Associate Counsel
Description
EFFECTIVE DATE: 11/13/2025
FLSA: Salaried, Exempt
JOB TITLE: Associate Counsel
DEPARTMENT: Legal Department
REPORTS TO: Senior Director of Legal Affairs
JOB FUNCTION
The Associate Counsel will provide comprehensive legal support to the Senior Director of Legal Affairs in managing the organization’s legal affairs. This role assists with contract review, policy analysis, compliance, regulatory analysis, claims and litigation support, and day-to-day legal guidance for internal departments. The ideal candidate is a solutions-oriented attorney with strong analytical skills, excellent judgment, and the ability to balance multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Draft, review, and negotiate contracts, MOUs, vendor agreements, and other legal documents.
- Assist in managing litigation, claims, subpoenas, interrogatories, and discovery requests.
- Conduct legal research and prepare memoranda related to state, federal, and regulatory requirements.
- Support compliance initiatives including policy updates, risk mitigation strategies, and internal investigations.
- Collaborate with internal departments to ensure alignment with legal, regulatory, and operational standards.
- Maintain organized documentation and support communication with external counsel as needed.
- Provide guidance on public records requests, employment matters, and regulatory filings.
- Support board-related matters, including preparation of documents and legal briefings.
OTHER DUTIES AND RESPONSIBLITIES:
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
- Strong attention to detail and commitment to accuracy.
- Ability to collaborate across departments and provide practical, timely solutions.
- Demonstrated professionalism, integrity, and sound ethical judgment.
- Strong initiative, integrity, and good judgement.
- Time-management skills and ability to multi-task.
- Strong communication skills with the ability to interact effectively with all levels of management.
- High ethical standards and professionalism in dealing with confidential information.
- Perform other duties as assigned.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
EDUCATION:
- Juris Doctor (JD) degree is required.
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Active membership in at least one U.S. state bar; eligibility to obtain Tennessee in-house counsel registration.
- 1 – 5 years of experience in litigation, contracts, municipal law, regulatory work, corporate law, or a related practice.
- Strong legal research, writing, and critical-thinking skills.
- Ability to manage multiple assignments, meet deadlines, and exercise discretion and professional judgment.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Experience working within government, transportation, healthcare, higher education, or regulated industries.
- Familiarity with FTA, state procurement rules, public sector governance, or compliance frameworks.
ENVIRONMENT:
- Extensive sitting is required while using office equipment such as computers, phones, printers, or fax machines.
- Some standing and walking during a normal workday will also be required as well as bending, stooping, kneeling, and crouching.
- Most work will be performed in inside working conditions but should be able to tolerate changes in building environments such as with or without air conditioning or heating.
- May be required occasionally to move up to 20 pounds by lifting, carrying, pushing, pulling or otherwise repositioning objects.
- Able to express or exchange ideas with others accurately and at an easily audible volume through the use of spoken words.
- Able to receive detailed information through oral communication or phone at usual speaking levels and differentiate between sounds in the environment.
- Close visual acuity to perform detail-oriented activities as well as acuity to perform activities at or within arm’s reach with skill, control and accuracy such as preparing and analyzing data, viewing a computer screen or for significant reading of documents and other materials.