Position Summary
The Associate General Counsel identifies and analyzes legal issues impacting EFF as an organization, drafts key documents, presents clear recommendations to top management, and assures legal compliance.
Essential Functions:
Under the direction of the General Counsel:
- Provide legal advice and counsel to the management and staff regarding internal legal matters, including compliance with law, regulations and EFF’s internal privacy policies, non-profit law, lobbying transparency, and intermediary/media law as applied to EFF’s work.
- As directed, acting as product counsel to advise the program teams on legal issues for EFF as an organization arising from EFF’s own software or other programmatic projects.
- Evaluating third party services for compliance with EFF’s internal policies and standards
- Analyze the impact and application of federal and state laws and regulations on EFF.
- As directed, assist with the legal issues arising from personnel, union and other internal matters
- Review and revise, if necessary, EFF contracts and license agreements
- Develop and review policies and procedures for EFF administrative functions.
- Assist in defending EFF from legal threats or litigation, including working with outside counsel as necessary.
- Manage internal legal review and analysis projects.
Qualities We’re Seeking (i.e. Competencies)
Successful candidates bring these qualities:
- Demonstrates care and respect toward coworkers, outside partners, members of the public, donors, and others with whom this role interacts;
- Highest level of integrity, judgment and professionalism.
- Works to positively and collaboratively resolve conflicts and overcome challenges
- Effective oral and written communication skills
- Ability to understand and articulate with accuracy EFF’s mission, positions, and work;
- Available and responsive to colleagues, outside partners and others over email, phone, and online chat, with the ability to respond and reliably to time-sensitive requests for assistance and opportunities during agreed upon working hours;
- Contributes to the creation of a diverse, equitable and inclusive work culture that encourages and celebrates differences including race, ethnicity, age, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, religion, disability and socio-economic circumstance.
- Ability to work with a diverse group of stakeholders, both inside and outside the organization;
- Able to comprehend and articulate legal issues arising for EFF out of complex and nuanced technology policy issues, including basic ability to comprehend various technology, legislation, and court cases;
- Strong analytical and interpersonal skills
- An ability to manage and prioritize work in a complex environment with multiple simultaneous projects
- Work collegially and professionally in a diverse environment
- Familiarity with technology and internet law
Required Education & Experience
- A Juris Doctorate from an ABA accredited law school.
- Admission to and good standing in the State Bar of California or eligible for prompt admission.
- 5+ years of relevant experience
- Education and experience in one or more of the following areas
Preferred Education & Experience
- Cybersecurity law, including CFAA/Wiretap Act/SCA/ECPA
- GDPR, CCPA and other privacy and data protection regulations
- Nonproft, activist organizations, including electioneering law and lobbying regulations
- Open source licensing of copyright and other intellectual property
- Media law, including pre-publication review.
Classification: Exempt, Full-time (40 hours/week)
Salary: $140,000 to $150,000 DOE
Expected hours of work: Typically Monday - Friday
Reports to: General Counsel/Deputy Executive Director
Supervisory Responsibilities: None
Location**:** You may work from San Francisco or you may work from another U.S. location. This position will need to keep Pacific time zone hours.
Commitment to Diversity
As an advocacy organization, EFF is committed to being part of a diverse community. Diversity of life experiences makes a big difference in how we identify and litigate legal issues, design privacy-enhancing software, and organize our activism. To that end, we deliberately seek applicants with different perspectives, identities, and experiences to build an inclusive workplace to better inform our advocacy and defense of freedom in our digital world. EFF is an equal opportunity employer and encourages people of all races, genders, ages, abilities, orientations, ethnicities, and national origins to apply.
Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.