Legal Program Director

About the role

We are seeking a mission-focused, data-driven, subject-matter expert to lead our Legal Program. Start Small’s Legal Program connects entrepreneurs to an extensive network of volunteer attorneys from national top-tier law firms. Our Legal Program is our oldest and largest program and is charged with ensuring our small business clients have a sound legal infrastructure for their businesses, providing a stable foundation upon which to grow. This position offers a unique opportunity to create, oversee, and refine the legal services and education we provide to entrepreneurs. You will be responsible for ensuring that our clients receive high quality, culturally appropriate legal support and that we deepen our partnerships with law firms and corporate legal teams to activate programming. 

The ideal candidate is an experienced lawyer, with practical, in-depth understanding of the complex legal issues faced by entrepreneurs. You will be expected to refine and augment our suite of 1:1 services and business education curriculum to ensure entrepreneurs are receiving best-in-class service that is grounded in sound business law and informed by trends and developments in the field. You are a collaborative colleague, an effective people manager and, most importantly, you are passionate about supporting small businesses.

This position reports directly to the Vice President of Programs. 

Job Responsibilities: 

The Legal Program Director is directly responsible for leading Start Small’s legal programming and services. Job responsibilities shall include, but shall not be limited to:

• 1:1 Services: Ensuring our volunteer-driven, one-on-one legal services for small business owners are best-in-class, reflect accurate and up-to-date legal analysis, and are tailored to the evolving needs of small business owners.    
• Workshops: Designing the topics and content for Start Small’s legal business education curriculum. This consists of choosing relevant workshop topics, recruiting presenters, reviewing content, and participating in internal planning to ensure SSTB’s overall programming offerings are timely and complementary.
• Partnerships: Nurturing and growing relationships with law firms, corporate entities, community based legal service providers, and other relevant stakeholders using a dynamic partner management framework that aligns with SSTB’s broader partnership strategy. Maintaining open lines of communications with partners through formal and informal touchpoints, consistent communication, and a deep understanding of partner needs and priorities.    
• Volunteer Development: Ensuring Law Firm and Corporate partners and volunteers remain highly engaged and have a positive experience, and that the Legal Program successfully and consistently meets client/program needs with volunteer capacity.
• Strategy & Vision: Contributing to the development and implementation of the organization’s strategic direction and long-term vision for the Legal Program. Using a data-driven, mission-oriented approach to identify, analyze and propose ways to enhance the program’s overall quality, reach and effectiveness.
• Data & Tech: Collaborating with Start Small’s Impact & Technology team to implement and improve our proprietary volunteer portal.
• Team: Managing and coaching the Legal Program staff to elevate the performance and set them up for success in delivering services to small businesses that align with our vision, mission and organizational goals.
  • Identifying development needs/opportunities and growing talent within the Legal Program team.
  • Fostering a collaborative environment within and across teams, helping to build and embed a culture of 2-way, continuous, productive feedback among team members.
• Equity & Inclusion: Conducting all aspects of program management, team leadership and cross-team collaboration through the lens of equity and inclusion. Start Small Think Big is committed to advancing economic equity by connecting entrepreneurs facing systemic barriers to resources and support.

Expected Competencies and Preferred Skills/Qualifications

• Expected Competencies
  • Strong theoretical and applied understanding of small business legal topics such as entity selection and formation, contracts, intellectual property, and employment 
  • Experience within a non-profit and/or program management experience
  • A commitment to equity, including a dedicated interest in helping entrepreneurs who face systemic barriers and are often excluded from resources that support business success
  • Ability to effectively communicate with diverse stakeholders, including small business entrepreneurs, nonprofit partners and volunteers at law firms and corporations
  • Strong organizational and time management skills; ability to prioritize and work smartly, identifying high-value projects that will have the greatest business impact
  • People management skills and experience 
  • Deep commitment to building a positive work culture
• Preferred Skills/Qualifications
  • J.D. from an accredited law school; member in good standing to the New York Bar or eligible for admission to the New York Bar 
  • 6+ years of post-law school, relevant professional experience
  • Experience in program design and delivery; curriculum development and/or development of adult educational materials a plus
  • Demonstrated ability to attract, develop, and manage diverse teams with a high level of collaboration and accountability 
  • Experience managing volunteers or a volunteer program 

Working Conditions

Start Small works in a remote-first, hybrid environment. Our staff work from home with optional, self-determined, co-working days. We encourage in-person connections, but do not require it. As we evolve our model, there may be a need to attend some in-person events (fewer than 5 per year.) This is primarily a sedentary job that may involve some movement to carry out your job duties, including traveling to meet with staff, conducting meetings etc.

Travel

Reasonable travel to meet with team members is encouraged but not required. There may be a need for occasional, local travel to meet with clients and/or partners.  

Occasional out-of-state growth opportunities are offered e.g. conference attendance.  

Equal Opportunities

Start Small Think Big provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.