Associate General Counsel

About MCU:

At Municipal Credit Union, we believe that an incredible culture helps create a happy and motivated team that works hard to achieve the best results for themselves and their members. For more than 100 years, MCU has provided affordable financial products and convenient services to a membership base that is now comprised of over 600,000 individuals. With each new generation we have the pleasure of interacting with, we maintain the credit union promise of people helping people.

Our Mission:

To help hard-working New Yorkers build better tomorrows

Our Vision:

Be New York's most loved financial institution by helping our members build their best financial futures

Overview
The Associate General Counsel (“AGC”), reporting to the Deputy General Counsel, represents Municipal Credit Union (“MCU”) in a broad range of legal matters. The AGC manages litigation and outside counsel; reviews, drafts, and negotiates contracts and other legal documents; advises management, employees, and business units; interprets applicable laws and regulations; conducts legal research; prepares disclosures and other documents; proactively communicates relevant legal and regulatory developments; and identifies opportunities to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of Legal Department operations. The AGC also performs other duties as requested by the Deputy General Counsel or General Counsel

Responsibilities

Specific duties include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Directly defend MCU in appropriate circumstances including drafting legal papers (i.e., answers, motions, discovery, etc.) and appearing in court.
• Defend, or over-see assigned outside counsel in defending, claims and litigation brought against MCU.
• When appropriate, prosecute, or over-sees assigned outside counsel in prosecuting, claims and litigation commenced by or on behalf of MCU.
• Manage outside counsel effectively and efficiently to achieve favorable litigation outcomes while controlling legal costs.
• Provide advice and take appropriate action to protect MCU’s interests in connection with bankruptcy cases filed by members, vendors, or other parties affecting MCU.
• Review, draft, and negotiate contracts, leases, licenses, and related agreements on behalf of MCU.
• Review and prepare documents and provide legal advice to support compliance with applicable federal, state, and local laws and regulations.
• Maintain current knowledge of laws, regulations, rules, case law, and other legal developments affecting MCU. Proactively communicates relevant developments to appropriate business units and partners with those units to implement necessary changes accurately and promptly.
• Interacts independently with attorneys, members, and other parties regarding legal matters.
• Research complex legal issues affecting MCU and provides clear, practical advice and guidance.
• Respond to day-to-day legal inquiries and questions from MCU officers and employees.
• Review and analyze the validity of powers of attorney, guardianship documents, trust documents, subpoenas, and other legal documentation submitted to MCU.
• Provide weekly written status reports on significant assigned matters and participate in departmental meetings.
• Create and maintain records of ongoing litigation, settlements, contract and document reviews, and other day-to-day legal matters, and provides regular reports to the Board of Directors, MCU’s regulators, and other stakeholders, as required.
• Travel on a limited basis, as needed, to courts, arbitration proceedings, MCU branches, district attorney or attorney general offices, law offices, and other relevant locations.
• Conduct thorough investigations of member complaints and concerns, ensures compliance with applicable laws and regulations, facilitates timely resolution, and documents findings.
• Analyze and recommend process and vendor improvements to enhance the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of the Legal Department and implement changes approved by the Deputy General Counsel.
• Reviews mail received by the Legal Department and recommended appropriate responses or actions.
• Provides guidance to the Subpoena and Restraints Unit (“SRU”) in responding to subpoenas, restraining notices, levies, executions, motions, and other inquiries received by SRU.
• Escalates legal or regulatory concerns to the Deputy General Counsel and/or General Counsel, as appropriate.
• Performs other related duties and special projects as assigned by the Deputy General Counsel and/or General Counsel.

Requirements

• Juris Doctor degree from an accredited law school.
• Active admission to practice law in the State of New York is required.
• Admission to one or more U.S. District Courts or U.S. Bankruptcy Courts in New York is preferred.
• Additional admission to practice law in any one or more of New Jersey, Connecticut, or Pennsylvania is preferred.
• At least five years of experience in a law firm or corporate legal department, including at least two years handling financial-services-related matters. Experience working with or for credit unions is preferred.
• Litigation experience, including court appearances, is required. Experience managing outside counsel is preferred.
• Contract review and negotiation experience is preferred.
• Demonstrated ability to take ownership of projects and assignments.
• Demonstrated creativity, sound judgment, and strong problem-solving and communication skills, with the ability to work effectively both independently and collaboratively.
• Exceptional legal writing skills.
• Experience with consumer financial protection laws and regulations is preferred, including UDAAP; the Electronic Fund Transfer Act and Regulation E; the Truth in Lending Act and Regulation Z; the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act and Regulation P; the Fair Credit Reporting Act and Regulation V; the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act; the Equal Credit Opportunity Act and Regulation B; the Telephone Consumer Protection Act; the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act and Regulation X; and the Truth in Savings Act.
• Demonstrated commitment to the highest standards of ethics, integrity, and professional responsibility.
• Ability to perform effectively in a high-volume environment, meet deadlines, and maintain exceptional attention to detail.
• Proficiency with legal and business technology, including the ethical, secure, and judicious use of artificial intelligence tools.

Why you'll be a good fit:

Our Core Values are an integral part of who we are and who we hire. By living our Core Values, every day, we continue to attract the best and brightest talent, achieve unsurpassed results and continuously challenge ourselves to be better than yesterday. These values are at the heart of our organization and within every teammate. To be a great fit, you’ll bring the following

Results - We are passionate about winning.

Agility - We proactively anticipate, respond and pivot to ensure MCU wins.

Integrity - We operate with the highest ethical standards and highest degree of honesty.

Belonging - We cultivate a culture of inclusion and teamwork.

Ownership - We take personal responsibility and hold ourselves accountable for the results.

Why You’ll Love Working Here:

The pay range for this position is between $138,400-240,570 annually. Actual base pay offered may vary depending on a number of factors such as job-related knowledge, skills, experience, and location. Employees in this position may also be eligible for a discretionary bonus, 401(k) with an 6% employer match per pay period. Benefits for this position include Medical, vision, dental, life, and disability insurance, flexible paid time off and 11 paid holidays annually.

Municipal Credit Union (MCU) is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Municipal Credit Union provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state or local laws.

We are committed to hiring, training, cultivating, promoting, and celebrating an environment where we have a welcoming and fulfilling place for all people to call home. Diversity of race, thought, sexual orientation, age, veteran status, religion, and disability will empower us to thrive as individuals, as teams, and as an organization.