Position: General Counsel 

Department: Office of the CEO 

Office Location: The ideal candidate is located in any of the following states or major metropolitan areas where Lambda Legal has an office: New York, NY (Headquarters); Atlanta, GA (Southern); Dallas, TX (South Central); Chicago, IL (Midwest); Los Angeles, CA (Western); or Washington, D.C.    

Work Type Designation: Hybrid 

Reports to: Chief Executive Officer 

Union Status and Grade: Non-union 

Salary Range: $215,000 - $240,000 annually. The salary for this role will be determined by a candidate's years of relevant experience related to the position, as well as their geographic region.  

Travel: Up to 10% 

FLSA Status: Full-Time, Exempt 

Supervisory Responsibilities: None 
 

Who We Are  

Lambda Legal is a national advocacy organization committed to achieving full recognition of the civil rights for the LGBTQ+ community and everyone living with HIV through impact litigation, education, and public policy work. Since 1973, Lambda Legal has used impact litigation and other advocacy tools to decriminalize same-sex relationships; challenge discrimination against LGBTQ+ people and people living with HIV in the workplace, in the home, in schools, in health care, and in the military; and protect LGBTQ+ families, including by winning and defending marriage equality. Our clients are not charged for legal representation or advocacy and Lambda Legal receives no government funding. Headquartered in New York City, Lambda Legal also has regional offices in Los Angeles, Chicago, Atlanta, Dallas, and Washington, DC.   
  
We believe that serving the full breadth of the LGBTQ+ and HIV communities requires cultural competency and enthusiasm for diversity of all kinds. To be successful, we must approach our work with an understanding that discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity, or HIV status is not the only obstacle to achieving full formal and lived equality for LGBTQ+ people and everyone living with HIV; rather, we recognize the intersectional nature of discrimination, specifically including biases based on race, religion, national origin, gender, disability, education, and class. Considering this reality, we prioritize a proactive commitment to counteracting these biases and their compounding effects in the work we do, but also in how we work together as an organization. 
 

General Counsel 

The General Counsel serves as the organization’s chief legal advisor, providing strategic, practical counsel across all programs, activities, and operations. This role oversees legal compliance, employment and labor law matters, enterprise risk management, contract negotiations, and board governance. The General Counsel ensures adherence to all federal, state, and local laws governing 501(c)(3) organizations and serves as a key partner to the CEO and Board. The role will also build and manage a strong network of outside counsel and experts to support the organization’s legal and compliance infrastructure. 

What You’ll Do 

Corporate Legal Strategy & Counsel 

• Serve as the organization’s chief legal advisor, providing timely, practical guidance to the CEO, Executive Team, and program leads. 

• Advise on governance, compliance, enterprise risk, and nonprofit regulations. 

• Anticipate and mitigate legal risks that could affect operations, reputation, or mission delivery. 

• Provide guidance on legal ethics, privilege, and professional responsibility. 

Compliance & Risk Management 

• Ensure compliance with all applicable federal, state, and local laws, including 501(c)(3) regulations. 

• Build and maintain policies, procedures, and internal systems to manage risk and uphold ethical standards. 

• Lead internal training and initiatives to foster a culture of compliance and accountability. 

Employment & Labor Law 

• Advise on employment and labor matters, including hiring, discipline, terminations, and investigations. 

• Partner with People & Culture on policy development, labor relations, and workplace compliance. 

• Stay current on evolving employment regulations to proactively guide organizational practice. 

Contracts & External Counsel Management 

• Draft, review, and negotiate contracts including vendor, co-counsel, expert, and partnership agreements. 

• Build and manage relationships with outside counsel and subject-matter experts, ensuring high-quality, cost-effective legal services. 

• Manage the contract life cycle to streamline contract and vendor management across the organization. 

Governance & Board Relations 

• Serve as Corporate Secretary to the Board and provide legal support for all governance activities. 

• Maintain governance records, prepare Board resolutions, and oversee conflicts of interest disclosures.  

