Assistant General Counsel

SEIU JOB DESCRIPTION

JOB TITLE : Assistant General Counsel

Grade : ATTY 3+ years (from $93,785, depending on the number of years out of law school)

LOCATION : Washington, DC or Los Angeles, CA.

The start date for this role is set for January 2024. Please keep that in mind as you consider this opportunity.

PURPOSE : This attorney position is responsible for the provision of legal services to SEIU organizing campaigns. This includes counseling in connection with national organizing campaigns, litigation at all levels of the state and federal court systems as well as federal and state agencies, and policy work, including drafting and interpreting legislation and regulations.

This position is designated for attorneys with at least three years of post-law-school experience, including litigation experience and / or experience representing unions or workers.

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES :

• Provide counsel to active organizing campaigns;
• Initiate, pursue, and supervise both proactive and defensive litigation in state and federal courts and before administrative agencies, including negotiating legal settlements as assigned by the General Counsel;
• Draft legislation, executive orders, and rules; draft formal comments to proposed federal, state and local legislation and administrative proposals as assigned by the General Counsel;
• Develop training materials and lead training sessions on a variety of legal issues as assigned by the General Counsel;
• Direct, supervise, and carry out the responsibility for all of the assigned legal work, whether performed in-house or by outside counsel as assigned by the General Counsel;
• Serve as liaison, where assigned, for SEIU with outside allies, advocacy groups, and legal professional committees as assigned by the General Counsel;
• Advise SEIU officers, division heads, other managers and employees, and union leaders on the range of legal issues affecting their areas of responsibility;
• Perform other duties as assigned by the General Counsel in support of the work of the Department.

Supervision :

• Supervise and direct work of outside counsel in assigned areas; review and approve all outside counsel bills in areas of assignment, before transmittal to General Counsel;
• Direct supervision of Law Fellows, Law Clerks, and Administrative Professionals in the incumbent’s area of responsibility.

Budget Responsibility :

Where applicable, responsible for recommending project budgets for legal work done by outside counsel.

CONTACTS : Job duties for this position require contact with SEIU officers, staff, local leaders, outside counsel, governmental agencies, courts, and / or other outside institutions on a regular basis.

DIRECTION AND DECISION MAKING : Incumbents report to the General Counsel and are expected to perform duties with little or no direct supervision.

Incumbents are held responsible for legal accuracy and adequacy of work performed.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE : Juris Doctor degree or equivalent from accredited law school and active membership in the bar of Washington DC or California.

A minimum of three years’ experience as a practicing attorney.

Qualified candidates must demonstrate a strong commitment to racial, economic, and social justice. Experience working in the labor movement, labor and employment law practice, and / or related fields is highly preferred.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES :

• Ability to independently conduct, analyze, and synthesize complex legal research; develop and implement comprehensive and sophisticated legal strategies for SEIU campaigns and programs;
• prepare quality legal pleadings, memoranda, and reports and recommendations; present persuasive oral advocacy;
• Sound legal judgment and ability to effectively interact with, communicate with, and advise a wide variety of staff, officers, outside counsel, and outside agencies;
• Demonstrated ability to strategically use the law to further workers’ interests, including developing and employing innovative legal arguments;
• Spanish language fluency is desired, but not required;
• Skill in using computerized legal research tools such as Westlaw and internet-based legal databases;
• Knowledge of word processing programs such as MSWord and Google Docs.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS : Work is generally performed in an office setting, but incumbents may be required to work in other settings conducive to performing the tasks required to complete assignments.

Some travel and extended hours may be required.

VACCINATION REQUIREMENT : Candidates will be required to show proof of being fully vaccinated against COVID-19 upon commencing employment.

Reasonable accommodations will be considered on a case-by-case basis for either a) a certain medical condition(s); or b) on the basis of sincerely held strong religious beliefs and practices;

c) as otherwise required by law.

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