Virginia Education Association

General Counsel and Director of Legal Services

Based in Richmond, VA

 

Date of Posting: May 16, 2025
Deadline for Applying: Open until filled
Reports to: Executive Director

Virginia Education Association (VEA) is seeking qualified applicants for the position of General Counsel and Director of Legal Services in the Office of Legal Advocacy.

The VEA is the largest union of public-school employees in Virginia, advocating for education professionals and advancing public education. As a National Education Association (NEA) affiliate, we represent thousands of teachers, support staff, and school employees across the Commonwealth. Our mission is twofold: ensuring all students receive quality public education while supporting our members' rights, working conditions, and professional growth.

Position Description:
The General Counsel and Director of Legal Services is VEA’s chief legal officer, overseeing all legal matters of the organization and leading the Office of Legal Advocacy. This position provides strategic counsel on labor, employment, education, civil rights, and corporate law, and supervises staff attorneys and legal support staff. The General Counsel and Director of Legal Services also supports legislative advocacy, compliance, litigation, and internal governance.

Key Responsibilities:
Legal Leadership and Strategy

• Direct and manage VEA’s Office of Legal Advocacy and member legal services program.
• Represent the VEA and its members in legal proceedings and administrative forums.
• Review and negotiate contracts, manage risk, and ensure organizational compliance with laws and policies.
• Collaborate across VEA to develop strategic plan for anticipated changes in state public sector collective bargaining law.
• Ability to build a strong, cohesive Legal Advocacy team and build connections between Legal Advocacy and other VEA departments.

Member Advocacy and Services

• Oversee legal support to members on labor and employment-related issues in accordance with NEA guidelines.
• Advise and support staff UniServ Directors and local associations on collective bargaining, grievances, contract enforcement, and employment disputes.
• Supervise and manage the Attorney Referral Program, Educators Employment Liability (EEL), and other NEA legal services programs.

Litigation and Outside Counsel

• Represent the VEA or coordinate with outside counsel in litigation.
• Approve, refer, and oversee outside legal services.
• Recruit attorneys throughout Virginia to partner with VEA in its representation of members and grow and strengthen existing network of outside counsel.
• Maintain Office of Legal Advocacy files and records and ensure quality control in legal service delivery.

Corporate and Internal Legal Support

• Serve as advisor to the Executive Director, President, Board of Directors, and management team on legal matters.
• Monitor VEA’s compliance as an employer and nonprofit organization.
• Provide legal input on governance and policy interpretation.

Public Policy and Legislative Advocacy

• Collaborate with VEA’s Government Relations team to draft and analyze legislation and lobby state and local government officials.
• Provide legal review of education laws, policy proposals and campaign/election compliance.

Staff Supervision, Leadership, and Management

• Supervise Office of Legal Advocacy personnel, including attorneys and support staff.
• Conduct performance evaluations, coaching, and team development.
• Manage department budget, workload distribution, and reporting.
• Participate on the VEA Leadership Team.
• Lead through a racial and social justice lens.

Training, Resources, and Capacity Building

• Provide legal training and professional development to VEA staff, members, and leaders.
• Develop resources to increase local advocacy capacity and awareness of legal rights.
• Stay abreast of legal developments affecting public education, collective bargaining, and labor relations.

Qualifications:

• Juris Doctor (J.D.) from an ABA-accredited law school.
• Active membership in the Virginia State Bar, or eligibility to obtain membership within one year of hire.
• 7–10 years of progressively responsible legal experience, with a strong background in labor, employment, and education law.
• Dedication to advancing racial and social justice, supported by a record of advocacy, action, or lived experience in promoting equity and inclusion.
• Proven leadership skills, including experience supervising legal or cross-functional teams.
• Exceptional written and oral communication skills, including the ability to convey complex legal concepts clearly.
• Proficiency in legal research platforms and office technology (e.g., Westlaw, LexisNexis, Microsoft Office Suite).
• Deep commitment to public education, workers’ rights, and equitable access to justice.
• Experience with public sector labor relations is preferred.

Working Conditions:

• Full-time, exempt position.
• The primary work location is Richmond, VA, with occasional travel required throughout the state.
• Availability for evening and weekend work as needed to support organizational activities and events.
• Must possess a valid driver’s license and have access to reliable transportation.

Compensation and Benefits:
Salary commensurate with experience and qualifications with a salary range of $125,000 – $165,000. VEA offers a comprehensive benefits package including:

• 95% employer paid medical, 100% employer paid dental, and vision coverage
• Paid leave and holidays
• Professional development opportunities
• Build your retirement security with VEA’s comprehensive retirement package which includes:
  • Defined benefits pension plan that provides guaranteed retirement income based on your salary and years of service
  • Generous 5% employer contribution to 401(k) regardless of employee contribution – no matching required!

Application Procedures:
To apply, visit www.veanea.org and navigate to “VEA Careers” under the "About" section.

Please submit a cover letter, résumé, and writing sample. Include salary expectations and references.

The VEA is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer.
We are committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion and encourage applications from all qualified individuals.