General Counsel

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Job location
16037 SW Upper Boones Ferry Road
Tigard, OR 97224
United States
Organization information
Organization name: 
www.osbar.org
Street address: 
16037 SW Upper Boones Ferry Road
City: 
Tigard
State: 
Oregon
ZIP: 
97224
Job type: 
Other
Position Description: 

The Oregon State Bar regulates the practice of law in Oregon and provides a variety of services to its members and the public. The mission of the Oregon State Bar is to serve justice and the public interest by promoting respect for the rule of law, by improving the quality of legal services, and by increasing access to justice.

Equal Opportunity Employer
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Visit http://www.osbar.org/osbcenter/openings.html for full job details.
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We are looking for someone to pursue and protect the legal interests of the Oregon State Bar (OSB), assist the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) in managing day-to-day operations of the organization, direct operations of the General Counsel’s Office (GCO) and other departments and programs for which General Counsel has budgeting and personnel-related responsibilities.
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What you will do:

Serve as house counsel to the OSB, advising the CEO and the Board of Governors (BOG) on legal and policy issues. Provide legal and compliance advice to OSB departments. Responsible for all legal matters, including non-disciplinary litigation, involving the OSB. Support organizational governance by advising on OSB procedures, rules and bylaws, and drafting proposed amendments to bylaws and court rules as necessary. Provide strategic advice to the BOG and OSB management on the legal risks of various policy options.

Serve as primary resource when the CEO is unavailable and, in the absence of an official designation, is the acting CEO by default. Represent the OSB administration at professional functions when the CEO is unavailable.

Assist the CEO and OSB managers in formulating and implementing internal operating policies and procedures for the OSB. Train staff on OSB policies and legal issues.

Provide legal ethics advice to members and supervise staff attorneys who provide advice on the Ethics Hotline. Staff the Legal Ethics Committee. Review formal ethics opinions, draft written informal ethics opinions for members and present on ethics topics.

Direct and oversee the Minimum Continuing Legal Education (MCLE) Department, the Client Assistance Office (CAO), the Unlawful Practice of Law Committee, the State Lawyers Assistance Committee, the Unclaimed Lawyer Trust Account Program, and the Fee Dispute Resolution Program. Responsible for final decision on appeals of CAO dismissed complaints.

Administer the Client Security Fund.

Oversee the operation of the Disciplinary Board and supervise the Disciplinary Board Clerk. Advise the Disciplinary Board on legal and procedural issues. Solicit volunteers and make Disciplinary Board appointment recommendations.

Serve as Public Records Law compliance officer and supervise Public Records Coordinator.

Responsible for review of all OSB contracts and lease agreements. Negotiate and draft contracts on OSB’s behalf as necessary. Maintain and protect OSB’s intellectual property and trademark portfolio. Draft and review licensing agreements.

Supervise outside counsel in non-disciplinary litigation. Appear in state and federal court to defend the OSB and to pursue collections on behalf of the Client Security Fund.

Serve as the Team Leader for the OSB Regulatory Functions Team, ensuring coordination of and communication between regulatory programs as appropriate. Present rule changes to the Supreme Court and reports to the Supreme Court on the OSB’s regulatory functions, as needed. Serve as regulatory liaison with Supreme Court staff. Serve as a member of OSB Operations Team.

Supervise staff of CAO, MCLE, and GCO including, but limited to, the Assistant General Counsel and CAO Manager, MCLE Program Manager, Deputy General Counsel, Adjudicator, and GCO support staff. Make recommendations to the CEO on employment and termination of OSB staff.

Model behavior and provide leadership that values diversity and incorporates inclusive and culturally competent practices.

Requirements: 

You may have any satisfactory equivalent combination of the following experience & training that ensures your ability to perform the work. We welcome the opportunity to review your background.

Active member of the Oregon State Bar or ability to be admitted via reciprocity within 6 months.

Ten years legal experience, preferably including some in-house counsel and private practice experience.

Seven years of experience in program administration in a non-profit, corporate, or legal environment to include program planning, strategic planning, development, administration, evaluation, and budgeting.

Demonstrated knowledge of public sector, administrative, and regulatory law, and the legislative process.

Demonstrated ability to learn new areas of law and quickly provide legal advice on emerging issues. Ability to provide well-reasoned legal advice in situations of uncertainty, and when presented with legal issues of first impression.

Demonstrated knowledge and experience in interpreting legal ethics rules and principles.
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Visit http://www.osbar.org/osbcenter/openings.html for full job details.
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For this exempt position, the salary is $13,583 per month. The OSB offers excellent benefits including voluntary 6% participation in the PERS program.

To apply: 

If this sounds like a position that interests you, send your resume with a cover letter to Director of Human Resources, Attention: GCO, Oregon State Bar, PO Box 231935, Tigard, OR 97281. Fax to 503-598-6985 or e-mail to [email protected].

Notes: 
Equal Opportunity Employer
Salary range: 
For this exempt position, the salary is $13,583 per month.
Submission deadline: 
Tuesday, August 31, 2021