Oregon Federation of Nurses & Health Professionals
AFT Local 5017

General Counsel

Based in Portland / Tigard, OR

 

The Oregon Federation of Nurses and Health Professionals, AFT Local 5017 (OFNHP) is a member-led organizing union that represents more than 6,000 nurses and healthcare professionals throughout Oregon and Washington. OFNHP is an affiliate of the Nurses and Health Professionals division of the American Federation of Teachers (AFT).

OFNHP is seeking an experienced, activist Attorney who is motivated to take on a challenging and exciting role of general counsel to a well-established professional union in the beautiful and culturally diverse Portland metropolitan area. The general counsel is responsible for serving as the principal legal advisor to and advocate for the OFNHP. Major responsibilities include preparing and arguing grievance arbitration cases and representing the union before the National Labor Relations Board; legal support for new organizing; internal governance matters; advice and counsel regarding collective bargaining negotiations; and internal staff relations.

We are seeking an attorney with at least five years of post-law-school experience including significant litigation experience, engagement with and affinity for private sector labor law, and experience representing unions in organizing campaigns.

Key Responsibilities:

• Provide legal expertise in support of union initiatives, campaigns, negotiations and contract enforcement;
• Independently manage a moderately-sized caseload, mainly consisting of arbitrations and Board litigation, as well as state and federal court litigation;
• Oversee and manage all outside counsel and litigation matters;
• Play key role in developing and implementing bargaining strategy for industry-wide collective bargaining agreements on behalf of active and engaged union;
• Work closely with other affiliate attorneys and field staff on cases, matters, and projects;
• Prepare reports and provide advice and counsel to union leadership;
• Assist with internal union governance matters as directed;
• Review internal and external legal communications;
• Present trainings to staff, member leaders and members on a variety of legal issues that affect members and the organization;
• Conduct research and draft legal opinions for leadership on a variety of labor and employment issues.

Skills and Knowledge Required:

• Demonstrated knowledge of labor law, employment law, relevant administrative law, and procedures.
• Demonstrated ability to independently manage all timelines for filing arbitrations, lawsuits, administrative proceedings, pleadings, and discovery.
• Demonstrated ability to maintain comprehensive trial skills that include conducting trials, arbitrations, discoveries, depositions, testimony, oral arguments, and writing trial pleadings in appellate practice at the state and federal appeals courts.
• Demonstrated ability to learn powerful trial advocacy skills and become an
• advocate who holds strong union values and is committed to support OFNHP’s organizational mission.
• Ability to work collaboratively with external affiliate attorneys, external paralegals, OFNHP members and union staff to ensure cases are properly prepared.
• Effectively handle and respond to a variety of member related calls from executive officers, organizers, and directors.

Minimum Qualifications:

• JD degree from an ABA accredited law school;
• Member in good standing of Oregon State Bar or member in good standing of another state bar and able to waive into Oregon;
• Five years of combined litigation experience in administrative, state, federal, and/or appellate courts;
• Valid driver’s license and auto insurance.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Washington bar certification
• Union organizing knowledge
• Knowledge and experience in healthcare law
• Practice before the BOLI, DOL, NLRB, EEOC, and other federal agencies
• Knowledge of WA/OR employment law
• Litigation experience at all levels of state and federal court systems
• Experience advising and assisting state and/or local lobbying efforts
• Knowledge of Political Action Committee rules and regulations

Supervision:
Reports to OFNHP president or designee.

Wages & Benefits:
A full-time exempt position with competitive salary and exceptional benefits including holidays, comp days, and vehicle stipends.

To Apply:
Please submit cover letter and résumé to: ofnhphr@ofnhp.org. Successful candidates will undergo a background and professional reference check. Position will remain posted until filled.

We are committed to hiring staff who reflect our membership and model the unity and equity that we seek to create in Oregon and Washington communities. Women, LGBTQ, people of color, and immigrants strongly encouraged to apply.