Legal Counsel

Summary

The Trust for Public Land is a national nonprofit that works with communities to create parks and protect public lands. The Legal Counsel will support field programs, primarily in California and Hawaii, by structuring, documenting, negotiating, and completing legally sound parks and conservation projects and transactions.

Responsibilities

• Assists project/program staff in designing, negotiating and completing parks- and conservation-related projects and transactions
• Drafts and reviews land transaction documents such as purchase & sale agreements, option agreements, donation agreements, professional services agreements, restrictive use easements, conservation easements and other documents for implementation of land protection transactions, including due diligence contracts and closing documents
• Drafts and reviews MOU’s, RFP’s, and other procurement packages, grant proposals and agreements, design and construction contracts, contracts with public agencies and ensures that these documents are in accordance with laws, existing agreements, public policy, and internal policies and protocols
• Participates with staff in landowner, stakeholder, consultant, and public agency negotiations
• Advises and assists staff on all project- and transaction-related issues, including delays, variations, defects, insurance, bond claims, post-completion administration, real estate closings, and property management
• Advises and assists with other mission-related legal issues as needed and desired

Skills

• Strong commitment to TPL's shared values (Belonging, Creativity, Collaboration, Impact, and Hope) and mission to effectively work across the organization
• Admission to California state bar, and 3+ years in practice
• Experience advising clients to meet business objectives and develop practical solutions within defined policies and practices in a manner that appropriately manages legal risk and advances the organization's mission
• Aptitude for independent work, exercising good judgment within broadly defined policies and practices
• Ability to draft quality legal documents quickly, and to respond promptly and helpfully to the needs of project/program staff
• Sense of humor and composure when dealing with project/program staff of diverse personalities and work styles
• Ability to change the thinking of, or gain acceptance of, others in sensitive situations, both within and outside the organization
• Ability to anticipate problems and identify probable issues of concern in advance
• Results‐oriented and creative in problem‐solving
• Comfortable working in multiple jurisdictions and managing multiple projects in a decentralized environment
• Excellent written and oral communication skills
• Real estate transactional experience. Practical skills and comfort with performing due diligence in connection with property acquisitions including, but not limited to analyzing title work, boundary surveys and environmental site assessments
• Familiarity with municipal and state law, real estate law, federal grants, and working with tax-exempt organizations and public agencies a plus
• Construction law experience including: drafting and negotiation of AIA forms and other design and construction contracts
• A well-developed understanding of critical path planning from conceptual design to construction documentation to construction implementation to construction close-out
• Hybrid preferred; remote candidates will be considered

Qualifications

Must Haves

• Strong commitment to TPL's shared values (Belonging, Creativity, Collaboration, Impact, and Hope) and mission to effectively work across the organization
• Admission to California state bar, and 3+ years in practice
• Experience advising clients to meet business objectives and develop practical solutions within defined policies and practices in a manner that appropriately manages legal risk and advances the organization's mission
• Aptitude for independent work, exercising good judgment within broadly defined policies and practices
• Ability to draft quality legal documents quickly, and to respond promptly and helpfully to the needs of project/program staff
• Sense of humor and composure when dealing with project/program staff of diverse personalities and work styles
• Ability to change the thinking of, or gain acceptance of, others in sensitive situations, both within and outside the organization
• Ability to anticipate problems and identify probable issues of concern in advance
• Results‐oriented and creative in problem‐solving
• Comfortable working in multiple jurisdictions and managing multiple projects in a decentralized environment
• Excellent written and oral communication skills

Nice to Haves

• Real estate transactional experience. Practical skills and comfort with performing due diligence in connection with property acquisitions including, but not limited to analyzing title work, boundary surveys and environmental site assessments
• Familiarity with municipal and state law, real estate law, federal grants, and working with tax-exempt organizations and public agencies a plus
• Construction law experience including: drafting and negotiation of AIA forms and other design and construction contracts
• A well-developed understanding of critical path planning from conceptual design to construction documentation to construction implementation to construction close-out
• Hybrid preferred; remote candidates will be considered

Benefits

• As a full-time employee, you will be eligible for The Trust for Public Land’s comprehensive benefits program, including medical, dental, and vision insurance.
• Vacation and sick pay plus holidays.
• A year end office closure.
• A 403(b)-retirement plan, currently with up to a 7% company match.
• Hybrid work environment; remote candidates will be considered.