Corporate Counsel

Why Texas Association of School Boards (TASB)

We come from humble beginnings - picture a one-person organization created in 1949 to advocate for excellence in public education on behalf of Texas school board members. Flash forward to today, and we have over 500 employees working together to provide over 1,000 school districts with purposeful resources so they can focus on what matters most - providing Texas public school children with access to a high-quality education.

We feel privileged to work alongside talented team-members who are passionate about education and enjoy learning from new and different perspectives. We believe what makes our organization highly successful is the rich diversity our employees collectively bring to TASB with different backgrounds, skillsets, cultures and ethnicities, gender identities, interests, abilities, and work styles. And our passion for education and learning doesn't end there. Our culture has always encouraged employees to grow and become their best selves both professionally and personally through a variety of innovative and collaborative development opportunities. You're likely beginning to see why we've been regularly named by Austin Business Journal as a Top Ten Best Places to Work!

TASB offers competitive pay, rich benefits-including retirement matching of 2:1 up to 5% after one year (meaning if you contribute 5% to the plan, TASB will contribute 10%)-onsite daycare, onsite gym, wellness program, tuition reimbursement, remote work options, flexible schedules, and more.

Every role at TASB thoughtfully complements our mission and the educational impact being made in communities across Texas. If you consider your work exceptional and want to help drive our mission forward, keep reading!

About You

As Corporate Counsel, you will provide high quality, sound, creative, and responsive legal services and representation to the Association and its affiliated entities on general legal matters under the guidance of the Chief Corporate Counsel. The Corporate Counsel Office is an internal service for TASB program and service areas that is separate from TASB Legal Services, which provides legal counsel and programs to TASB members. For most program and service areas, Corporate Counsel is the only in-house attorney. However, in a couple of service areas (Risk Management Services and the Legal Assistant Fund), Corporate Counsel complements other TASB attorneys dedicated to those programs.

A Typical Day

• Provide legal review and appropriate negotiated changes on vendor contracts (more than 300 each year) in which the Association is the buyer, client or user, especially contracts for meeting venues and hotels, as well as IT contracts.
• Provide legal counsel and legal services to assigned service areas on program initiatives, projects, and questions, as well as anticipate and identify foreseeable legal issues.
• Assist the Chief Corporate Counsel in addressing corporate-wide legal compliance and policy needs, including records privacy and records retention.
• If you're still reading, we'd love to meet you!

How You'll Make an Impact

• Draft and develop contracts for assigned service areas, primarily provider agreements and modifications or amendments thereto.
• Draft and/or review policies and administrative procedures.
• Provide legal support to the boards and committees of TASB and its affiliated entities as assigned.
• Handle third-party information requests, including subpoenas for records.
• Advocate and represent service areas on pre-suit matters, via demand letters, regulatory matters, etc.
• Provide litigation support to outside counsel.
• Become resident expert in identified areas as needed (e.g., hotel contracts, technology contracts, copyright, etc.).
• Occasionally develop and provide training on legal topics to staff.

Skills For Success

Education and Experience:

• Graduation from an accredited law school.
• State Bar of Texas Law license in good standing.
• Minimum of 5 years of general counsel experience.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Experience drafting and negotiating business contracts.
• Knowledge of government contracts and procurement.
• Knowledgeable about several of the following legal subject areas: employment, technology, copyright, trademark, business organizations, and nonprofit/tax-exempt entities
• Legal curiosity and strong and precise legal research skills.
• Strong verbal and legal writing skills.
• Ability to work independently with minimal direction.
• Ability to manage multiple, concurrent tasks.
• Ability to work effectively and harmoniously with others, at varying levels of authority.
• Ability to maintain positive work relationships, while not sacrificing professional confidentiality, loyalty, and objectivity.

The TASB Difference

• Enjoy competitive pay and rich benefit offerings.
• Be part of a collaborative environment where every contribution impacts Texas public schoolchildren.
• Thrive in a culture that promotes bringing your whole self to work every day and emphasizes healthy boundaries and work-life balance.
• Learn and grow individually and together through frequent professional development; diversity, equity, and inclusion panels; wellness seminars; and more.
• Work alongside transparent leaders with an open and consistent feedback approach.
• Celebrate as a team with meaningful (and fun) events and tokens of appreciation throughout the year.

Posting Notices

• The health and safety of our employees and members, is our top priority.
• TASB is an equal opportunity employer and will not discriminate on the basis of an individual's race, color, disability, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, age, marital status, veteran status, or any other personal characteristic protected by law.
• This position does not qualify for visa sponsorship.
• Any job offer is contingent upon receipt of results of a satisfactory background check.