Legal Counsel

About Us

The Trust for Public Land (TPL) is the leader of a movement to connect everyone in America to the outdoors. A national nonprofit, TPL partners with communities to create high-quality parks and protect public lands—especially in communities that need them most—to improve public health, create social cohesion, strengthen historic and cultural connection to place, and increase climate resilience. Since 1972, TPL has protected more than 4 million acres of public land, created more than 5,500 parks, trails, schoolyards, and iconic outdoor places, generated over $112 billion in public funding for parks and public lands, and connected nearly 10 million people to the outdoors. To learn more, visit tpl.org.

About the Role

Working as part of a team of attorneys and legal assistants, this position will provide legal support to advance The Trust for Public Land’s field programs, primarily in the States of California and Hawaii—acquiring, creating, and improving parks, trails, community schoolyards, and public lands. Primary responsibilities include structuring, documenting, and completing parks and conservation projects and transactions that are legally sound and consistent with TPL’s mission, authority, policies, and procedures. Hybrid work is preferred; remote candidates will be considered.

Responsibilities

• Assists project/program staff in designing, negotiating, and completing parks- and conservation-related projects and transactions.
• Drafts and reviews land transaction documents such as purchase & sale agreements, option agreements, donation agreements, professional services agreements, restrictive use easements, conservation easements, and other documents for implementation of land protection transactions, including due diligence contracts and closing documents.
• Drafts and reviews MOUs, RFPs, and other procurement packages, grant proposals and agreements, design and construction contracts, and contracts with public agencies, ensuring compliance with laws, existing agreements, public policy, and internal policies and protocols.
• Participates with staff in landowner, stakeholder, consultant, and public agency negotiations.
• Advises and assists staff on all project- and transaction-related issues, including delays, variations, defects, insurance, bond claims, post-completion administration, real estate closings, and property management.
• Advises and assists with other mission-related legal issues as needed.

Requirements

• Strong commitment to TPL’s shared values (Belonging, Creativity, Collaboration, Impact, and Hope) and mission to effectively work across the organization.
• Admission to the California state bar, with 3+ years in practice.
• Minimum of 3 years of applicable experience in the following areas:
  • Advising clients to meet business objectives and develop practical solutions within defined policies and practices while managing legal risk and advancing the organization’s mission.
  • Aptitude for independent work, exercising good judgment within broadly defined policies and practices.
  • Ability to draft quality legal documents quickly and respond promptly to the needs of project/program staff.
  • Sense of humor and composure when dealing with diverse personalities and work styles.
  • Ability to change the thinking of, or gain acceptance from, others in sensitive situations, both within and outside the organization.
  • Ability to anticipate problems and identify probable issues of concern in advance.
  • Results-oriented and creative in problem-solving.
  • Comfortable working in multiple jurisdictions and managing multiple projects in a decentralized environment.
  • Excellent written and oral communication skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• Real estate transactional experience.
• Practical skills and comfort performing due diligence for property acquisitions, including analyzing title work, boundary surveys, and environmental site assessments.
• Familiarity with municipal and state law, real estate law, federal grants, and working with tax-exempt organizations and public agencies.
• Construction law experience, including drafting and negotiating AIA forms and other design and construction contracts.
• A well-developed understanding of critical path planning from conceptual design to construction documentation, implementation, and close-out.

Benefits

• Comprehensive benefits program including medical, dental, and vision insurance.
• Vacation and sick pay plus holidays.
• Year-end office closure.
• 403(b)-retirement plan with up to a 7% company match.

Pay

The anticipated hiring range for this position is $100,000 to $120,000 per year, commensurate with experience.