Deputy General Counsel

POSITION TITLE: Deputy General Counsel

SUPERVISOR: General Counsel

LOCATION: Washington, DC or Baltimore, MD 

TRAVEL: 15%

JOB CLASSIFICATION: Exempt

POSITION SUMMARY

The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization for equal rights, seeks a Deputy General Counsel, to join the organization’s Legal Department. The NAACP Is the nation’s largest and oldest civil rights organization. It was established to combat racial violence, injustice, and discrimination against Black Americans, playing a key role in major legal battles and advocacy for social equality. The Deputy General Counsel will partner with the General Counsel in providing reliable, comprehensive, and high-quality legal services to all programs, activities and operations of the NAACP, its local units, programs and more. 

The Deputy General Counsel’s core responsibilities will be overseeing the organization’s efforts to advance and protect civil rights through litigation in federal, state and local courts; supporting the organization’s compliance with federal and state laws; providing strategic legal advice to NAACP senior executives, Board members and staff as needed; and building and managing a roster of outside counsel and experts. Additionally, the Deputy General Counsel will manage significant portions of the Legal Department’s docket, and advise the organization on matters including, but not limited to, contract negotiations, enterprise risk management, data security and privacy, employment and labor law, c3/c4 compliance, intellectual property and licensing strategy, and more. In short, the Deputy General Counsel will help ensure compliance with all legal, regulatory, and professional obligations.

Today, with more than 3,400 local units nationwide, the NAACP continues to work in service of its core mission of equality and its foundational commitment to a multiracial, multiethnic, and multigenerational membership. This role is responsible for serving as a partner to the General Counsel and sits on the organization’s leadership team. This role requires a problem solver, collaborator and strong communicator. The role provides the unique opportunity to work in a fast-paced environment with talented and dedicated colleagues to advance justice.
 

RESPONSIBILITIES/DUTIES

Under the direction of the General Counsel, the Deputy General Counsel will perform the following duties, to include, but not limited to:  

•  Legal Work 
  • Work with the General Counsel in providing legal counsel to the Board of Directors, President & CEO, Chief Operating Officer, headquarters department heads and regional offices on legal implications of proposed policies, programs and activities.

• Mass Impact Civil Rights Litigation 
  • Oversee trial and appellate litigation instituted by the National Office. 
  • Supervise and support activities of organization’s counsel and professional staff. 
  • Support the Legal Department by drafting and negotiating co-counsel agreements, expert agreements, and client retainers. 
  • Help lead the organization's comprehensive and growing docket of civil rights impact litigation in federal and state courts regarding civil rights matters.
• Enterprise Risk Management 
  • In partnership with the General Counsel, identify, manage and support the mitigation of legal risk across the organization. 
  • Keep abreast of legislation and regulations having potential legal impact on the NAACP, particularly as it relates to tax exemption and non-profit governance and assists the General Counsel in advising the National Office, NAACP units and the NAACP Board of Directors regarding same.
  • Provide in-house legal and ethics guidance and develop and institute relevant policies and procedures.
• Managing Legal Network 
  • Work with the General Counsel in retaining outside counsel, as necessary, and coordinates the efforts of outside counsel. 
  • Draft and review contracts and other legally binding documents to ensure that their terms and conditions are consistent with NAACP policies and practices, and that the rights and interests of the NAACP are protected.
• General Legal Work
  • Oversee organization-related legal work in the areas of employment law, intellectual property, and contract negotiation, including complex commercial, vendor and licensing agreements.
• Support Local Units 
  • Make recommendations to the General Counsel and/or the President & CEO regarding the granting or denial of requests by NAACP units to participate in litigation or direct action (e.g., rallies, marches, and the like). 
  • Provide legal counsel to NAACP units (e.g., branches and state conferences) regarding grassroots civil rights advocacy and compliance with NAACP policies and procedures.
• Board Support 
  • Assist the General Counsel in performing his duties as corporate secretary of the NAACP.
• Privacy
  • Take a lead role in ensuring compliance with privacy rules in coordination with the Security, IT and Data Analytics team, and People and Culture.
• Board Relations 
  • Assist the General Counsel in performing their duties as corporate secretary of the NAACP. 
• Perform any other duties as assigned by the Chief Counsel or other designee.

QUALIFICATIONS

Education/Experience