Junior Legal Counsel

About Us:

VOALA

Helping Our Most Vulnerable Change Their Life Stories

Volunteers of America is a non-profit human services organization committed to serving people in need, strengthening families, and building communities.  VOALA provides a variety of social services to Los Angeles area communities such as Head Start programs, Upward Bound college prep programs, veterans’ services, homeless shelters, low-income housing program as well as drug and alcohol rehabilitation. Learn more at www.voala.org.

CORPORATE – Internal Counsel

Serving those who serve others – Supporting over 120 social service programs with responsive legal, compliance and regulatory efforts.

JOB SUMMARY AND PURPOSE

The Junior Legal Counsel will work directly with Internal Legal Counsel to address the ongoing legal, compliance, and regulatory issues involved in the operations of VOALA.  The Junior Legal Counsel will be involved in the day-to-day legal needs of operations, including reviewing and drafting contracts, MOUs, leases, and purchase agreements. Junior Legal Counsel will also work closely with the executive team as well as program staff to consult on the development of policies and procedures and provide support in drafting and writing of such policies.  Junior Legal Counsel will assist Internal Legal Counsel in coordinating any agency-involved litigation with insurance and outside counsel, as well as addressing any immediate legal needs that arise.  The position interfaces with funders, regulatory agencies, and the organization’s board, and so Junior Legal Counsel will need to have an understanding of the agency’s practices and mission in order to represent VOALA externally. 

• Under the guidance of Internal Legal Counsel - reviewing, drafting, and negotiating contracts, MOUs, and leases involved in the day-to-day operations of VOALA and its affiliate agencies’ programs and sites
• Assisting Internal Legal Counsel with issues related to organization governance, compliance, and regulatory/licensure issues
• Assist Internal Legal Counsel in advising the agency’s executive team and board related to ongoing development and expansion projects, including research
• Addressing compliance and liability concerns related to ongoing construction, expansion, and development 
• With the guidance of Internal Legal Counsel, developing, with program leaders and relevant members of the executive team, policies and procedures, including writing and drafting of such policies and internal guidance documents
• Conducting trainings for agency staff on various legal issues and internal policies/procedures
• Assisting Internal Legal Counsel in coordinating the agency’s litigation with outside counsel and insurance
• Interface with funders, landlords, VOALA’s board, and external regulatory/law enforcement agencies as a representative of VOALA and its work
• Review, edit, and draft contracts, MOUs, leases, purchase agreements, and other legal documents, as directed by Internal Legal Counsel.
• Assist Internal Legal counsel draft policy and procedures with input from Program staff and VOALA’s executive team
• Train Program and Corporate staff regarding legal issues and internal policies/procedures
• Conduct legal and other research as needed to advise agency’s executive team related to development projects and governance issues
• Assist Internal Legal Counsel in coordination of any agency-involved litigation with insurance and outside counsel
• Address compliance and liability questions arising from larger agency-involved development and construction projects, assist Internal Legal Counsel prepare advise to Program and Corporate leadership
• Other legal research and writing tasks as assigned by Internal Legal Counsel
• Other duties as required and may be subject to change

• Juris Doctorate degree (JD) – from a law school accredited by the America Bar Association
• License to practice law in the State of California

• 2 years of work experience handling transactional legal issues including contracts, governance, and development

KNOWLEDGE

• Foundational knowledge of contracts law
• Foundational knowledge of non-profit governance/corporations law

TECHNOLOGY SKILLS

• Microsoft operating system proficiency: Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint.   
• Ability to use Westlaw and publicly available resources for legal research

SKILLS AND ABILITIES

• Legal research and writing skills required
• Excellent writing skills required
• Effective and clear communication skills for in person, telephonic, and email communications
• Ability to build rapport with program staff and other members of the corporate team to create a relationship of trust
• Work proactively to uncover and address areas of potential liability or opportunity for the organization
•  Ability to efficiently analyze and translate legal, regulatory, and licensure requirements for program staff for implementation in their practices
• Ability to effectively communicate with funders, regulatory, and licensing agencies and positively represent VOALA  
• Work across numerous areas of the agency’s operation, effectively prioritizing and completing competing tasks, while clearly documenting all work done

INTERPERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS

• Proactive, prompt, flexible, organized, and dependable.
• Must work well independently and have a strong ability to set and meet internal deadlines.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Familiarity /experience with the following legal areas preferred:
  • Not profit governance
  • Contracts
  • Construction law
  • Landlord/tenant law
  • Tax/credits/affordable housing development

VOALA BENEFITS SUMMARY:

• Choice of 3 medical insurance plans
• Choice of 2 dental insurance plans (one plan for employee only; has no premium)
• Vision insurance plan
• Voluntary Supplemental Coverage
• Accidental Injury Coverage
• Hospital Care Coverage
• Critical Illness Coverage
• Pet Insurance
• Paid vacation time
• Paid sick time
• 10 company paid holidays
• Company funded 401a retirement pension plan
• Optional employee contribution to 403b retirement savings plan
• Life and AD&D insurance
• Programs to maintain your health and well-being
• Employee Assistance Plan (EAP) – (No cost to employee and 100% confidential)
• Company funded Short-term Disability Insurance (STDI) Insurance
• Company funded Long-term Disability Insurance (LTD)

Volunteers of America is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex including sexual orientation and gender identity, national origin, disability, protected Veteran Status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law

This employer participates in E-Verify as required by the federal government and will provide the federal government with your Form 1-9 information to confirm that you are authorized to work in the U.S.

If E-Verify cannot confirm that you are authorized to work, this employer is required to give you written instructions and an opportunity to contact Department of Homeland Security (OHS) or Social Security Administration (SSA) so you can begin to resolve the issue before the employer can take any action against you, including terminating your employment.