisions, ensuring compliance with applicable laws and regulations for both We Are CASA and CASA in Action. The GC protects the organization’s legal interests while advancing mission through practical, values-based guidance that balances legal compliance, organizational strategy, and risk management. This position oversees critical legal risk and compliance matters across the organization and affiliate entities, including but not limited to nonprofit, advocacy, and political matters, ensuring compliance and application of federal, state, and local laws while supporting growth and advancement of We Are CASA’s mission and values.

ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES:

In-House Counsel

Strategic Legal Advisor

• Serve as We Are CASA’s primary in-house organizational legal adviser on all legal matters affecting the organization operations, governance, and strategic initiatives
• Build relationships and lead partnerships with pro bono and industry specific external counsel
• Oversee and guide teams on organizational protection and defense work ensuring compliance protocols across all departments and programs are developed, implemented and monitored
• Provide timely, practical legal advice that supports mission-driven decisions while managing organizational risk
• Advise executive leadership on emerging legal risks and opportunities
• Develop proactive legal strategies that strengthen resilience and operational effectiveness
• Provide legal guidance, leading and/or collaborating execution with other relevant staff, during organizational crises and emergency response situations

People & Culture Partnership

• Partner closely with People & Culture (P&C) department and executive leadership to support and advise on union relations, employment law, personnel policies, and all other employment-related legal matters
• Provide legal support during internal workplace investigations involving employee complaints, harassment, discrimination, retaliation, and misconduct.
• Counsel leadership regarding severance agreements and other relevant contracts
• Serve as legal advisor on collective bargaining agreement (CBA) negotiations - including strategy development, labor-management relations, union engagement, grievance processes, arbitrations, and contract implementation

Compliance and Risk Management

• Lead organization wide legal compliance initiatives including relevant policy creation, updates, and staff trainings
• Advise leadership on nonprofit governance requirements, charitable compliance, lobbying regulations, political activity restrictions, campaign finance considerations, and tax-exempt compliance
• Oversee document retention, records management, and information governance policies
• Monitor and advise on changes in laws affecting the organization, immigrant rights, employment, elections, privacy, technology, election and advocacy issues
• Review organizational insurance coverage and advise on claims and risk mitigation

Litigation

• Manage actual, threatened, and potential litigation directly involving the organization, particularly where the organization is a named party
• Manage potential threats of investigations assessing risk, likelihood, protection measures, and communications and trainings for all staff
• Advise on and develop litigation strategy in partnership with executive leadership
• Establish and administer document preservation efforts and litigation hold procedures
• Ensure collection, organization, review, and production of records in response to litigation, subpoenas, administrative investigations, and government inquires
• Create and maintain systems that ensure records are properly retained, organized, protected, and readily accessible for legal and operational purposes
• In partnership with Legal Director and Deputy Legal Director, support the Legal Department’s impact litigation efforts to advance mission and protect members

Governance and Other

• Advise the Board and executive leadership on governance matters
• Prepare and review board resolutions, governance policies, bylaws, and corporate records
• Lead on relevant disclosures and governance best practices ensuring compliance
• Draft, negotiate, and review contracts, memos of understanding, consulting agreements, grant agreements, leases, licensing agreements, and partnership agreements
• Develop contract standards and approval processes
• Advise on legal and organizational risks in contractual relationships
• Advise on privacy laws, confidentiality obligations, cybersecurity incidents, and data governance
• Partner with Information Technology department regarding incident response planning and data breach response
• Lead legal review of relevant organizational policies and procedures ensuring they reflect current legal requirements and organizational values
• Perform other duties consistent with the responsibilities of the General Counsel role

EDUCATION/CERTIFICATIONS:

• J.D. degree with a minimum of 8 years legal experience
• Civil litigation experience preferred, ideally including experience in one or more of the legal areas where We Are CASA works
• Active membership in good standing with the Maryland State Bar
• Significant legal experience supporting nonprofit organizations, labor and employment law, governance

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES REQUIRED:

• Creative, movement oriented lawyer with deep expertise in organizational governance and protection, risk management, and compliance
• Deep commitment to social change through a lens that protects and strengthens the organization
• Significant experience in and strong commitment to workers’ and immigrants’ rights, including experience working with immigrant communities
• Strong interpersonal communication, conflict resolution and negotiation skills
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Excellent organizational skills with the ability to work independently with minimal supervision and manage multiple ongoing projects simultaneously
• Valid US Driver’s License and own transportation is a must
• Bilingual English/Spanish (preferred but not required)

COMPENSATION:  $120,000 - $130,000

BENEFITS DESCRIPTION:
Who is eligible?

• All full time and part time permanent positions working 20 hours or more per week.

What We Offer:

• Generous paid time off , including: annual leave starting at three weeks per year (proportional accrual per pay period), two weeks of sick leave, three days of personal leave, and additional compensatory leave for exempt employees.
• Sixteen (16) paid holidays per calendar year.
• Excellent Benefits Package including employer paid benefits as follow:
  • Health, dental, and vision insurance (We Are CASA pays 100% of the premium costs for the employee up to our HMO plan, 55% for couples, 65% for children and 60% for family)
  • Basic life and AD&D
  • Long and Short Term Disability insurance
  • Professional Development: Those pursuing a course of study related to work performed at We Are CASA may be eligible for a reimbursement up to $3,000.
  • Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Additional voluntary benefits:
  • FSA Account including Dependent Care.
  • 401(k) retirement plan with a 2% employer discretionary match.
  • Supplemental Health insurance
• Allowances:
  • Mileage reimbursements for those positions that are required to drive on We Are We Are CASA business.
  • Cell Phone stipend for those positions that are required to use their cellphone for We Are CASA business

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this Job, the employee is regularly required to sit; lift, carry, reach push or pull objects; climb, balance, stoop, kneel, crouch, crawl; handling, feeling or grasping.

The employee is occasionally required to stand or walk. The employee may be asked to lift up to 25 lbs.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:
The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. When it comes to physical strength the employee will rarely perform heavy or medium work.

While performing the duties of this Job, the employee is rarely exposed to wet and/or humid conditions and outside weather conditions. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

ADA: We Are CASA will make reasonable accommodations in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990.

OSHA: This role is not to handle any human body fluids, biological agents, laboratory chemicals, or be exposed to hazardous materials such as noise, asbestos, or carcinogens.

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