General Counsel

GENERAL COUNSEL (GC) & ATTORNEY ADVISOR

Summary

Oversees and manages the provision of all legal services to the organization to ensure maximum protection of its legal rights and to maintain its operations within the limits prescribed by law. Provides strategic guidance, consultation, and support to National Officers, Board of Directors, Committee Chairs, State Council Presidents, Managing Director, and Department Directors on a comprehensive range of legal and associated issues involved in carrying out the mission of the corporation.

Reporting & Relationships

VVA incorporates a “hybrid” reporting structure. Consequently, the GC functionally reports to the VVA National President, while administratively reporting to and working under the daily supervision of the Managing Director. This is an exempt position.

Qualifications, Skills, Knowledge, Abilities & Experience

This position requires, at a minimum, a Juris Doctor degree from an accredited law school. The incumbent must be a member in good standing of a state bar and possess a keen understanding of corporate and nonprofit business sensitivities and how legal issues affect the organization. Prior legal advocacy, investigative experience and advanced research abilities are required. The incumbent also must possess advanced written and oral advocacy skills, as well as prior experience conducting large-scale audits, investigations, legal research, and analyses of complex and difficult questions of law. Knowledge of Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) veteran benefits, compensation, and health care-related laws, regulations, and procedures is preferred. Must maintain the highest level of confidentiality, professional conduct, and ethical behavior.

Major Duties and Responsibilities

·        Provides legal advice and counsel to the National Officers, Board of Directors, Committee Chairs, State Council Presidents, Managing Director, and Department Directors.

·        Serves as chief legal advisor on matters related to internal organizational management.

·        Drafts and makes recommendations on personnel policies and procedures.

·        Provides written legal reviews of proposed contracts and agreements. Assists with drafting and negotiating contracts and agreements with vendors and other entities.

·        Maintains an electronic repository of all VVA contract vehicles.

·        Provides legal advice and counsel regarding Administrative / Human Resources issues, including personnel and labor laws, ethics, hiring practices, counseling, disciplinary and termination actions, performance evaluation criteria, and other matters. 

·        Provides legal advice and counsel concerning cease and desist notices, correspondence, draft testimony, trademark violations, monetary donations, fundraising efforts, and other related matters. 

·        Conducts legal research and large-scale investigations on complex and difficult questions of law and prepares memoranda, reports, and correspondence, as needed. 

·        Works to advance VVA's relationship with legal scholars, law schools, and other field experts throughout the nation for the purpose of promoting VVA legislative and regulatory initiatives. 

·        Prepares an annual budget for the GC cost center, including identifying and prioritizing fiscal requirements. Executes the Board-approved CG fiscal year budget. 

·        Coordinates with VVA insurance carriers and outside legal counsel concerning potential and active employment liability claims. Provides timely and requisite notice to VVA insurance liability carriers, as appropriate. 

·        Provides legal advice and counsel concerning class action suits and cases involving VVA. 

·        Drafts, reviews, and files FOIA requests and appeals, as appropriate. 

·        Performs other duties as assigned by the National President, Board of Directors and/or Managing Director. 

·        Serves as a VVA National Staff liaison to a VVA National Committee. 

·        Identifies issues, concerns, or challenges to the corporation, alerts the National Officers and Managing Director, and provides potential solutions. 

·        Attends required CLE training annually to maintain good standing with their state bar, currency on veterans’ law issues, and accreditation as a veterans service representative. 

·        Reports any misconduct or violations of professional responsibility, as appropriate. 

VVA Legislative, Regulatory, and Policy Matters

·        Provides legal reviews and advice on new and pending legislation, policies, and regulations, as well as congressional testimony, correspondence, and other matters.

·        Provides legal support for legislative projects, including reviews and formal comments on proposed legislation and proposed regulations in the Federal Register.

·        Offers written recommendations regarding proposed administrative / regulatory rule changes. 

·        Researches federal and state case law, regulations, and policies, as required. 

·        Drafts formal, informal, and amicus briefs for federal and state cases and VVA statements of interest for briefs drafted by pro bono representation. 

·        Coordinates reviews of proposed amicus briefs with the National President, Government Affairs and Veterans Benefits Committee Chairs, and Government Affairs and Veterans Benefits Department Directors.  

Location

·        Silver Spring, MD

Benefits

·        Medical/Dental/Vision Insurance

·        401k/401k Employer Match

·        Life/AD&D/LTD/STD

·        PTO