Associate General Counsel

Associate General Counsel

Position Overview:

Summit Public Schools is looking for an Associate General Counsel who is a problem-solver, results-oriented, excels at critical thinking and clear writing, and has exceptional interpersonal skills. The candidate must be a highly motivated individual who thrives in an entrepreneurial environment and wants to positively impact the lives of students by improving K-12 public education. You will work directly with and report to the Chief Legal Officer.

Who We Are:

What if all students graduated high school with the knowledge, skills and habits they need to lead a fulfilled life? This is the question that guides our mission at Summit Public Schools.

Summit is a leading network of public schools that collectively prepares a diverse community of young people with the skills, knowledge, and habits to attain economic empowerment and success in a chosen concrete next step toward a fulfilled life. We operate 10 schools serving over 3,000 students in the Bay Area and Washington state. 100% of Summit graduates are college-ready, and Summit graduates complete college at double the national average.

We need exceptional, diverse, and mission-aligned teachers to join our team to help prepare our students for a fulfilled life. Join us!

What Youll Do:

Responsibilities:

The Associate General Counsel will be the second member of the legal team and will support the Chief Legal Officer on a range of issues that impact Summit Public Schools. This is an opportunity with significant responsibility and the opportunity to have an immediate impact on students enrolled in a network of charter schools in California and Washington. This role provides exposure to the full range of responsibilities typically associated with a General Counsel, preparing the Associate General Counsel for future leadership opportunities in the legal field and nonprofit sector.

Key Responsibilities will include:

• Serve as a thought partner to the Chief Legal Officer and senior leadership on governance, compliance, and risk strategy.

• Navigate complex issues across multiple jurisdictions (California and Washington), with exposure to evolving charter law and nonprofit governance

• Advise on charter and education law and apply it to Summit's schools in California and Washington.

• Manage outside counsel in litigation, dispute resolution, and other high-risk matters.

• Draft, review, and negotiate agreements critical to operations and innovation.

• Oversee compliance with federal and state laws and regulations.

• Provide legal advice and resolve disputes in special education matters.

• Support the development and implementation of organizational policies.

• Advise on corporate law, nonprofit operations, and education codes.

• Deliver training and actionable guidance on legal and compliance issues to staff.

More specifically, you can expect to:

Support Our Schools:

• Support the Diverse Learners team on special education matters, including FAPE.

• Serve as lead attorney on labor and employment matters, including collective bargaining, contract administration, and employee relations.

• Represent Summit with charter authorizers, oversight agencies, and external stakeholders.

• Advise on high-stakes charter renewals, policy shifts, and public accountability.

• Support school leaders on state and federal law obligations under our charters.

• Advise on finance, governance, philanthropy, and strategic partnerships.

• Ensure legal alignment with Summit's innovation and growth initiatives.

• Support the Government and Public Affairs team on legislation and external engagement.

• Draft, review, and negotiate commercial and strategic agreements.

• Draft, review, and prepare governance documents, including board memoranda, resolutions, and policies.

• Provide legal advice on student matters, including safety, confidentiality, and school norms.

Support Strategic Services and other Home Office Functions:

• Provide legal expertise and guidance to the network leadership team.

• Ensure compliance with California's Brown Act, Political Reform Act, and Public Records Act.

• Ensure compliance with Washington's Open Public Meetings Act and nonprofit governance laws.

• Advise governing boards and leadership teams on legislative trends and recommend responses.

• Partner with HR to ensure employment law compliance and resolve employee relations matters.

• Provide legal support to finance and data operations teams.

• Lead or contribute to cross-functional projects and take on related duties as assigned, with opportunities to expand expertise while advancing Summit's missio.

Required Skills & Experience:

• A true passion for our organization's mission to empower all students with the skills necessary to succeed in college, career, and life

• Bachelor's Degree and Juris Doctor degree from an accredited school of law

• Member in good standing of the State Bar of California and/or Washington State Bar Association

• 3-5 years of experience in either education law or legal experience representing a local education agency in some capacity

• Experience with applicable federal and state laws and regulations relating to public education, including the California Education Code and Revised Code of Washington, with an emphasis on special education and/or employment law preferred.

• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively in cross-functional teams and across diverse stakeholders

• Excellent interpersonal, writing, communication and presentation skills

• Outstanding organizational skills with extraordinary attention to detail

• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment, managing multiple projects, under tight deadlines

• Ability to analyze statutes and regulations quickly to provide practical advice

• Ability to independently make decisions balancing legal requirements and business/managerial needs, and to efficiently and effectively communicate with non-lawyers

• Ability to present complex and sensitive issues to managers in a concise and effective manner.

• Experience taking on projects involving unfamiliar subject matters.

• Ability to collaborate and build relationships with a wide variety of stakeholders.

• Ability to evaluate risk and resolve complex issues in creative and effective ways

• Proficiency in Google Suite (Docs, Sheets, Slides) or Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, and Powerpoint)

In addition to joining a highly motivated team and engaging in meaningful work, youll have access to a comprehensive suite of benefits including a retirement plan, take what you need personal leave policy, 12 paid holidays, and 3 weeks of organization-wide closures during the year. You and your dependents will have access to multiple health, dental, and vision plans at 25% cost (we cover the other 75%) and employee life and disability insurance at no cost. Our compensation policy strives to be equitable and transparent. The salary for this position starts at $157,651 and goes up to $186,503 commensurate with experience and qualifications.

Summit is an equal opportunity employer. We believe that diversity, equity, and inclusion are directly intertwined with education. We are ALL better when we are able to bring our whole selves to work and honor each other's voices across identities, cultural backgrounds, and life experiences. We welcome and encourage applications from individuals who are members of historically marginalized communities. Spanish language proficiency is a plus.