Job Description

If you would enjoy working in a dynamic environment and are looking for an opportunity to become part of a stellar team of professionals dedicated to service, we invite you to apply online today.

This position offers a flexible hybrid work arrangement, allowing employees to balance in-office collaboration with the benefits of remote work. We provide the necessary tools and technology to ensure seamless productivity, whether you're working from home or the office.

The Assistant General Counsel serves as legal counsel to the Credit Union on a broad range of legal, operational, regulatory, contractual, and strategic matters, including litigation and dispute resolution, contract review and negotiation, member complaint and dispute management, legal process administration, product development, technology initiatives, and enterprise projects. The Assistant General Counsel partners with the General Counsel, business leaders, and operational stakeholders to identify and manage legal risk, support strategic objectives, and provide practical legal guidance that advances the Credit Union’s business goals. Litigation, dispute resolution, contract review, complaint management, and support of business initiatives are core responsibilities of the position.

This position manages litigation matters and coordinates with outside counsel, supports resolution of complex member disputes, reviews and negotiates commercial agreements, advises on legal issues arising from products and services, supports fintech and vendor relationships, and provides legal guidance for strategic projects and initiatives across the organization.

The position requires an experienced attorney with strong legal analysis, dispute resolution, risk management, contract negotiation, and business advisory skills. The Assistant General Counsel must possess excellent analytical, communication, and negotiation skills, with the ability to provide practical legal advice and business-focused solutions.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Legal Advisory & Business Support

· Provide legal advice and counsel to business units on operational, contractual, regulatory, and strategic matters.

· Review, draft, negotiate, and interpret commercial agreements and other business contracts.

· Provide legal support for projects, technology implementations, product enhancements, and process changes.

· Participate with cross-functional teams to identify and mitigate legal risk.

Litigation Management & Strategy

• Manage a portfolio of litigation and dispute matters involving the Credit Union, including consumer claims, member disputes, collections-related litigation, employment-related matters, and commercial disputes, while partnering with the General Counsel on significant or high-exposure matters.
• Assess legal and business risks associated with litigation and disputed matters and recommend practical resolution strategies that align with organizational objectives.
• Serve as the primary point of contact with outside counsel, including oversight of matter management, budgets, performance, and outcomes, in consultation with the General Counsel on significant matters.
• Review and provide guidance on pleadings, motions, discovery responses, settlement proposals, and other litigation-related documents prepared internally or by outside counsel.
• Coordinate internal discovery efforts, document preservation, witness preparation, and document production.
• Support resolution of complex, high-risk, and legally sensitive member complaints and escalations requiring attorney involvement.
• Conduct legal risk assessments and provide guidance to business partners regarding dispute resolution strategies involving member complaints, claims, and threatened litigation.
• Manage and participate in settlement negotiations, mediation efforts, and alternative dispute resolution processes where appropriate.
• Prepare litigation status reports, risk assessments, and recommendations for the General Counsel and business stakeholders.

Regulatory Response, Legal Process & Investigations

• Coordinate responses to subpoenas, summonses, legal process requests, regulatory complaints, and enforcement matters
• Support and advise on internal investigations involving allegations of misconduct, fraud, policy violations, member complaints, or other legal concerns, in coordination with Human Resources, Compliance, Risk Management, Internal Audit, and the General Counsel.
• Identify recurring litigation, complaint, regulatory, and enforcement trends and assist in developing risk mitigation strategies.
• Ensure appropriate documentation, reporting, and remediation activities are completed in response to identified legal risks.

Legal Operations & Advisory Support

• Advise business partners regarding claims, disputes, complaints, regulatory requirements, and contract-related matters.
• Assist in developing policies, procedures, controls, and training and other risk mitigation initiatives.
• Support improvements to litigation management processes, reporting capabilities, and operational efficiencies.

EDUCATION AND WORK EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS

• Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree from an accredited law school required.
• Active admission to practice law in Georgia and membership in good standing with the State Bar of Georgia required.
• Minimum of 5 to 8 years of legal experience, preferably within financial services, banking, credit unions, consumer finance, or other regulated industries.
• Demonstrated experience independently managing litigation matters and outside counsel.
• Prior in-house legal experience preferred but not required.
• Experience handling member disputes, consumer claims, regulatory inquiries, or financial services litigation preferred.
• Experience supporting business initiatives, projects, process improvements, or technology implementations preferred.
• Prior experience supervising legal support staff, paralegals, administrators, or project teams preferred.

ADDITIONAL/IMPORTANT SKILLSETS

• Strong knowledge of litigation processes and dispute resolution strategies.
• Knowledge of consumer financial services laws and regulations applicable to credit unions, including lending, collections, consumer protection, privacy, and unfair, deceptive, or abusive acts or practices (UDAAP).
• Experience reviewing, drafting, negotiating, and interpreting commercial contracts and business agreements.
• Experience managing subpoenas, legal process requests, regulatory inquiries, and enforcement-related matters.
• Strong legal drafting and writing skills, including contracts, legal analyses, settlement agreements, pleadings, and business communications.
• Exceptional organizational, analytical, and problem-solving skills with strong attention to detail.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to influence and collaborate across all levels of the organization.
• Ability to balance legal risk, operational objectives, member experience, and business priorities.
• Demonstrated success managing multiple complex matters simultaneously.
• Strong negotiation and conflict-resolution skills.
• High level of integrity, professionalism, sound judgment, and discretion.
• Effective at managing change, driving process improvement, and leading organizational initiatives.
• Ability to translate complex legal and regulatory requirements into practical business solutions.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

To perform this job successfully, the employee must be able to perform each essential job duty satisfactorily. All employees must be able to communicate face to face or through technology with or without reasonable accommodation. Employee will be in an office environment (well-lighted, heated, and air-conditioned) typically stationed at a desk or table. Employee will be asked to sit and stand for various increments of time, and to lift/push up 10 lbs. Clerical office duties on various forms of technology are required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential job functions.

All positions that have lending responsibilities must comply with all requirements under the SAFE ACT, as well as the Credit Union’s policies and procedures related to the SAFE ACT. This includes an obligation on the employee’s part to ensure that NMLA registration pertaining to the SAFE ACT is kept current. The employee must notify the Credit Union within 30 days of any changes that need to be reflected on the NMLS registry.

Georgia’s Own Credit Union is an equal opportunity employer and will not discriminate against any employee or applicant on the basis of age, color, disability, gender, national origin, race, religion, sexual orientation, veteran status, or any classification protected by federal, state, or local law. Consistent with obligations under federal law, every company that is a federal contractor or subcontractor is committed to taking affirmative action to employ and advance women, minorities, disabled veterans, special disabled veterans, veterans of the Vietnam era, and other eligible veterans.

We are an equal opportunity employer. Employment selection and related decisions are made without regard to sex, race, age, disability, religion, national origin, color or any other protected class.