Assistant General Counsel

Department : Legal

Before applying for this role, please read the following information about this opportunity found below.

Employment Type : Full Time

Location : Stephen A. Schwarzman Building

Reporting To : Bridget Smith

Compensation : $165,000 - $180,000 / year

Description

Overview

The Assistant General Counsel will work closely with other Legal Department members in a small legal team and report directly to the General Counsel.

This position will provide day-to-day legal advice and counsel to stakeholders throughout the Library on a wide variety of legal issues and involves frequent collaboration with internal stakeholders and senior management.

This is a generalist role, and specific responsibilities may shift based on the candidate's experience and the Legal Department's needs.

We are looking for someone we can count on to :

Own :

• Independent handling of legal matters and projects ranging from basic to complex
• Management of work product records
• Client relationships with supported departments

Teach :

Clients and stakeholders about the law, policies and procedures related to legal matters

Learn :

• The complexities and diversity of matters faced by the Library's Legal Department
• Library's internal procedures, policies, stakeholders and various department functions

Improve :

• Template forms and processes
• Workflow by ensuring that appropriate clients and team members are involved in projects and the decision-making process

Some expectations for this role are that within :

1 month , this person will :

• Conduct in-person introductions with key stakeholders of supported departments
• Become familiar with the organizational structure of the Library and its leadership
• Learn how to navigate Legal Department's document management system

3 months , this person will :

• Learn about the Library's departments and obtain a strong knowledge of their functions and objectives
• Independently handle legal matters

6 months and beyond , this person will :

• Be fully immersed in the Library and its work
• Build rapport and good working relationships with stakeholders
• Establish themselves as primary Legal Department point of contact with clients
• Suggest potential refinement of the Legal Department's processes and procedures
• Establish relationships with other attorneys at peer institutions

Responsibilities

• Provide legal advice and counsel to internal clients on a variety of matters, including the following areas of law : labor & employment, contracts, compliance, tax exempt organizations, and litigation
• Work closely with Human Resources on labor & employment matters, including internal investigations, reasonable accommodations and employment litigation
• Draft, review, and negotiate a wide variety of contracts
• Draft key documents
• Identify and analyze legal issues and provide advice
• Ensure compliance with applicable laws, regulations, and industry standards - and provide guidance to Library's departments
• Stay informed and up to date about emerging legal and regulatory issues that may impact the Library and proactively recommend appropriate action and / or strategies
• Collaborate with cross-functional stakeholders to develop and implement policies and procedures that align with legal requirements, best practices and Library values
• Manage litigation claims and administrative agency complaints with outside insurance counsel
• Review subpoenas and third-party information requests and manage responses
• Engage and supervise various outside counsel
• Notarize documents
• Provide general legal support with a focus on protecting the Library's interests, furthering its non-profit mission and mitigating risk
• Other legal matters as needed

Required Education, Experience & Skills

Required Education & Certifications

• Juris Doctorate (J.D.) from an accredited law school
• Active New York State Bar Membership in good standing
• NY State Notary Public License preferred

Required Experience

• 4+ years of relevant legal experience, preferably in-house within a nonprofit in a generalist role
• Experience drafting, reviewing, and negotiating contracts
• Experience in labor & employment law
• Experience with providing counsel and advice to clients and maintaining client relationships

Required Skills

• Proven ability to work collaboratively with cross-functional teams and effectively manage projects and multiple priorities in a timely manner
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to convey complex legal concepts to a non-legal audience
• Ability to problem solve on a broad range of legal questions and provide sound, thoughtful & practical advice on actions and policies
• Handle matters with confidentiality and discretion and exercises sound judgment
• Demonstrated integrity and adhering to high ethical values in dealings with others
• Able to work well both independently and as part of a team environment
• Build and maintain strong working relationships and effectively liaise with internal clients, outside counsel and others at all levels
• Flexible working style and ability to adjust when needed
• Excellent organizational skills
• Ability to supervise, delegate work to and provide constructive feedback to Legal Department interns
• Interest in the Library's mission and desire to join a mission-driven nonprofit organization

Managerial / Supervisory Responsibilities

Supervise one Legal Department law student intern per semester

More...

Core Values

All team members are expected and encouraged to embody the NYPL Core Values :

• Be Helpful to patrons and colleagues
• Be Resourceful in solving problems
• Be Curious in all aspects of your work
• Be Welcoming and Inclusive

Work Environment

Work is typically done in the Legal Department office setting with occasional travel in the midtown area to nearby offices for other Library departments

Physical Duties

• Limited physical effort is required
• Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this role

Pre-Placement Physical Required?

Union / Non Union

Non-Union

FLSA Status

Exempt

Schedule

The position is currently hybrid with a minimum of 3 days in the office and 2 days maximum of remote work.

This job description represents the types and levels of responsibilities that will be required of the position and shall not be construed as a declaration of all of the specific duties and responsibilities for the role.

Job duties may change if Library priorities change. Employees may be directed to perform job-related tasks other than those specifically presented in this description as needed.

The New York Public Library Salary Statement

At the Library, we believe that pay transparency and pay equity are important to ensuring we source the best candidates and keep the best employees.

When making a determination as to the appropriate salary for a candidate, we consider a variety of factors such, including, but not limited to, the position requirements, the skills, prior experience, and educational background required or preferred for the job, the scope and impact of the role within the organization, internal peer equity, and the candidate's specific training, experience, education level, and skills.

No single factor is conclusive; the Library reserves the right to consider any and all relevant factors and make a decision consistent with its policies.

Union Salaries are determined by collective bargaining agreement(s).

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