REPORTING STRUCTURE:

Reports to General Counsel

ESSENTIAL JOB DUTIES:

• Provide legal counsel to the Appraisal Institute, including its top staff management; Board of Directors, National Committees, Project Teams and Panels; Chapters; and Appraisal Institute subsidiaries.
• Provide legal counsel to minimize risk but facilitate business objectives on issues including, but not limited to, antitrust, employment, not for profit status, partnerships/joint ventures/alliances, standard setting, due process, public relations and advertising, contracts, intellectual property, parliamentary procedure, defamation, governance structure, diversity programs, and electronic commerce. Specifically,


a) Provide legal counsel regarding personnel issues, including policies, discipline and terminations.
b) Provide advice on application of Bylaws and Regulations, and draft changes to such documents.
c) Provide counsel regarding trademark issues including appropriate use of trademarks, review of alleged trademark infringements, preparation of cease and desist letters where appropriate, and follow-up as necessary.
d) Provide legal advice on Appraisal Institute copyrighted materials, including: review of copyright infringements, preparing cease and desist letters where appropriate and providing legal advice concerning appropriate usage of copyrighted materials.
e) Draft Appraisal Institute policies and procedures and advise organization on related compliance issues.
f) Provide legal review and advice concerning Appraisal Institute contracts, including a wide range of contracts with parties such as potential Appraisal Institute business partners; alliances and joint ventures with related associations and organizations, including international entities; consultants; member benefit/affinity providers; hotels and meeting services; office equipment vendors; computer hardware and software providers, mailing list purchasers, trade show exhibitors, convention speakers, instructors, and publication and course authors and developers.
g) Manage current contracts assigned to counsel, including renewals, terminations and preparing contract summary report for the Board of Directors.
h) Provide legal review of Chapter Bylaws and advice to Chapters concerning chapter elections, regulation interpretations and other matters
i) Provide legal advice concerning legal issues involving instructors, students, and the application of the Americans with Disabilities Act to educational offerings
j) Coordinate responses to discovery requests, review motions and briefs, contribute to development of litigation strategy, and assist outside counsel in litigation matters.


• Direct and manage Appraisal Institute outside counsel in various areas of concern, including antitrust, employment, not for profit status, standard setting, due process, public relations and advertising, contracts, intellectual property, parliamentary procedure, defamation, governance structure, diversity programs, and electronic commerce.
• Negotiate with opposing counsel and others concerning threats of litigation, contract drafting, contract breach, intellectual property infringement and state accreditation of Appraisal Institute education.
• Keep abreast of legal developments in all areas impacting Appraisal Institute operations.

JOB QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS:

• Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited four-year university or college
• Juris Doctor degree from an accredited law school
• Excellent writing, verbal, interpersonal, organizational, and analytical skills
• Ability to recognize potential legal problems and recommend appropriate actions
• Ability to effectively interact and communicate with members, staff, general public, outside counsel, and opposing counsel
• Ability to exercise sound judgment
• Ability to meet deadlines

KNOWLEDGE:

• Knowledge of the wide range of substantive law impacting professional associations, including but not limited to contracts, trademark, copyright, antitrust, not for profit status and governance, designations, standard setting, peer review, due process, and electronic commerce.
• Knowledge of litigation procedures and strategies
• Knowledge of Articles of Incorporation, Bylaws, and Regulations governing all activities of the Appraisal Institute
• Knowledge of recordkeeping, data processing and word processing systems capabilities

EXPERIENCE:

3-5 years in-house counsel or law firm experience, preferably in non-profit/association area.

PHYSICAL AND VISUAL ACTIVITIES:

Sitting, kneeling, crouching, talking, hearing, carrying, stooping, reaching, fingering, handling, visual acuity-near, color vision.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

No significant demand associated with this job.

ENVIRONMENTAL/ATMOSPHERIC CONDITIONS:

Usual office environmental conditions.

MACHINE, TOOLS, EQUIPMENT (OFFICE AND INDUSTRIAL), SOFTWARE:

• General office equipment
• Familiarity and expertise with PC based Microsoft office software Word

LICENSES/CERTIFICATIONS:

• Admitted to practice in State of Illinois.

To apply for this position, please submit cover letter, resume, and salary requirements to hreduc@appraisalinstitute.org or via fax at (312) 335-4118.