Employment Attorney for Nonprofit/Tax-Exempt Organizations (part-time)

Cheshire Law Group is in its 15th year and we're growing! We're expanding our legal services team to add another experienced general counsel lawyer to our team who wants to focus on supporting our nonprofit clients with employment matters. The position is part-time (up to 30 hours/week) and can expand to full-time. No existing book of business is required.

Cheshire Law Group is an award-winning and industry-leading woman-owned law firm that exclusively represents nonprofit organizations.

We are seeking an experienced general counsel attorney to serve as trusted legal counsel to nonprofit organizations on a wide range of legal matters, while focusing on employment law matters. The ideal candidate will have a strong understanding of the unique operational, governance, and mission-driven challenges faced by nonprofit entities and will provide practical, risk-based legal advice that supports organizational effectiveness while ensuring compliance with federal, state, and local employment laws.

This role will exclusively represent nonprofit organizations, working with their leadership teams, boards of directors, and human resources professionals on employment-related matters.

Attorneys on the Cheshire Law Group's legal team work closely with leadership teams of nonprofit organizations as trusted advisors to provide expert counsel on a wide variety of legal matters. This part-time attorney role is ideal for an exceptional employment lawyer who is passionate about representing nonprofit organizations and who enjoys working 1:1 with clients and independently responding to client concerns, but who also appreciates and is adept at collaborating with colleagues, including the other employment lawyers on the team. The ideal candidate is driven by the desire to always meet clients’ needs in a manner that is positive and pragmatic, while also thoughtful and thorough, and who enjoys handling a variety of matters and responding quickly to support the day-to-day and strategic legal needs of nonprofits. Please note that this position offers flexibility and may be remote. This is a part-time position that also offers the possibility of expanding to full-time status in the future depending upon client needs, demonstrated abilities, and work performance.

Key Responsibilities

Employment Counseling & Compliance

• • Advise nonprofit clients on day-to-day employment law issues, including hiring, performance management, discipline, termination, reductions in force, leave administration, accommodations, whistleblower complaints, and workplace investigations.
  • Counsel clients regarding compliance with federal, state, and local employment laws, including:
  • Title VII
  • ADA
  • FMLA
  • FLSA
  • NLRA
  • USERRA
  • Equal Pay Act
  • State wage and hour laws
  • Other multi-state law compliance
  • Provide guidance on employee classification, including exempt/non-exempt status and independent contractor issues, and volunteer workforce considerations.

Policy Development & Risk Management

• • Draft, review, and update employee handbooks, personnel policies, offer letters, employment agreements, separation agreements, independent contractor agreements, and related workplace documents.
  • Conduct proactive legal audits and risk assessments of employment practices.
  • Advise on nonprofit-specific workforce issues, including grant-funded positions, volunteer management, whistleblower and nonprofit compliance concerns, and mission-based employment policies.

Workplace Investigations

• • Conduct and oversee investigations involving allegations of discrimination, harassment, retaliation, misconduct, and whistleblower complaints.
  • Prepare investigative findings and recommend corrective actions.

Employment Litigation & Administrative Proceedings

• • Represent nonprofit employers in employment litigation and administrative proceedings before agencies such as:
  • EEOC
  • Department of Labor
  • State human rights commissions
  • Unemployment and wage claim agencies
  • Manage all phases of litigation, including pleadings, discovery, depositions, motions, settlement negotiations, and trial preparation; or manage outside litigation counsel.

Training & Client Development

• • Develop and deliver employment law training programs for nonprofit executives, managers, HR professionals, and boards of directors.
  • Publish client alerts, articles, and presentations on emerging employment law developments affecting nonprofit organizations.
  • Support the firm’s business development initiatives within the nonprofit sector.

Qualifications

Required

• • Juris Doctor (J.D.) from an accredited law school; Licensed to practice law in the US and must be in good standing.
  • Active admission and good standing with at least one state bar. Licensed to practice law in PA mandatory (or eligible to waive into the Pennsylvania bar), with additional license preferred and other state licenses (e.g., DC, DE, NJ, NY, MD, OK) a plus.
  • 5+ years of employment law experience representing employers.
  • Strong knowledge of federal and state employment laws and regulations.
  • Excellent legal research, writing, and analytical skills.
  • Demonstrated ability to provide practical, business-focused legal advice.
  • Strong interpersonal and client relationship management skills.
  • Strong demonstrated interest in and experience serving nonprofits a must (pro bono service, board service, volunteerism, and/or working with underserved clients or communities)
  • Comfortable with diversity and inclusive with regard to race, religion, national origin, disability status, sexual orientation, and/or gender identity, reflecting the values of Cheshire Law Group, and also considering the demographic composition of the Firm’s clients and of the communities we serve.

Preferred

• • Experience representing nonprofit organizations, educational institutions, foundations, associations, healthcare nonprofits, or social service agencies.
  • Employment litigation experience and union/labor law experience a plus.
  • Experience conducting workplace investigations.
  • Familiarity with nonprofit governance and tax-exempt organizational structures.
  • Existing relationships within the nonprofit sector.

Key Competencies

• • Strategic legal judgment.
  • Relationship building and client service.
  • Strong communication and presentation skills.
  • Attention to detail and risk assessment.
  • Project and matter management.
  • Ability to balance legal compliance with organizational mission and culture.

Flexible remote/WFH option on a permanent basis.

Supportive and collaborative work culture that fosters connection & supports wellness.

Competitive salary commensurate with experience.

Professional development support.

Performance-based bonus opportunities.

Origination fees (per Firm’s policy).

Retirement plan with employer contributions.

Up to 10 paid holidays (per Firm policy); three are floating and are employee's choice.

Paid sick time.

English, to meet our clients' needs.