What are the responsibilities and job description for the Legal Operations Specialist position at Year Up United?
Overview
Under the supervision of the Senior Director, Legal Affairs, the Legal Operations Specialist exercises discretion and independent judgment in managing legal operations, developing processes and systems, and recommending improvements that impact the organization. This position plays a critical role in evaluating issues and making decisions that impact legal workflows and resource allocation, identifying and implementing opportunities to streamline and improve legal operations, workflows, and processes, and implementing solutions and best practices to enhance efficiency and reduce risk.
To be successful in this role, you will thrive in a fast-paced environment and enjoy leading efforts to constantly and consistently improve the organization’s operational excellence. You are someone who is skilled at anticipating the needs of others and taking on new challenges. The successful candidate will support internal constituents using exemplary customer service, relationship building, and communication skills.
In keeping with Year Up United’s values, you will also have the opportunity to interact with students, participating in building a positive educational environment.
Key Responsibilities
Qualifications
Working At Year Up United
Starting January 5, 2026, employees are expected to work on-site at least two days per week (Monday through Thursday dependent on job requirements). To be eligible for employment, candidates must live and work in a state (or an approved proximate state*) where Year Up United operates. For a list of eligible locations, please visit: https://www.yearup.org/job-training/locations
Organization Description
Year Up United is a national 501(c)3 workforce development organization committed to ensuring equitable access to economic opportunity, education, and justice for all young adults—no matter their background, income, or zip code. Employers face a growing need for talent while millions of talented young adults lack access to meaningful careers. These inequities only further perpetuate the opportunity gap that exists in our country—a gap that Year Up United is determined and positioned to close through three interconnected strategies: providing targeted skills training and connections to livable-wage employment for students and alumni; empowering others to serve and support young adults, and changing systems that perpetuate the opportunity gap. Year Up United’s intensive training program utilizes a high expectations, high support model where students learn in-demand technical and professional skills and apply them during a corporate internship. Year Up United has directly served more than 40,000 young adults since its founding in 2000. Year Up United's nationwide presence includes Arizona, Austin, Bay Area, Charlotte, Chicago, Dallas/Fort Worth, Greater Atlanta, Greater Boston, Greater Philadelphia, Jacksonville, Los Angeles, the National Capital Region, New York City/Jersey City, Pittsburgh, Puget Sound, Rhode Island, South Florida, Tampa Bay, and Wilmington.
Voted one of the Best Nonprofits to Work For in the country by The NonProfit Times, Year Up United is a rewarding and impactful place to work. Our staff is passionate, supportive, mission-driven, and committed to positive change and continuous learning. We set high standards for both ourselves and our students and live by a set of core values that reflect an unshakable belief in the talent and potential of our young people. The work we do is life-changing, and we know that our team is the greatest asset in achieving our mission.
Commitment To Diversity
Year Up United embraces diversity and equal opportunity in a serious way. All aspects of employment, including the decision to hire, promote, discharge, or discipline, are based on meritocracy. We do not permit discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristics protected by federal, state, or local laws. Learn more about our commitment to diversity: http://www.yearup.org/about-us/careers/commitment-to-diversity/
Year Up United is also committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities. Your recruiter can provide details regarding the expected work environment and any physical requirements. Please let our hiring team know if you need an accommodation at any point during the interview process. Information received relating to accommodation will be addressed confidentially.
To Apply
Please submit a thoughtful cover letter and resume through our website.
Note that applications without a cover letter will not be considered. We respectfully request no phone calls.
Under the supervision of the Senior Director, Legal Affairs, the Legal Operations Specialist exercises discretion and independent judgment in managing legal operations, developing processes and systems, and recommending improvements that impact the organization. This position plays a critical role in evaluating issues and making decisions that impact legal workflows and resource allocation, identifying and implementing opportunities to streamline and improve legal operations, workflows, and processes, and implementing solutions and best practices to enhance efficiency and reduce risk.
To be successful in this role, you will thrive in a fast-paced environment and enjoy leading efforts to constantly and consistently improve the organization’s operational excellence. You are someone who is skilled at anticipating the needs of others and taking on new challenges. The successful candidate will support internal constituents using exemplary customer service, relationship building, and communication skills.
In keeping with Year Up United’s values, you will also have the opportunity to interact with students, participating in building a positive educational environment.
