General Counsel

Mountain States Legal Foundation (MSLF) seeks a General Counsel with significant litigation experience and a demonstrated commitment to individual liberty, the U.S. Constitution, and the rule of law. MSLF is a non-profit, public interest legal foundation dedicated to individual liberty, the right to own and use property, limited and ethical government, and the free enterprise system. Key to our work is the Legal Department staff that advances our principles in courts and administrative forums. To be part of our small team of dedicated professionals, attorneys should possess the energy, optimism, passion, versatility, and vision needed to drive our mission.

The General Counsel oversees all aspects of the MSLF Legal Department. That includes litigation in four key practice areas: Natural Resources, Equal Protection, Second Amendment rights, and Free Speech. A strong familiarity with each of these practice groups is required to serve as General Counsel.

In addition to overseeing other attorneys and legal staff at MSLF, the General Counsel is expected to maintain their own extensive docket of cases and other matters. That includes litigating matters at the trial court, appellate court, and administrative levels, from start to finish.

The General Counsel is also responsible for numerous discrete tasks:

• Supervising at least five other members of MSLF’s Legal Department staff, including the Directors of MSLF’s Center for American Prosperity and Energy and MSLF’s Center to Keep and Bear Arms;
• Reviewing and editing pleadings and other documents prior to filing with courts or administrative agencies;
• Running Legal Department meetings and ensuring the working order of the entire Legal Department;
• Regularly speaking to media entities, and publishing opinion pieces, on topics within MSLF’s practice areas and interests;
• Frequently speaking to advocacy groups and other stakeholders about MSLF and legal topics within MSLF’s interest areas;
• Serving as a key member of MSLF’s Senior Staff, including regular participation in high-level meetings about the direction of the Firm;
• Preparing comprehensive budgets for all new legal matters and an annual budget for the Legal Department;
• Managing approval processes for all new legal matters;
• Coordinating broad-based strategies for selecting cases and maintaining mission-oriented projects;
• Advising MSLF’s President/CEO on business, ethical, and corporate matters;
• Drafting monthly reports summarizing the activity of MSLF’s Legal Department;
• Reviewing and editing fundraising letters for accuracy;
• Analyzing requests for legal services from potential clients, and facilitating responses to all such requests;
• Evaluating all potential MSLF contracts, and often drafting relevant sections of such contracts, for compliance with relevant law, and for the benefit of MSLF’s interests;
• Ensuring that MSLF’s case pages are accurately describes the matters that the Firm has worked on;
• Attending all relevant staff meetings;
• Delivering real-time reports at least semi-annually to MSLF’s Board of Directors;
• Serving as an Ex Officio member of MSLF’s Litigation Advisory Council, and recruiting members of the Council;
• Preparing agendas and minutes for semi-annual meetings of the Litigation Advisory Council;
• Assisting with hiring new attorneys and other Legal Department staff;
• Ensuring that Legal Department annual goals are ambitious and met;
• Assist with recruitment and provide oversight for the Legal Fellows program;
• Helping to prepare donor pitch documents, where appropriate;
• Speaking to donors and supporters at fundraising events;
• Reviewing and revising all MSLF policies and procedures, including the Firm’s Handbook, for compliance with relevant laws and regulations;
• Attending legal networking events in Colorado and across the country, as appropriate;
• Maintaining a robust network of professional contacts, particularly in the non-profit space, across the country;
• Mentoring other Legal Department staff, including attorneys;
• Keeping and promptly entering accurate and complete time entries;
• Working with other liberty-oriented groups to further MSLF’s partnerships and strategic alliances;
• Other duties as assigned.

Typically, the MSLF General Counsel is responsible for around 2300-2700 working hours during the course of the year, inclusive of non-billable time.

• 10 years of legal experience
• Licensed to practice law in Colorado or eligible to waive into the Colorado bar.
• Familiarity with major Supreme Court cases in natural resources, equal protection, Second Amendment, and free speech areas.
• Exceedingly strong drafting and writing skills.
• Exceedingly strong legal research skills;
• Experience with serving discovery and managing discovery obligations.
• Ability to clearly and positively communicate both verbally and in writing with an array of audiences.
• Team leader and mentor. 
• A friendly demeanor and attitude with colleagues, Board Members, Litigation Advisory Council Members, and opposing counsel.
• Passion for MSLF’s mission: a deep interest in protecting individual liberty, the right to own and use property, limited and ethical government, and the free enterprise system.
• Willingness to travel for professional events, speaking engagements, and donor requests.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience related to MSLF’s historic footprint in natural resources law, including knowledge of federal administrative agencies and federal statutes affecting property rights, energy production, and farming and ranching.
• Previous plaintiff-side civil work.
• Experience arguing before a federal court of appeal.
• Knowledge of U.S. Supreme Court rules, practices, and recent cases touching on MSLF’s interest areas;
• Admission to multiple courts and states.

Location: Denver, CO

Job Type: Full-time Exempt

Reports to: President & CEO

This position offers a competitive salary from $200,000 to $220,000. MSLF’s compensation package includes a 403(b)-retirement plan, generous health benefits, an employer-paid dental plan, vacation and sick days, and opportunities for professional growth and development.

Qualified candidates should submit the following in one PDF file with your name in the file:

• Cover Letter
• Resume
• References
• Writing sample

Please include “General Counsel MSLF – Your Name” in the subject line of your email. Email your PDF document to Austin D. Scott at: ascott@mslegal.org