• Ensure compliance with nonprofit corporate law, bylaws, and Board policies. 

Who You Are 

Minimum Qualifications 

• Juris Doctor (JD) degree and admission to practice law in at least one U.S. jurisdiction. 

• 10+ years of progressively responsible experience practicing or advising in matters related to employment and labor law. 

• Sound legal and strategic judgment with discretion and confidentiality in handling sensitive matters. 

• Experience developing and implementing policies and procedures that ensure compliance and advance organizational goals. 

• Proven ability to partner effectively with senior leadership, staff, and external counsel. 

• Excellent written, verbal, and presentation skills, with the ability to communicate complex legal concepts clearly. 

• Strong negotiation, interpersonal, and relationship-building skills. 

• Highly organized and detail-oriented, with the ability to manage multiple priorities. 

• Professionalism, tact, and diplomacy in representing the organization internally and externally. 

• Familiarity with laws governing charitable giving, including vetting, accepting, and holding of non-cash charitable gifts.   

Preferred Qualifications 

• Experience working with or in a nonprofit legal advocacy organization. 

• Prior work experience in a virtual and/or unionized workplace. 

• Experience supporting or advising nonprofit boards, including governance or corporate secretary duties. 

Successful candidates will welcome the opportunity to work in a racially- and gender-diverse environment and to contribute to a positive and inclusive atmosphere. Working at Lambda Legal requires a demonstrated awareness of and commitment to the concerns of the breadth of the communities that Lambda Legal serves. Prior work on behalf of the LGBTQ+ community and/or people living with HIV is highly desirable. Experience working with other historically marginalized communities (in a professional or volunteer capacity) is also desirable. All employees at Lambda Legal are expected to adhere to ethical conduct in all interactions and tasks, ensuring a positive and respectful workplace environment.    

Why Work at Lambda Legal? 

You get to do meaningful, life-changing work at a national level for LGBTQ+ people and everyone living with HIV. Lambda Legal also proudly offers competitive benefits for our team. We understand that our staff’s dedication and effort are instrumental in achieving our mission. A highlight of the benefits we offer include: 

• Medical benefits that begin on your start date 
• Dental, Vision, and Life insurance (effective 30 days from your start date) 
• Short & Long-Term Disability plans (effective 30 days from your start date) 
• 403(b) Retirement Plan (employer contribution and matching program begins after 90 days of employment) 
• Paid Time Off: 
  • Paid Vacation (15 Days) 
  • Sick Leave (12 Days) 
  • Personal Leave (3 Days) 
  • Religious Observance Leave (3 Days) 
  • Bereavement and Bereavement Anniversary Leave 
  • Floating Holiday (1 Day) 
• 12 paid holidays and 5 early office closures 
• Flexible Spending Account (FSA/DC FSA) and Commuter Benefits 
• Health Reimbursement Account 
• Annual professional development funds 
• $50 monthly mobile phone reimbursement 
• Summer Fridays from Memorial Day to Labor Day 
• Premium subscription to the Calm App 
• Paid sabbatical after 7 years of service at Lambda Legal (4 weeks for non-exempt positions and 8 weeks for exempt positions) 

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Read more about Lambda Legal's work on our blog and Instagram.

Lambda Legal believes in creating a more equitable playing field for applicants and values the depth of relevant skills built through successful education, work, and life experiences. If your background and skills are a close match for this position, you are strongly encouraged to apply.

Lambda Legal is committed to further building and maintaining a staff that reflects the full range of LGBTQ+, HIV-affected and allied communities, and is an equal opportunity employer. We value a diverse workforce and an inclusive culture. Lambda Legal encourages applications from all qualified individuals without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, national origin, marital status, citizenship or immigration status, disability, veteran status, record of arrest or conviction, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. Black people, Indigenous people, people of color, lesbian, gay, bisexual, queer, transgender and gender-diverse people, women, people with abilities in multiple languages, immigrants, people living with disabilities, protected veterans, and formerly incarcerated individuals and individuals living with HIV are all encouraged to apply.