Assistant General Counsel, The Public Interest Network

Denver, CO

The Public Interest Network is hiring an Assistant General Counsel to provide legal advice to our network of environmental and consumer advocacy organizations. The Public Interest Network consists of organizations, such as PIRG (Public Interest Research Group), Environment America, and their state groups, that are committed to a shared vision of a new future and a strategic approach to change. Our groups work for clean air and water, protection of wildlife and open spaces, a livable climate, and are an advocate for consumers, advancing solutions to problems that affect our health, our safety and our well-being. We work across the political spectrum for pragmatic solutions, prioritizing making a difference in people’s lives over “making a statement.” Our groups use a variety of methods including advocacy, education and organizing to achieve these goals, working in more than 25 states with more than 250 full time staff. We also work closely with the Fund for the Public Interest, which conducts fundraising, membership-building, and other organization-building efforts on behalf of organizations within the Network.

The Assistant General Counsel works with the rest of the General Counsel’s office and the leadership of The Public Interest Network to provide strategic and knowledgeable in-house legal advice and guidance to the leadership and staff of the Network and its groups, working with outside counsel as necessary. This position requires excellent judgment, discretion and the ability to oversee significant projects.

Key responsibilities

• Employment practices: Advising on employment matters and benefits, including overall policies, advising on new laws and regulations, and specific day to day matters. Also includes training staff directors on legal requirements and best practices.
• Corporate compliance: Fostering sound corporate practices and maintaining our organizations’ good standing with federal and state corporate and tax regulators. The majority of the organizations in the network are 501(c)3 and 501(c)4 corporations registered in states across the country.
• Lobbying compliance: Advising groups on regulations and compliance with state and local lobbying laws.
• Contracts: Drafting and reviewing contracts, leases and grant agreements.
• Risk management: Working with organizations’ leaders to adopt policies that protect organizations from legal exposure.
• Additional legal areas: In addition to the above, the position may include work in areas including election law and campaign finance law, intellectual property and copyright, and first amendment and charitable solicitation, among others as they arise. 

Qualifications

• A J.D. and state bar membership in good standing is required. Preference for a bar admission in Colorado (or candidate may be admitted to Colorado state bar within 6 months of accepting role)
• Experience: The ideal candidate has 3-5 years experience practicing law, with at least some of that time working in one or more of the practice areas described above.
• Successful candidates will also bring the following skills and attributes to the position:
• A strong commitment to non-profit work and enthusiasm for the mission of The Public Interest Network and its member organizations;
• Comfort working with both the most senior staff (CEO, Vice Presidents, Executive Directors) on major organizational strategies, and with training brand new staff on basic relevant legal principles in an understandable way; and
• Prior experience working with or advising nonprofit organizations. Firsthand experience doing organizing, issue advocacy or political work is a plus.

Compensation and Benefits

The starting target annual compensation range for someone with 3-5 years of relevant experience is $57,000-$93,000. Candidates on the lower end of directly relevant experience should expect to be on the lower end of this range; candidates on the higher end of relevant experience are likely to be on the higher end of this range. The Public Interest Network offers an excellent benefits package. Our benefits package includes medical, dental, and vision insurance for employees and dependents, paid sick time (60-72 hours/year depending on location), vacation time (accruing 10 days over year 1, 15 days over year 2, and 20 days over year 3 and thereafter), a commuter benefit program, a 401(k) plan with employer match, parental leave, long-term disability insurance, and may include needs-based student loan assistance. We also offer an excellent training program and opportunities for advancement.

Location: Denver, CO is preferred. Philadelphia, Washington D.C. and remote may be considered for top candidates. This position is hybrid, with 3 days in office. 

Why work with the Public Interest Network? Check out 10 reasons on our website.

About The Public Interest Network

The Public Interest Network consists of organizations, such as PIRG, Environment America, and their state groups, that are committed to a shared vision of a new future and a strategic approach to change.

We tackle problems that arise from America’s endless pursuit of economic growth. This imperative to produce and consume “more” explains why our society continues to burn more fossil fuels, despite the damage to our climate and our health. It’s why our marketplace keeps mass-producing more single-use plastic, despite the price we pay in waste and pollution for a moment’s convenience. And it’s why even the most technologically advanced companies design and market their products for obsolescence, not repair and reuse. 

Together, the staff of The Public Interest Network’s organizations are relentlessly pragmatic in our approach to these problems. We prioritize making a difference in people’s lives over “making a statement.” We work with everybody to make change happen, political ideology aside. And we are serious about the work – we set clear goals, benchmarks and systems to measure our progress, and hold ourselves accountable to making change now and building for the future.

This unique approach gives even our newest staff an opportunity to make a concrete difference for the environment and the public interest – just as hundreds of dedicated staff have done over our 50 year history. If you want to add to this change-making legacy; if you have the passion and the drive that it takes; if you're looking for a mission, not just a job – then let’s talk.

Our Mission and Values

The Public Interest Network operates and supports organizations committed to a shared vision of a better world and a strategic approach to social change. Visit our website for things you should know about our network when you apply.

Please do not use AI to help draft your cover letter or responses to our application questions. We want to know how you think and write.

The Fund for the Public Interest is an equal opportunity employer.