Legal Associate

The Legal Associate is an entry-level attorney role reporting to the Director of Legal Advisory Services and serving as a key member of a highly structured, compliance-focused team. This position is well-suited for someone who values clarity, accountability, and consistent application of rules, and who is motivated to build expertise in private foundation law through hands-on work. 

In this role, you will provide practical, day-to-day compliance support to private foundation clients and internal partners. You’ll be responsible for analyzing real scenarios, applying IRS regulations, and delivering clear, actionable guidance. The primary focus is responding to compliance-related inquiries from clients and the Sales team, while ensuring adherence to IRS rules governing private foundations, including self-dealing, jeopardizing investments, taxable expenditures, and excess business holdings. 

Compliance Review (90%)

• Serve as a primary point of contact for client and prospective client inquiries related to private foundation compliance  
• Analyze and resolve prior-year compliance issues, ensuring accurate completion of tax questionnaires for Form 990-PF preparation  
• Provide timely, practical guidance to internal teams (Grants and Expenses) on compliance-related questions and edge cases  
• Conduct charity due diligence and research, communicating findings clearly to clients, grantees, and legal counsel  
• Prepare and review IRS Form 1023 applications and respond to follow-up inquiries from the IRS  
• Draft and review corporate resolutions to support foundation governance and decision-making  
• Assist in preparing responses to IRS audits and information requests, ensuring accuracy and completeness  
• Draft requests for advance approval of grants to individuals programs, applying regulatory requirements to real-world scenarios 

Collaboration with Other Departments (10%)

• Partner with Philanthropic Directors to design and evaluate foundation programs for compliance with IRS regulations  
• Collaborate with internal teams to ensure consistent, accurate, and well-coordinated compliance support across client activities 

• Juris Doctor (JD) degree required  
• Strong organizational and time management skills, with the ability to prioritize work, manage competing deadlines, and meet established service levels  
• Clear and professional communication skills, with the ability to translate complex regulations into practical guidance for clients and internal partners  
• Solid foundation in private foundation tax law and general tax principles, with a strong interest in developing deeper subject-matter expertise  
• Analytical and detail-oriented approach to reviewing legal documents, grants, expenses, and alternative assets for compliance considerations  
• Familiarity with Form 990-PF and private foundation reporting requirements preferred  
• Experience preparing or supporting Forms 1023 and 4720, including responding to related IRS inquiries, preferred 

Job Requirements for Remote Work Environment: 

Dedicated Workspace: Must have a home office or workspace that is free of distractions and interruptions to ensure productivity and focus during work hours. 

Reliable Internet Connection: High-speed internet is required to support video conferencing, file sharing, and other work-related technology needs. 

Physical Demands: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the functions. While performing the duties of this position, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear. The employee frequently is required to use hands or fingers, handle or feel objects, tools, or controls. The employee is occasionally required to stand; walk; sit; and reach with hands and arms. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 15 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this position include close vision, distance vision, and the ability to adjust focus. The noise level in the work environment is usually low to moderate.    

An Equal Opportunity Employer 

We do not discriminate based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, disability, genetic information, or any other status protected by law or regulation. It is our intention that all qualified applicants are given equal opportunity and that selection decisions be based on job-related factors.