Staff Attorney

Job Title: Staff Attorney  

Location: New Orleans (Hybrid In-Office/WFH Policy) 

Salary and Benefits: $90K-$100K range, with generous public sector benefits, long-term stability  

Reports To: Chief Operating Officer/ Executive Vice President, with close coordination with CEO & CFTO  

About the Role 

Finance New Orleans (FNO) is seeking a mission-driven Staff Attorney to provide day-to-day legal support across housing, climate resilience, and public finance programs. This role is designed for an attorney who wants broad exposure to public-sector legal work without the scope or burden of serving as full General Counsel. 

The Staff Attorney will handle contracts, governance, compliance support, and coordination with outside counsel, allowing FNO to operate efficiently while managing legal risk responsibly. This position is ideal for a mid-career attorney with experience in government, public finance, real estate, or regulated environments who is eager to grow alongside a fast-evolving public finance institution. 

This role does not replace outside counsel for specialized bond, securities, or litigation matters—but instead serves as FNO’s internal legal quarterback, ensuring issues are scoped correctly, documents are well-prepared, and external legal costs are controlled. 

What You’ll Do 

Contracts & Legal Operations (35%) 

• Draft, review, and negotiate routine contracts, MOUs, CEAs, consulting agreements, and vendor agreements 
• Review leases, grant agreements, and program-related legal documents for consistency and risk 
• Ensure compliance with public bid law, procurement and contracting requirements; review solicitations, RFPs, and award documentation  
• Maintain contract templates and internal legal documentation standards 
• Support execution and closeout of program and project agreements 

Governance & Board Support (20%) 

• Advise staff and leadership on Open Meetings Law, Public Records Law, and Board procedures 
• Assist with drafting, preparing, and reviewing Board resolutions and governance documents 
• Attend Board and committee meetings as needed to provide legal support 
• Support compliance with bylaws, policies, and statutory obligations 

Program & Compliance Support (20%) 

• Review legal requirements associated with housing, resilience, and lending programs 
• Support implementation of annual compliance plans in coordination with Compliance staff 
• Assist with compliance trainings for staff and Board members 
• Help translate legal requirements into operational guidance for program teams 
• Represent Finance New Orleans in all property and land matters for all FNO owned assets.  

Coordination with Outside Counsel (15%) 

• Manage relationships with outside legal counsel (bond, securities, and special counsel) 
• Prepare materials and coordinate internally for financings, closings, and legal reviews 
• Track legal spend and support development of a legal vendor engagement plan 

Special Projects & Strategic Support (10%) 

• Support intergovernmental agreements (MOUs, CEAs) with City, State, and partner agencies 
• Assist leadership with legal aspects of new initiatives, pilot programs, and strategic partnerships 
• Perform other legal tasks as needed to advance FNO’s mission 

What You Bring 

Required Qualifications: 

• Juris Doctor (JD) from an accredited law school 
• Licensed to practice law in Louisiana (or ability to obtain licensure promptly) 

Preferred Qualifications: 

• 3–7 years of relevant legal experience in government, public finance, real estate, nonprofit, or regulated industries 
• Experience reviewing contracts and advising internal clients 

Key Skills: 

• Strong legal writing and document review skills 
• Practical, solution-oriented judgment (knows when to escalate vs. handle internally) 
• Ability to work collaboratively with non-legal staff 
• Comfort operating in a fast-paced, evolving organization 
• Interest in public service, housing, climate resilience, and equitable economic development 
• Highly organized and able to manage multiple workstreams independently 

What This Role Is...and Is Not 

This role is: 

• An internal legal generalist supporting day-to-day operations 
• A strategic internal resource to reduce reliance on external counsel 
• A growth opportunity with exposure to public finance, housing, and climate infrastructure 
•  

This role is not: 

• A full General Counsel role 
• Responsible for leading bond counsel, securities law opinions, or litigation strategy 
• A solo legal department without external support 

Why Work at FNO? 

Finance New Orleans is a mission-driven public finance institution using capital to drive equity, housing affordability, and climate resilience. We offer: 

• Competitive salary and generous health and retirement benefits 
• Flexible hybrid work environment 
• 15 holidays per year and generous PTO 
• Meaningful exposure to city-shaping investments and public leadership 

You'll join a small, ambitious team building new green infrastructure finance models in a legacy-rich but evolving public agency. We move fast, work collaboratively, and believe that resilience starts with equity. 

About Finance New Orleans 

Finance New Orleans is a public benefit finance agency that has supported over $700 million in affordable housing investments since 1978. Today, we’re pioneering a new approach to climate resilience—investing in infrastructure that protects communities, grows local wealth, and transforms the physical and economic future of the city. FNO is not a division of the City of New Orleans and is an independent, quasi-governmental agency.  

For more information about Finance New Orleans, please visit www.financenola.org 

FNO values diversity and is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer. 

How to Apply 

Interested candidates should email their resume, cover letter, and three professional references to info@financenola.org with the subject line “FNO Staff Attorney” by the deadline of March 20, 2026, at 5:00 PM. 

Selected candidates will be invited to participate in a screening phone call, followed by first-round and final interviews conducted between March 17 and March 26, with offers expected by early April 2026. 

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the application deadline is reached, or the position is filled.