Legal Resources Attorney (DC)

NOTE: A cover letter and resume must be submitted to jobs@nacua.org to be considered for this position.

Job Function                    

As an attorney staff member of the leading national professional association for higher education lawyers, the Legal Resources Attorney plays a key role in ensuring the development and delivery of continuing legal education programming, resources, and publications. Supports efforts to monitor developments affecting the sector and advance the practice of higher education law within the association and externally. Supports the engagement and the professional and personal development of a dynamic member community.

Supervisor                        

Senior Legal Resources Attorney

Compensation & Benefits*        

• $130,000 - 135,000 per year
• Eligibility for annual bonus
• Retirement plan with 5% employer contribution plus match up to 5%
• Excellent medical, dental, vision, life, and disability insurance benefits
• Generous paid time off, including winter and summer break
• 13 weeks of paid parental leave
• Flexible work schedules
• Paid commuter or parking benefits
• Paid professional development and professional organization memberships

*Subject to terms of organizational policy and employee handbook          

Schedule                    

Full Time - Hybrid (Remote: M, T, F) (In-Office: W, Th)

Location                      

Established residence or relocation to Washington, DC metropolitan area required. 

Duties and Responsibilities

Continuing Legal Education: In-Person and Digital Learning

• Develops and produces NACUA continuing legal education programming, including CLE Workshops, virtual webinars, and audio briefings.
• Develops, updates, and delivers NACUA online courses, including NACUA’s courses on Compliance, Disability Law and Accommodations, and Internal Investigations.
• Monitors emerging developments and trends in case law, policy, and legislation; analyzes impacts on higher education and need for CLE and informational programming.

Resource Curation and Publications

• Curates and updates the Online Legal Resources Library and serves as the primary staff liaison to the Committee on Legal Resources Library.
• Develops and produces as necessary NACUA publications, including NACUA Insights.

Association Collaboration & External Outreach

• Assists in collaborative programming efforts between NACUA and other higher education associations, and on external outreach to government agencies and other relevant organizations regarding issues of interest to NACUA members.

Additional Duties

• Participates in weekly meetings of legal resources team, and as needed in meetings of staff responsible for implementing NACUA programming and other projects.
• Travels to in-person NACUA meetings, including the Annual Conference and CLE Workshops, and other approved events (average total of two weeks per year).
• Contributes to the advancement of NACUA’s positive workplace culture.
• Additional duties as assigned.

Qualifications/Skills

Essential

• A Juris Doctorate from an accredited law school.
• At least three (3) years as a licensed attorney in good standing in at least one state (licensure in the District of Columbia is not required).
• Experience with and/or fluency in legal issues relevant to the higher education sector.
• Ability to engage in high-level and nuanced legal and policy analysis, produce sophisticated high-quality written work product for varied audiences, and serve as a polished moderator, convener, and presenter.

Strongly Preferred

• Prior legal experience employed by a higher education institution. Alternatively, experience representing higher education clients at a law firm or comparable government service.
• Experience developing and delivering in-person and virtual legal educational programming.
• Prior legal journal or similar writing and/or editing experience.
• Experience working collaboratively with volunteers.
• Curiosity about and practical experience utilizing modern legal technology, including generative AI.

Personal Characteristics

• Strong mission orientation, judgment, integrity, and alignment with NACUA’s core values.
• Creative, team-oriented, collaborative, and willing to pitch in as needed, while retaining the ability to work independently.
• Strong executive presence and confidence, while displaying humility, adaptability, and a service mentality.
• Thrives in a fast-paced, evolving environment while working on multiple competing priorities.
• Quick study on complex and inter-dependent workflows and processes with superior attention to detail.