Assistant General Counsel

The Institute for Justice, the national law firm for liberty, is the country's leading public-interest law firm in the areas of economic liberty, free speech, private property rights, and educational choice. As IJ continues to grow and expand its impact defending Americans' constitutional rights, we are seeking a dedicated and versatile Assistant General Counsel (AGC) to help ensure the organization's legal compliance, operational excellence, and strategic success.

The AGC will advise and counsel IJ staff across the organization on a wide range of legal, regulatory, compliance, and contractual matters essential to supporting IJ's mission. This is an exciting opportunity for a seasoned attorney who thrives in a dynamic environment, adapts easily to new challenges, and is committed to fostering strong governance practices within a mission-driven nonprofit.

Key Responsibilities

Legal Counsel

• Provide day-to-day legal advice on employment and benefits issues, intellectual property, contract interpretation, data and information security, and general risk management.
• Serve as a trusted internal resource for attorneys, managers, and staff navigating legal and operational questions.

Compliance

• Advise on nonprofit governance and compliance, including IRS rules applicable to 501(c)(3) organizations, charitable solicitation laws, political activity, and lobbying restrictions.
• Ensure IJ's activities adhere to federal and state registration, reporting, and other regulatory requirements.
• Support staff in evaluating compliance risks related to grants, fundraising practices, advocacy efforts, and multi-state operations.

Contract Management

• Draft, review, and negotiate contracts and agreements, including service agreements, licensing agreements, engagement letters, and (ideally) property or equipment leases.
• Help implement consistent internal contracting processes and templates to promote clarity, efficiency, and legal compliance.

Policy & Training

• Develop and update internal policies and procedures to strengthen compliance, governance, and organizational best practices.
• Lead or assist in trainings that promote a culture of integrity, ethical conduct, and legal awareness across the organization.

Risk Management

• Proactively identify potential legal risks and develop strategies to mitigate them in collaboration with IJ leadership and staff.
• Monitor legal trends that could affect nonprofit operations or public-interest organizations.

External Coordination

• Serve as a liaison to outside counsel on specialized issues requiring additional expertise.
• Manage external legal support efficiently while maintaining IJ's high standards for accuracy, judgment, and mission alignment.

Qualifications

Education

• J.D. from an accredited law school.
• Licensed to practice law with the ability to waive into the Virginia state bar.

Experience

• 6–10 years of legal experience.
• Experience advising nonprofit or mission-driven organizations, serving as in-house counsel, or working in a generalist capacity strongly preferred.
• Background in employment law, licensing and contracting, or multi-state compliance is a plus.
• Experience with grants, fundraising regulations, or lobbying and advocacy is desirable but not required.

Skills & Competencies

• Excellent judgment and the ability to balance legal risk with organizational mission and operational needs.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities, meet deadlines, and collaborate effectively with diverse teams.
• A commitment to IJ's mission of protecting individual liberty and limiting government overreach.

Benefits

• Hybrid work schedule requiring three in-office days each week, plus four fully remote weeks per year
• Flexible work hours with core hours of 10 a.m.–4 p.m.
• Smart casual dress code; casual Fridays
• Health, Dental, and Vision insurance (IJ covers 100% of individual premiums)
• Free Short-Term Disability, Long-Term Disability, and Life insurance
• HSA employer contributions
• 401(k) with employer match
• Generous PTO package including a paid personal day, floating and traditional holidays, in addition to vacation and sick leave.

IJ is an equal opportunity employer.

Don't meet every single requirement? Studies have shown that women and people of color are less likely to apply to jobs unless they meet every single qualification. At IJ we value a diverse workplace, so if you're excited about this role but your past experience doesn't align perfectly with every qualification in the job description, we encourage you to apply anyway. You may be just the right candidate for this or other roles.

To learn more about our culture and benefits, visit our Working at IJ page. No phone calls please.

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