Leadership role
Associate / Senior Counsel
A staff attorney who provides legal advice on assigned areas of the organization's work, below the level of the chief legal officer.
Reporting and scope
Reports to the General Counsel or a deputy general counsel. Authority is limited to assigned matters or practice areas, such as contracts, employment or research.
Core responsibilities
- Drafts and negotiates contracts, grant agreements, subawards and leases
- Advises program and HR staff on employment, privacy and regulatory questions
- Reviews gift agreements and restrictions with the development team
- Supports compliance with federal award terms and state charitable registration
- Manages outside counsel on litigation or specialty matters
- Tracks legal developments that affect the organization's programs
How it differs
The General Counsel is the organization's chief legal officer and advises the board directly; Associate / Senior Counsel handles a portfolio under that person. The Director of Compliance runs compliance programs and monitoring, often without acting as legal counsel.
By organization size
Small and mid-sized nonprofits rarely employ staff attorneys below the General Counsel and use outside firms instead. Large hospital systems, universities and national organizations may have several counsel, each specialized by area.
Filings from the last five years mapped to this role commonly report titles such as: Senior Counsel; Corporate Counsel; Associate Counsel; Staff Counsel; Senior Corporate Counsel; Sr. Counsel