The General Counsel is responsible for overseeing legal matters and providing legal advice, guidance, and support to ensure compliance with relevant laws and regulations to achieve the mission and purposes of The Missouri Bar.

General Counsel

Purpose: The General Counsel is responsible for overseeing legal matters and providing legal advice, guidance, and support to ensure compliance with relevant laws and regulations to achieve the mission and purposes of The Missouri Bar. The General Counsel will provide strategic insights and take the lead in managing risks and protecting The Missouri Bar’s best interests.

Duties and Responsibilities:

  • Provide legal advice to the Board of Governors and its Executive Committee and to departments and committees of The Missouri Bar Monitor and stay updated on relevant laws, regulations, and industry standards that impact The Missouri Bar to anticipate and identify legal issues and assist in developing legal strategies and solutions
  • Provide guidance and compliance recommendations consistent with Keller v. State Bar of California and related cases as relevant to a unified state bar
  • Conduct legal research; prepare legal documents (including opinions, memoranda, briefs, reports); and provide legal interpretations, risk analyses, and solution-oriented recommendations in support of the operations, strategic mission, and purposes of The Missouri Bar
  • Oversee litigation matters, legal investigations, and other legal proceedings, working with external counsel when necessary
  • Recommend and monitor the work of outside counsel
  • Review, draft, and negotiate various contracts and agreements, including without limit, client contracts, vendor agreements, and partnership agreements.
  • Ensure compliance with contract terms and conditions, protecting The Missouri Bar’s interest.
  • Recommend policy and procedure updates and assist with policy and procedure development
  • Participate in meetings of the Board of Governors and its Executive Committee, and other meetings of staff or members of The Missouri Bar, to address legal issues
  • Manage and coordinate special projects of strategic concern and/or legal importance to The Missouri Bar
  • Proactively identify risks and propose solutions to mitigate or eliminate them
  • Prepare and manage an annual budget for risk management
  • Perform other duties as assigned by the Executive Director or Board of Governors


Required Education, Experience and Skills: The General Counsel must be licensed to practice law in Missouri and be a member of The Missouri Bar in good standing (or be eligible for admission to practice in Missouri within a reasonable time after employment). A juris doctorate degree from an American Bar Association-accredited law school and ten or more years of experience practicing law are required. Five or more years of experience as a general counsel or in a senior legal leadership role are preferred. Understanding of corporate governance and demonstrated experience working with a governing body are also preferred. Proven ability to think strategically, analyze complex legal issues, and provide practical solutions.

  • Strong organizational, verbal/written communication, and negotiation skills
  • Commitment to excellence with high level of integrity and ethical standards
  • Strong people skills, including the ability to be patient, discreet, and tactful and to interact effectively with a wide range of individuals and stakeholders
  • Knowledge of the applicable laws and regulations and current and developing legal issues and trends that might affect the policy and operations of The Missouri Bar
  • Ability to provide competent legal advice and counsel to the leadership of The Missouri Bar on a wide range of legal and policy issues
  • Ability to anticipate and analyze intersecting legal, regulatory, and operational issues in a variety of regulated and risk areas
  • Ability to develop and implement legal strategies and solutions
  • Even temperament and ability to deliver unwelcome advice, deal with unhappy stakeholders, and manage challenging situations
  • Demonstrated leadership and experience managing or interacting with multiple workstreams and multiple departments or individuals
  • Ability to work independently and as an effective team player
  • Ability to exercise discretion and independent judgment
  • Ability to successfully operate with ambiguous guidelines
  • Ability to take initiative, proactively identifying opportunities and working towards solutions without waiting for direction while also keeping leadership informed
  • Working knowledge of legal and office technology (such as Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, and Teams; Adobe Acrobat; and remote work technology) and willingness to learn evolving technology for purposes of effective administration
  • Ability to supervise and coordinate the work of legal professionals, paraprofessionals, and consultants
  • Knowledge of the judicial system and procedures
  • Knowledge of legal documentation procedures and requirements

FLSA Classification: Exempt
Reports to: Executive Director
Supervises: N/A

EOE

To apply, please send a resume, cover letter, and salary expectations to hrdept@mobar.org.

View all job openings at The Missouri Bar at MoBar.org/Working-at-the-bar.