Church & Nonprofit Law Associate

Job Description

Job Description

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• 401(k) matching
• Competitive salary
• Health insurance
• Paid time off
• Profit sharing

Church & Nonprofit Law Associate or Senior Associate
Simms Showers Law

Location: Leesburg, VA · Schedule: Full-time · Practice: Church & Nonprofit

We’re hiring an experienced church and nonprofit attorney who wants to help ministries and mission-driven organizations flourish, at a firm where faith and legal excellence go hand in hand.

Who We AreThe vision of Simms Showers Law is to integrate our faith into the practice of law with excellence, to help people and glorify God. We are a mission-driven firm in the fullest sense. Our shared faith shapes how we treat one another, how we approach our work, and how we understand what it means to serve clients with excellence.

The culture is both intellectually rigorous and genuinely warm. We collaborate closely, invest in one another, and enjoy working together.

The RoleThis role serves churches, ministries, and nonprofit organizations at every stage of their life cycle, from formation and tax exemption through governance, policy, and organizational transactions. You will manage your own matters, serve as a primary point of contact for clients and their boards, and take on responsibility that grows with your experience.

Your work will include:

•       Forming churches and nonprofits, including articles of incorporation, bylaws, constitutions, and resolutions

•        Advising clients on federal tax-exempt status, from Form 1023 strategy and organizational classification through reinstatement and ongoing compliance

•       Advising churches and nonprofits on foreign grantmaking and international charitable activities, including OFAC sanctions compliance

•       Advising boards and leadership on governance, leadership structures, membership issues, employment, and organizational decision-making
•       Drafting organizational policies, including child protection, facility use, employment, security, and conflict of interest

•       Drafting and reviewing contracts and agreements related to operations, programs, property, and facilities

•       Handling mergers, affiliations, reorganizations, asset transfers, and dissolutions

•       Handling charitable solicitation registrations across multiple states
•       Researching federal and state law affecting religious and nonprofit organizations and turning it into practical, strategic advice

•       Managing a caseload, monitoring deadlines, and coordinating with paralegals and support staff

You will work alongside experienced partners on complex matters and have a collaborative team behind you, but this role is designed for someone ready to manage matters and client relationships independently.

Compensation & BenefitsWe offer a clear path for growth, with compensation that rewards performance over time.

•       $100,000–$200,000+ base salary range, commensurate with experience and qualifications, with the opportunity to transition to a more lucrative hourly and collections-based compensation structure
•       Clear advancement tracks with partnership opportunity

•       Excellent retirement benefits including 401(k) with 4% firm match and annual profit sharing and cash balance plan contributions 

•       Multiple health insurance options with the firm paying 75% of individual premiums for all plans and 60% of qualified dependents. 

QualificationsWe are seeking a lawyer who wants their professional life to reflect their faith and has been looking for a firm where that is possible.

•       2–10 years of experience in church law, nonprofit law, or tax-exempt organization law
•       Active VA Bar license
•       Substantive experience advising on federal tax exemption and exempt-organization compliance, including Form 1023

•       Strong drafting skills across governance documents, policies, and contracts

•       Ability to manage matters independently and communicate clearly with clients, boards, and church leaders

•       For senior candidates: experience supervising junior attorneys or paralegals

Learn MoreFor additional information, please see our LinkedIn and Mission Statement.