Associate General Counsel

Duties And Responsibilities

• Serve as one of two staff attorneys to the Association.
• Independently conduct legal research and draft legal briefs and memorandums.
• Advance BIAW’s legal advocacy by litigating matters of significance to the building industry.
• Cookordinate requests for, draft, and file amicus briefs.
• Write blogs and articles on new case law, changes in the law, and other legal matters relevant to members.
• Present on a variety of legal topics including liens, employment law, and contracts to members, staff, and other third parties.
• Respond to member inquiries on a variety of legal subjects (liens, contracts, employment issues, etc.); provide members with answers to general legal questions.
• Support BIAW Government Affairs Department staff assigned to monitor state agency rulemaking by reviewing proposed and final rules that may impact members, and by drafting new proposed rules or amendments and comments for consideration.
• For example, the State Building Code Council, the Department of Labor & Industries, the Department of Ecology, and the Utilities and Transportation Commission.
• The Associate General Counsel works closely with the BIAW Codes & Policy Manager.
• Draft and review bill language and attend meetings during the legislative session, including BIAW’s weekly session update Zoom call.
• Attend BIAW board meetings. Meetings are held three times per year in locations around the state.
• Staff the BIAW Legal Committee. Staffing includes communication with the Committee co-chairs, arranging CLE presentations, drafting agendas, and submitting credentials to the WSBA.
• Occasionally attend BIAW local building association events and National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) events.

Key Competencies

• Ability to rapidly develop sufficient subject-matter knowledge to provide accurate, useful, and understandable information and reliable legal advice.
• Ability to quickly process and distill information in order to provide advice to Association staff and management.
• Ability to work independently and with others; use good judgment in evaluating situations; maintain confidentiality; perform legal research thoroughly and efficiently.
• Hightly developed ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing, with colleagues and Association members.

Requirements

• Juris Doctor (J.D.) from an accredited law school.
• Admitted to practice law in Washington as a member of the Washington State Bar Association (WSBA).
• Minimum 3 years’ legal experience, or a combination of legal and nonlegal relevant work experience.
• Experience and interest in litigation.
• Political background and/or knowledge of the Washington State Legislature.
• Prior practice in land use, employment, construction, corporate, and/or administrative law.

Physical requirements

• Occasional lifting of 25 pounds or less, and motions that may include wrists, hands, or fingers.

Job Purpose

As a staff attorney, the BIAW Associate General Counsel provides counsel to and advocates for the Association under the direction of the VP—General Counsel. The BIAW Associate General Counsel’s in-house practice focuses primarily on land use, employment, construction, corporate, and administrative law.