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Esalen Institute · 5 hours ago

GENERAL LEGAL COUNSEL - Must have active license to practice law in California

United States

Full-time

Remote

Mid, Senior Level

7+ years exp

Esalen Institute is committed to transformative learning experiences and personal growth. The General Legal Counsel serves as the primary legal officer, providing strategic legal guidance to the CEO and leadership while ensuring compliance and managing legal risks across the organization.

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Responsibilities

Serve as the legal advisor to the CEO, Senior Leadership Team, and Board of Directors on all legal, regulatory, and governance matters

Provide proactive, solution-oriented legal counsel across all organizational functions, including operations, human resources, finance, programming, contracts, partnerships, and risk management

Draft, review, negotiate, and oversee a broad range of legal agreements, including vendor and service contracts, faculty agreements, licensing and sponsorship agreements, waivers, releases, NDAs, and partnership arrangements

Ensure organizational compliance with applicable federal, state, and local laws and regulations, including nonprofit governance, employment and labor law, health and safety, privacy, and reporting obligations

Partner closely with Human Resources to advise on employment-related matters, including policy development, investigations, disciplinary actions, performance management, and terminations, with an emphasis on fairness, consistency, and risk mitigation

Support and strengthen governance practices, including Board and committee operations, bylaws, corporate filings, policies, and adherence to nonprofit best practices

Manage relationships with outside counsel and specialized advisors, ensuring appropriate use, cost discipline, and alignment with organizational priorities

Identify, assess, and manage legal and operational risk across the organization, providing clear recommendations that balance legal exposure with Esalen’s mission, values, and operational realities

Advise on real estate, land use, environmental, and regulatory matters related to Esalen’s campus and long-term stewardship obligations

Collaborate with leadership to develop, review, and implement organizational policies and procedures that promote accountability, ethical conduct, and operational clarity

Contribute to strategic planning and organizational decision-making by identifying legal implications of new initiatives, programs, partnerships, and revenue models

Maintain the highest standards of professional ethics, confidentiality, and discretion

Approach all legal matters with a pragmatic, business-minded perspective focused with a North Star to maintaining Esalen’s mission

Qualification

Juris Doctor (JD)Active California licenseNonprofit governanceContract negotiationEmployment lawRisk assessmentRegulatory complianceOperational judgmentWritten communicationVerbal communicationEmotional intelligence

Required

Juris Doctor (JD) from an accredited law school

active license to practice law in California

7–10+ years of progressively responsible legal experience, with demonstrated ownership of complex legal matters rather than narrow task execution

Significant experience in nonprofit, mission-driven, or values-based organizations, or equivalent in-house experience where legal advice directly supported executive decision-making

Demonstrated expertise in core in-house domains, including: Nonprofit governance and compliance, Contract drafting and negotiation, Employment and labor law, Risk assessment and mitigation, Regulatory compliance

Proven ability to advise senior leadership and boards, translating legal risk into clear, practical options rather than abstract legal theory

Strong business and operational judgment, with a track record of enabling progress while protecting the organization

Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to influence without authority and deliver difficult guidance clearly and constructively

High ethical standards, discretion, and emotional intelligence, particularly when navigating sensitive personnel, governance, or reputational matters

Ability to operate independently as the organization's primary legal authority, setting priorities, managing workload, and knowing when to escalate or engage outside counsel