Associate General Counsel

Responsibilities

• Cross-functional Legal Work and General Counsel Support
• Support the General Counsel on strategic cross-functional legal issues.
• Assist the General Counsel to support all SRL departments and program needs.
• Coordinate and oversee the work of outside counsel as needed.
• Contribute to legal department planning, prioritization and continuous improvement.
• Support Legal Counsel, as needed, on drafting, editing and reviewing SRL templates, commercial contracts, grant agreements, licenses, and other transactional documents.
• Conduct legal research, draft memoranda and prepare recommendations for staff, Board, and executive leadership.
• Participate in organization-wide initiatives and strategic projects requiring legal input.
• Corporate Compliance and Risk Management
• Advising on California nonprofit and corporate law, tax-exempt organization requirements, state and federal reporting obligations, and Land Trust Alliance compliance.
• Draft, review, update and implement organization-wide policies and procedures to support legal compliance and effective risk management.
• Support SRL fiscal and operational checks and balances.
• Provide guidance and training for staff on legal or compliance-related issues.
• Board Governance and Executive Support
• Serve as a core partner to the General Counsel regarding corporate governance, organizational risk management, and compliance matters.
• Oversee Board governance framework, advise on best practices, and assist with the review and preparation of Board materials.
• Assist the General Counsel in overseeing Board policy development and compliance, as well as onboarding training for new Board Members and Councilors.

Requirements

• Juris Doctor (J.D.) from an accredited law school.
• Active membership in good standing with the California State Bar.
• 7–12 years of relevant legal experience, with demonstrated strength in one or more of the following: Corporate and Board governance, Nonprofit law, corporate law, complex environmental or conservation transactions, Policy development and organizational compliance, In-house counsel or law firm work advising nonprofits or for-profit corporations.
• Strong legal research, writing and analytical skills.
• Demonstrated ability to exercise sound judgment, learn new areas of law quickly, and communicate clearly with senior leaders and Board Members.
• High level of organization, strong work ethic, attention to detail, and ability to manage multiple priorities.

Qualifications

• A genuine personal commitment to protecting and restoring redwood forests, aligned with SRL’s mission and values.
• High-integrity, impeccable ethics, and a strong work ethic.
• Collaborative solutions-oriented mindset with strong emotional intelligence.
• Comfort working in a non-adversarial consensus-driven environment.
• Ability to balance legal rigor with practical mission-focused advice.
• Commitment to SRL Diversity, Equity and Inclusion values.