General Counsel

General Counsel

Los Angeles (Hybrid)

 

Job Announcement Information

Job Title: General Counsel

Location: Los Angeles, California — Hybrid schedule 

Term: Full-time, occasional evenings and weekends required

Position Status: Exempt

Pay Range: $120,000-$150,000

Reports To: Executive Director

 

Organizational Summary

The mission of the California Immigrant Policy Center (CIPC) is to uphold the humanity of immigrant communities in California by transforming systems to achieve racial, social, and economic justice. CIPC is a non-partisan, non-profit statewide organization engaging in advocacy, organizing, and strategic communications to uplift immigrant communities. CIPC was founded in response to the 1996 passage of federal immigrant and welfare laws that profoundly affected immigrants. Today, CIPC advances inclusive policies that build a prosperous future for all Californians, using policy analysis, advocacy, and capacity building. 

 

Over the past 28 years, CIPC has led groundbreaking campaigns that have greatly expanded protections, as well as access to publicly-funded services and programs, for California’s low-income immigrant populations, including but not limited to the Safe and Responsible Driver Act, the TRUST and TRUTH Acts, CA Values Act, E-Verify Bill, the Health for All campaign, California Earned Income Tax Credit (CalEITC), and One California, the largest investment in legal services protection in the country.

 

Position Summary

The General Counsel will serve as the principal legal advisor to the Executive Director and executive team. This individual will lead on internal employment law issues, nonprofit compliance including c4 and c4 issues, and provide expert legal guidance to support policy advocacy. The General Counsel will play a pivotal role in analyzing federal, state, and local laws and supporting the creation of Know Your Rights (KYR) materials in collaboration with the policy and communications teams. A key component of this role will be serving as a trusted thought partner and ensuring compliance with CIPC’s Collective Bargaining Agreement  and employee handbook. The ideal candidate will have strong employment law experience, a resourceful and analytical approach, and relevant nonprofit law expertise.

 

Responsibilities

Internal Employment and Nonprofit Compliance

• Lead all employment law matters, including advising on personnel policies, employee relations, workplace issues, and compliance with federal, state, and local labor laws.
• Ensure the organization maintains compliance with nonprofit governance laws, including tax-exempt status, reporting obligations, and regulatory requirements.
• Provide guidance and develop best practices around Human Resources (HR) compliance, including hiring practices, employee benefits, and conflict resolution, with a focus on maintaining a legally sound, equitable, and inclusive workplace.
• Provide guidance on labor relations matters, helping the organization navigate contract negotiations and maintain productive relations with union representatives.
• Work closely with the HR team and other internal stakeholders to ensure adherence to the collective bargaining agreement and ensure that it reflects the organization’s mission, financial realities, and legal obligations.
• Serve as a trusted thought partner for the Executive Director, offering legal counsel and guidance on major organizational decisions, risk management, and long-term strategy.
• Review, draft, and negotiate contracts, memorandums of understanding (MOUs), and grant proposals and agreements to ensure they align with organizational goals, protect legal interests, and strengthen relationships with third-party vendors, partners, funders, and service providers.
• Provide ongoing legal guidance on contractual obligations and help the organization navigate any complex terms or issues that may arise in relationships with external stakeholders.
• Stay updated on developments in employment law, nonprofit governance, and immigration law, ensuring the organization is prepared for any changes that could affect operations.
• Ensure organizational compliance with lobbying restrictions. 
• Provide legal counsel on any other matters as they arise, ensuring the organization is protected from legal risks while remaining focused on its mission.

 

Analyzing Federal, State and Local Policy 

• Analyze executive orders, policy changes, and legal developments affecting immigrant communities, providing timely legal analysis to the leadership and program teams as needed.
• Collaborate with the policy and communications teams to develop Know Your Rights (KYR) materials, ensuring that legal content is clear, accurate, and tailored to audience needs.
• Provide legal insights on the impact of state and federal policy changes that impact the organization. 

 

Developing Best Practices for the Broader Movement

• Work to provide best practices to organizations that are members of CIPC-led coalitions, specifically related to employment law, nonprofit compliance, and lobbying restrictions.
• Develop and share resources, guidelines, and toolkits on employment law and nonprofit governance best practices for partner organizations.
• Work to ensure that these practices are informed by current legal standards and aligned with the collective goals of coalitions.
• Collaborate with other legal, policy, and community-based stakeholders to promote organizational initiatives.

 

Qualifications

• Juris Doctor from an accredited law school and membership in the California State Bar.
• Minimum of 10 years of legal experience, with a strong focus on employment law.
• Employment law expertise is required; experience with labor relations, collective bargaining, and employee compliance matters is preferred.
• Ability to navigate the complexities of nonprofit governance, including tax-exempt status, corporate compliance, and regulatory reporting.
• Proven ability to analyze legal changes, including executive orders, and break them down for internal teams, especially in the context of policy advocacy and KYR material development.
• Experience in nonprofit law or at a nonprofit is preferred, but a resourceful, solution-oriented approach is key.
• Strong communication skills with the ability to translate complex legal concepts into clear, actionable guidance for non-legal audiences.
• Experience advising senior leadership on legal and strategic decisions.
• Demonstrated ability to build relationships and collaborate with diverse stakeholders.
• A passion for immigrant rights and a deep commitment to social justice and equity.

Compensation and Benefits

Salary Range: $120,000-$150,000

 

CIPC is a unionized workplace and is represented by Immigrant Advocates United-United Auto Workers. This position is not in the bargaining unit. CIPC provides a comprehensive benefits package to its employees:

• Paid medical, dental, vision insurance, and life insurance (100% of the full insurance premium for qualified employees and 75% of the premiums for their dependents)
• 3% contribution to 401K-retirement plan
• Commuter benefit or paid parking access 
• Monthly reimbursement for cell and internet usage 
• $1,500 professional development allowance 
• Generous time off policy 

• • Up to 26 paid holidays a year (includes summer and winter collective breaks)
  • Vacation: 1st year of service: 10 days, after completion of 1st year: 15 days, after completion of 4th year: 20 days) 
  • 6 personal days per year 

Application Information

The position is open immediately until filled. Please send a cover letter and resume. Please note that we will only be able to respond to short listed candidates. Those candidates will be asked to submit 3 references.

 

CIPC is an equal opportunity employer; people of color and individuals from diverse backgrounds are encouraged to apply. CIPC does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, ethnic background, religion, sex, sexual orientation, age, or disability. 

 

Salary

• $120,000 - $150,000