Pro Bono Counsel - Transactional

The Dallas- or Houston-based transactional-focused pro bono counsel will manage and play an important role in the pro bono work in Sidley?s Texas offices, provide principal support for our transactional pro bono efforts nationwide (especially those involving tax issues), assist in supporting pro bono efforts in our California offices, and also provide support for the Firm-wide pro bono chair. The pro bono counsel will supervise, on an as needed basis, transactional pro bono matters that the firm is handling, including regularly providing legal advice on tax issues that arise in our pro bono transactional matters, e.g., those involving non-profit entities. The pro bono counsel receives requests for pro bono help from a wide variety of organizations and individuals and determines which opportunities to make available to lawyers in the Texas offices and potentially beyond, taking into account potential conflicts, the Firm?s ability to do the work, and the value of the project from a public interest perspective. The pro bono counsel highlights the importance of pro bono work to the Firm?s lawyers and encourages and supports their participation in that work, by identifying opportunities of interest to particular lawyers and by internally marketing the importance and satisfaction of pro bono work. He or she also handles the administrative aspects of opening new matters, resolving conflicts, providing staffing and monitoring cases to ensure that they are properly staffed and supervised, particularly when handling lawyers leave the Firm.

In addition, the pro bono counsel is responsible for external marketing of the Firm?s pro bono program. This involves responding to surveys from legal publications, the Pro Bono Institute, and other governmental and nonprofit organizations, as well as to RFPs requesting information about our pro bono work. The pro bono counsel may also participate in recruiting at law schools and law school events sponsored by the Firm. The position also includes representing the Firm at Texas events related to the public interest, access to justice and pro bono law practice. The firm-wide tasks include preparing an annual report on the pro bono hours and matters for the Firm?s management and pro bono committee, as well as a published report highlighting the Firm?s pro bono work of the previous year to be posted on the Firm?s website and used for marketing and recruiting purposes.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Supervise and manage transactional pro bono matters nationwide, with particular attention to tax issues that arise in such matters
• Staff pro bono matters supervised by attorneys in Dallas and Houston offices, and support staffing such matters in Greater Los Angeles, Palo Alto, San Diego, and San Francisco offices
• Provide leadership and creative input on improving and shaping the Firm?s pro bono program
• Liaise with legal service providers and non-profits that are sources of pro bono matters
• Assist attorneys and provide resources who have questions regarding specific matters
• Assist in staffing transactional pro bono matters nationwide
• Assist Texas-based Managing Partners and Director of Administration in managing pro bono related charitable contributions
• Participate in local boards and groups , including the Association of Pro Bono Counsel
• Liaise with other pro bono counsel within the Firm on Firm-wide pro bono initiatives
• Originate and participate in pro bono partnerships with Firm clients
• Assist with marketing efforts and responses to requests for proposals where pro bono information is sought
• Prepare an annual pro bono report for publication and dissemination to Firm clients and the community on a Firm-wide basis
• Prepare annual pro bono report to Firm leadership
• Participate in Firm recruiting
• Assess incoming pro bono matters
• Disseminate pro bono opportunities to Firm attorneys
• Lead new-client intake procedures, including conflicts analysis, risk management and reputational diligence
• Evaluate the performance of associate attorneys and staff
• Promote training efforts and community service initiatives

Qualification Requirements: To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform the Duties and Responsibilities (Duties) above satisfactorily and meet the requirements below. The requirements listed below are representative of the minimum knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations will be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the job. If you need such an accommodation, please email staffrecruiting@sidley.com (current employees should contact Human Resources).

Education and/or Experience:

Required:

• Juris Doctor
• 5+ years of experience with transactional matters and tax issues, particularly tax issues affecting non-profit entities
• Knowledge of rules of professional responsibility
• Admission to the Texas Bar in good standing
• Superior communication and writing skills
• Experience supervising junior lawyers
• Significant experience with close and regular client contact
• Comfort with working in inter-disciplinary project teams

Other Skills and Abilities:

The following will also be required of the successful candidate:

• Strong legal analytical and research skills
• Strong organizational skills and efficiency
• Strong attention to detail
• Good judgment
• Strong interpersonal communication skills
• Strong analytical and problem solving skills
• Able to work harmoniously and effectively with others
• Able to preserve confidentiality and exercise discretion
• Able to work under pressure
• Able to manage multiple projects with competing deadlines and priorities
• A self-starter who desires to show ownership and commitment to the job

This position is open to either Dallas or Houston; candidates should apply to the location of interest.

Sidley is not accepting agency introductions for this position at this time.

Sidley Austin LLP is an Equal Opportunity Employer.