Sidley
Job Description
Sidley is seeking a tax lawyer well versed in the qualification and operational requirements applicable to 501(c) organizations to join the Pro Bono team as counsel. This tax-focused pro bono counsel will support our transactional pro bono efforts nationwide by providing advice related to obtaining and maintaining tax-exempt status for nonprofit organizations and the corporate governance issues affecting such entities. This pro bono counsel will work closely with transactional lawyers who chair pro bono committees in individual Sidley offices, with transactional lawyers handling our pro bono matters, and the Firm-wide pro bono chair.
We expect this tax-focused pro bono counsel to work on a part-time basis.
The pro bono counsel receives requests for pro bono help from a wide variety of non-profit organizations and determines which opportunities to make available to Sidley lawyers, 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, especially our transactional and tax 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 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
Lead the tax component of transactional pro bono matters nationwide, and supervise tax lawyers working on those matters and other transactional lawyers in connection with their pro bono work
Assist in staffing tax and transactional pro bono matters nationwide
Provide leadership and creative input on improving and shaping the Firm’s transactions-focused pro bono work
Liaise with legal service providers and non-profits that are sources of transactional pro bono matters
Assist attorneys and clients and provide resources who require tax advice in connection with pro bono matters, as well as assist attorneys and provide resources on transactional pro bono matters more generally
Assist Office 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 tax and transactional pro bono matters
Disseminate tax and transactional pro bono opportunities to Firm attorneys Lead new-client intake procedures, including conflicts analysis, risk management and reputational diligence, in tax and transactional pro bono matters
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.
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We expect this tax-focused pro bono counsel to work on a part-time basis.
The pro bono counsel receives requests for pro bono help from a wide variety of non-profit organizations and determines which opportunities to make available to Sidley lawyers, 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, especially our transactional and tax 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 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
Lead the tax component of transactional pro bono matters nationwide, and supervise tax lawyers working on those matters and other transactional lawyers in connection with their pro bono work
Assist in staffing tax and transactional pro bono matters nationwide
Provide leadership and creative input on improving and shaping the Firm’s transactions-focused pro bono work
Liaise with legal service providers and non-profits that are sources of transactional pro bono matters
Assist attorneys and clients and provide resources who require tax advice in connection with pro bono matters, as well as assist attorneys and provide resources on transactional pro bono matters more generally
Assist Office 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 tax and transactional pro bono matters
Disseminate tax and transactional pro bono opportunities to Firm attorneys Lead new-client intake procedures, including conflicts analysis, risk management and reputational diligence, in tax and transactional pro bono matters
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.
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