Associate General Counsel

NRDC (the Natural Resources Defense Council) works to safeguard the Earthits people its plants and animals and the natural systems on which all life depends. NRDC combines the power of more than3 million membersand online activists with the expertise of some 800 policy advocates lawyers scientists and communication experts to confront the climate crisis protect nature ensure the rights of all people to clean air clean water and healthy international nonprofit environmental organization NRDC is workingto address the worlds most urgent environmental challengesandadvanceinnovative science-based and enforceable solutions.

Since our founding in 1970 NRDC has helped craft and deliver many of Americas foundational environmental laws including the Clean Air Act Clean Water Act and Safe Drinking Water Act. Today we continue to lead in advancing and defending strong environmental protections at the local state federal and international levels as well as through the marketplace. Our team works across the United States and around the world from offices in Chicago Denver Los Angeles New York City San Francisco and Washington D.C. as well as in Beijing London and New Delhi (a subsidiary of NRDC India Pvt. Ltd.).

Supported byourmembers and online activists NRDC is driving impactful solutions that confront the climate crisis defend nature and safeguard public health acrossAsia Africa and the NRDC we believe lasting change happens when people bring their talent passion andexpertisetogether for a common purpose:to build a cleaner healthier and more resilient more at

Position Summary

NRDCa nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization employs over a hundred lawyers who practice law on a wide range of matters and in various jurisdictions throughout the United States. NRDC is seeking a highly knowledgeable and motivated Associate General Counsel to advise and support NRDC and its employees on a range of legal matters with a primary but not exclusive focus on legal ethics in the practice of law and complex professional responsibility matters along with privacy security and other issues.

Associate General Counselwill be part of theOffice of theGeneral Counsel which provides in-house legal support to all NRDC programs and departments and willalsocollaborate closely withattorneys on theLitigation Team. The position is basedin our Washington DC Chicago IL New York NY Santa Monica CA or San Francisco CA office.

To perform this job successfully an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. Reasonableaccommodationsmay bemadeto enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the following essential functions. Duties include:

• Provide guidance to individual lawyers employed by NRDC and to NRDC as an institution on practice of law issues.

• Conduct legalresearch anddevelop and updatememospolicies and guidelineson legal ethics and practices.

• Interpret complex ethical rulesacrossjurisdictionsto ensurelegal and professional standards are metwithin the organization.

• Remain up to date on relevant areas of law and communicate relevant changes to staff asappropriate.

• Serve asin-house resource on professional responsibilitymatters.

• Serve aspointof contact onlitigationand legalcontractstoresolvecomplex ethical and institutionalmatters.

• Conduct conflict of interest searches for incoming attorneys and staff andidentifyareas of concern and provide guidance.

• Provide periodic training to all NRDC lawyers and other staff including but not limited to legal ethics attorney-client privilege attorney work product and common interest privilege.

• Work with relevant Legal Operations staff to ensure adequate procedures where conflicts areidentified.

• Collaborate with HRITand other departments to ensure policy andpracticesalignment.

• Support cross-functional teams to address institutionalrisks andinvestigate and resolve privacy and security matters.

• Advise relevant staff leaders on emerging compliance trends and risks.

• Perform other duties as including but not limited to legal operations and institutional risk management.

The above list of duties is not comprehensive butgenerally demonstratesthe types of matters under this positions responsibility. Other duties may be assigned.

Minimum Education & Experience:

• Law degree from an accredited law school

• 4 years of related experience with at least4years as a lawyer inrelevantarea.

• Strongly Preferred: In-house legal experienceand/or equivalent education or experience

• Experience withnon-profit legal organizations a plus

Skills Abilities Competencies

• Significant knowledge of professional responsibility law is preferred.

• Willingnessto developadditionalexpertise in relevantsubject-matters.

• Group presentationspeaking experiencea plus.

• Abilityto work both independently and in a collaborative team environment.

• Member in good standing in possession of an active license to practice law ina state where NRDC operates and whereapplicantresidesoreligibleto obtain admissionwithin 6 months.

• Communicate complex legal concepts clearly and succinctly including to lay audiences in both formal training and informal advising.

• Excellent drafting research and written and oral communication skills.

• Strong critical thinking and analytical ability sound judgment strategic orientation and interpersonal maturity.

• Ability to meet deadlines independently and with strong attention to detail.

• Integrity professionaldiscretionand ability to handle sensitive/confidential matters.

• Flexibility and ability to work well independently on multiple projects with a wide variety of people at all levels of the organization.

• Competence with and commitment to diversity and inclusion; ability to be an effective partner with diverse colleaguesleadersand partners.
• Commitment to NRDCs mission values and DEI principles

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this position. The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonableaccommodationsmay be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this position within thedescribed work environment.

Frequently: Perform desk-based computer tasks

Frequently: Ability to interact and communicate with employees and others as necessary

Frequently: Attendplanned meetings and collaborate with management and coworkers

Occasionally: Ability to attend events and activities in the office or offsite

Work is sometimes performed primarily inoffice.The noise level in the work environment is usually quiet in office settings and moderate in other situations.Hours of employment may sometimesrequire workingflexible and/or longer hours including nights and weekends whennecessitatedby projects. The job includes work-related situations such as those involving challenging important urgent time-sensitive or multiple matters.

NRDC is committed to advancing diversity equity and inclusion both in our work and in our workplace. We believe that celebrating and actively welcoming diverse voices and perspectives is essential to solving the planets most pressing environmental problems and we encourage applications from candidates whose identities have been historically under-represented in the environmental movement.

We are an equal opportunity employer and do not discriminate in hiring or employment on the basis of race color religion gender gender identity or expression marital status sexual orientation national origin citizenship age disability veteran status or any other characteristic protected by federal state or local law. Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

We offer competitive salaries excellent benefits and a supportive working environment. Salary is based on a nonprofit scale and is commensurate with skills and experience. Internal equity will be reviewed and considered to determine a final offer. For this position the salary range is $113000 to $135000.

NRDC operates under a hybrid work model. Employees are required to come to the office 8 days per month.

As a science-based organization NRDC aims to do our part to help contain the COVID-19 public health crisis. For the sake of health safety and equity we ask that people be vaccinated unless they have an approved medical or religious accommodation or other exemption in accordance with state and local law. We consider a person to be vaccinated two weeks after receiving one full course of a CDC-approved vaccine. In accordance with state or local law new hires will be asked to attest to vaccination those wishing to do so may request medical or religious accommodations or other exemptions via NRDC Employee Relations. NRDC treats all vaccine-related data confidentially in keeping with local state and federal laws.

To apply visit and upload your résumé cover letter and writing sample. Please mention where you saw this posting when applying. Due to the high volume of applications we will contact only those candidates we would like to interview. Please no phone calls emails or in-person résumé drop-offs. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.

If you experience technical problems while applying or if you are a person with a disability and need assistance applying online please reach out to iCIMS Customer Care at 1-.

For more about NRDC visit .