Overview
Who we are:
Vera’s Legal Department provides comprehensive in-house legal services to the organization, including each of its initiatives, administrative departments, and programs, and to its Board of Trustees.
Vera seeks an attorney to join the Legal Department on a full-time basis, with a primary focus on the management, review, and drafting of contracts.
The Position:
This attorney will report to the General Counsel and will work with the entire Legal Department to provide legal advice and assistance to Vera’s Board and staff. This attorney will primarily focus on reviewing, drafting, and negotiating contracts, and developing policies and practices where necessitated by contract. Above and beyond these duties, a strong component of the position will also be working with the General Counsel to continue modernizing the contracting process to better serve the organization. The entire Legal Department pitches in on the contracting load, which runs a wide gamut in terms of the form and complexity of agreements, so the attorney will have the opportunity to work with everyone in the department (and over time, most parts of the organization).
Key tasks will include reviewing and writing contracts, working with the rest of the department to implement and maintain new procurement processes, researching arising legal issues, and ensuring compliance with legal requirements for nonprofits.
About You:
You understand the opportunity each contract presents to protect, clarify, and further important work, and have enough of a nerdy streak to be excited about it. You have two years of relevant experience (whether at another not-for-profit, a law firm, or elsewhere) and are creative, practical, and skilled. You are interested in how not-for-profits work, and you want to use your talents—which include artful drafting and horse sense—for a great cause. Vera works to automate as many contractual processes as possible, so you will be adept with technology and enjoy the creative challenge of improving operations. Strong writing, oral communication, interpersonal, and organizational skills are a must.
Requirements:
- J.D. or LL.M. from and A.B.A.-accredited U.S. law school
- Admission to New York State bar
- Strong writing, oral communication, interpersonal, and organizational skills are a must.
- Must understand the opportunity each contract presents to protect, clarify, and further important work, and will ideally have enough of a nerdy streak to be excited about it. This includes attention to detail.
- Vera works to automate as many contractual processes as possible, so this person must be adept with technology and welcome the creative challenge of improving operations.
- Must have a basic understanding of how not-for-profits work, and a desire to learn more, particularly as respects governance and the different legislative and regulatory regimes organizations must navigate.
Preferred:
- 2 years of relevant experience, preferably at another not-for-profit or law firm.
- Experience in an in-house environment.
List of Required Software applications:
- Microsoft Office (particularly Word and Excel)
- General facility with online databases
Location
This position will be based in Vera’s Industry City, Brooklyn office, and will be eligible for a hybrid in-office schedule (two days every week, plus every other Friday).
Compensation and Benefits:
The compensation range for this position is $92,000 – $97,000. Actual salaries will vary depending on factors including but not limited to experience and performance. The salary range listed is just one component of Vera Institute’s total compensation package for employees. As an employer of choice in our field, supporting Vera staff—both personally and professionally—is a priority. To do this, we invest in the well-being of our staff through other rewards including merit pay, generous paid time off, a comprehensive health insurance plan, student loan repayment benefits, professional development training opportunities and up to $2,000 annual for education costs and fees relevant to Vera work, employer-funded retirement plan, and flexible time and remote work schedules. To learn more about Vera’s benefits offerings, click here.
To Apply:
Please submit a cover letter and resume. Submissions without cover letters will not be considered.
No phone calls, please. Only applicants selected for interviews will be contacted.
Online submission in PDF format is strongly preferred.
Applications may also be faxed to:
ATTN: People Resources / Assistant General Counsel, Legal
Vera Institute of Justice
34 35th St, Suite 4-2-A
Brooklyn, NY 11232
Fax: (212) 941-9407
Please use only one method (online, mail or fax) of submission.
As a federal contractor, and in order to ensure a healthy and safe work environment, Vera Institute of Justice is requiring all employees to be fully vaccinated and provide proof of their COVID-19 vaccine before their start date. Employees who cannot receive the vaccine because of a disability/medical contraindication or sincerely-held religious belief may request an accommodation (e.g., an exemption) to this requirement.
Vera is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants will be considered for employment without unlawful discrimination based on race, color, creed, national origin, sex, age, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, military status, prior record of arrest or conviction, citizenship status, current employment status, or caregiver status.
Vera works to advance justice, particularly racial justice, in an increasingly multicultural country and globally connected world. We value diverse experiences, including with regard to educational background and justice system contact, and depend on a diverse staff to carry out our mission.
For more information about Vera, please visit www.vera.org