Key Responsibilities
- Serve as a liaison between the Legal Affairs team and internal stakeholders, ensuring clear and timely communication on legal processes, initiatives, and updates, exercising discretion in prioritizing and communication legal process, initiatives, and updates
- Independently manage and improve legal request intake systems, determine prioritization of requests, coordinate intake process and track legal support requests
- Track common inquiries to inform improvements in processes
- Support the creation, design, and delivery of training materials and documentation
- Develop and maintain Legal Affairs knowledge hub and intranet landing page and related communication tools to serve as a gateway for legal resources and guides; draft and update content, including FAQs, workflows, resource links, and forms
- Administer and optimize the contract lifecycle management system; support, maintain, and update workflows within the contract management system to reflect current organizational needs and legal standards; proactively update and modernize standard contract templates
- Recommend future uses and functionality of the contracts management system, implementing changes as required
- Generate reports on contract status and legal activity metrics
- Design and deliver training programs on contract policies, templates, and procedures
- Monitor, log, track, and coordinate responses to subpoenas and other legal requests, ensuring timely and compliant handling
- Manage intellectual property portfolio and inventory of filings and records, including trademarks and patents
- Maintain records of legal documents, correspondence, regulatory filings and internal investigations
- Assist with the administration of legal technology platforms, including LexisNexis, and troubleshoot basic issues
- Support outside counsel management, including engagement and onboarding and tracking budgets and invoices
- Generate reports and dashboards to provide visibility into legal operations metrics and to track legal department activity
- Support special projects such as compliance, governance, or regulatory rollouts
- Use discretion dealing with a variety of sensitive and privileged matters
Qualifications
- 2-4 years of related experience.
- Ability to have independent judgment and decision-making; excellent written communications skills, with the ability to draft clear documentation and correspondence.
- Ability to effectively communicate information to internal stakeholders and external parties.
- Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out instructions furnished in written, oral, or diagram form.
- Ability to maintain confidentiality.
- Ability to collaborate in a team environment but also comfortable working independently
- Highly developed attention to detail
- Strong understanding of business process
- Strong analytical skills
- Strong computer skills required, ability to learn new systems.
- Understanding of the Opportunity Divide and its drivers
- Deep commitment to fostering a culture of belonging with demonstrated ability to integrate belonging into practice.
- Passion for Year Up United’s mission and belief in the potential of young adults.
Working At Year Up United
Starting January 5, 2026, employees are expected to work on-site at least two days per week (Monday through Thursday dependent on job requirements). To be eligible for employment, candidates must live and work in a state (or an approved proximate state*) where Year Up United operates. For a list of eligible locations, please visit: https://www.yearup.org/job-training/locations
- Approved proximate states where Year Up United operates are: Connecticut, Indiana, New Hampshire, New Jersey, South Carolina and Virginia.
- Year Up United has established salary ranges for each of our sites, which allows us to pay employees competitively, equitably and consistently in different geographic markets. For roles in which the location is listed as flexible, the range displayed reflects the minimum and maximum target for new hire salaries for the position across all US locations. Salary offers take into account a candidate’s skills, experience, and location. Your recruiter can share more about the specific salary range for your location during the hiring process.
- Benefits: Comprehensive healthcare options and dental coverage; 401(k) match for eligible participants.
- Vacation: Earn three weeks paid vacation in first year of employment; four weeks after initial year.
- Professional Development: Funds available to support staff in achieving career objectives ($2,500 per year)
Organization Description
Year Up United is a national 501(c)3 workforce development organization committed to ensuring equitable access to economic opportunity, education, and justice for all young adults—no matter their background, income, or zip code. Employers face a growing need for talent while millions of talented young adults lack access to meaningful careers. These inequities only further perpetuate the opportunity gap that exists in our country—a gap that Year Up United is determined and positioned to close through three interconnected strategies: providing targeted skills training and connections to livable-wage employment for students and alumni; empowering others to serve and support young adults, and changing systems that perpetuate the opportunity gap. Year Up United’s intensive training program utilizes a high expectations, high support model where students learn in-demand technical and professional skills and apply them during a corporate internship. Year Up United has directly served more than 40,000 young adults since its founding in 2000. Year Up United's nationwide presence includes Arizona, Austin, Bay Area, Charlotte, Chicago, Dallas/Fort Worth, Greater Atlanta, Greater Boston, Greater Philadelphia, Jacksonville, Los Angeles, the National Capital Region, New York City/Jersey City, Pittsburgh, Puget Sound, Rhode Island, South Florida, Tampa Bay, and Wilmington.
Voted one of the Best Nonprofits to Work For in the country by The NonProfit Times, Year Up United is a rewarding and impactful place to work. Our staff is passionate, supportive, mission-driven, and committed to positive change and continuous learning. We set high standards for both ourselves and our students and live by a set of core values that reflect an unshakable belief in the talent and potential of our young people. The work we do is life-changing, and we know that our team is the greatest asset in achieving our mission.
Commitment To Diversity
Year Up United embraces diversity and equal opportunity in a serious way. All aspects of employment, including the decision to hire, promote, discharge, or discipline, are based on meritocracy. We do not permit discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristics protected by federal, state, or local laws. Learn more about our commitment to diversity: http://www.yearup.org/about-us/careers/commitment-to-diversity/
Year Up United is also committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities. Your recruiter can provide details regarding the expected work environment and any physical requirements. Please let our hiring team know if you need an accommodation at any point during the interview process. Information received relating to accommodation will be addressed confidentially.
To Apply
Please submit a thoughtful cover letter and resume through our website.
Note that applications without a cover letter will not be considered. We respectfully request no phone calls.
Salary : $70,000 - $90,000