How to apply for Senior Counsel (Employment & Labor Focus)

About Tides

Tides is a nonprofit and philanthropic organization focused on advancing social justice by shifting power to communities of color and other groups historically denied power. It provides fiscal sponsorship, donor advised funds, grant making, and other services to movement leaders, nonprofits, donors, foundations, and corporations. Working there means supporting the infrastructure behind social sector work.

About the role

As Senior Counsel, you will be a senior individual contributor on the Legal, Risk and Compliance team, advising internal clients on a broad range of legal and compliance matters. The role has a strong focus on employment and labor law, including obligations under Tides Network's Collective Bargaining Agreement, internal investigations, and litigation and disputes. You will also handle nonprofit corporate law, contracts, transactions, and organizational policies.

A typical day

A typical day may involve advising internal clients on employment and labor questions, reviewing or negotiating contracts, and handling matters related to the collective bargaining agreement or an internal investigation. You might also work on nonprofit corporate law issues, update policies, or manage a dispute. Because the role is remote and full-time, much of the work happens through written advice and virtual meetings with stakeholders across Tides.

Who Tides is looking for

• Experienced attorney with a practical approach to employment and labor law, including experience with collective bargaining agreements and internal investigations.
• Resourceful and detail-oriented, able to manage competing priorities and bring sound judgment to sensitive and complicated situations.
• Comfortable advising on nonprofit corporate law, contracts, transactions, and policies affecting tax-exempt organizations.
• A senior individual contributor who can serve as a trusted legal advisor to internal clients and stakeholders.

Tips for this application

• Highlight specific experience with collective bargaining agreements, internal investigations, and employment litigation in your resume and cover letter.
• Show familiarity with nonprofit corporate law and tax-exempt organization issues, since the role covers those areas beyond employment law.
• Emphasize your ability to manage competing priorities and advise internal clients, as the job description stresses resourcefulness and sound judgment.
• Reference Tides' social justice focus and its work shifting power to communities of color, connecting your legal work to that context.
• If you have remote work experience, mention how you stay effective and collaborative in a remote full-time role.

What to cover in your cover letter

['Your hands-on experience with employment and labor law, especially collective bargaining agreements and internal investigations.', 'Your ability to handle a broad range of legal matters beyond employment, such as nonprofit corporate law, contracts, and organizational policies.', 'Concrete examples of advising internal clients and managing sensitive, complicated situations with sound judgment.', 'Why you want to apply your legal skills at a nonprofit philanthropic organization like Tides that centers equity and justice.']

Research before applying

• Read Tides' website, especially about its fiscal sponsorship, donor advised funds, and grant making services.
• Learn what a collective bargaining agreement means for a nonprofit network like Tides Network and what obligations it creates.
• Understand the basics of nonprofit corporate law and tax-exempt organization rules that apply to organizations like Tides.
• Look into Tides' stated commitment to shifting power to communities of color and how that might shape legal advice.

Likely interview topics

Based on the job description, expect questions about:

• How you have handled employment and labor matters under a collective bargaining agreement.
• Your approach to conducting internal investigations and managing litigation or disputes.
• How you prioritize competing legal and compliance matters for internal clients.
• Your experience with nonprofit corporate law, contracts, and policies for tax-exempt organizations.
• How you would advise Tides on legal issues while supporting its social justice mission and equity commitments.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Applying without showing any experience with collective bargaining agreements or internal investigations, since those are core focus areas.
• Treating this as a generic in-house counsel role and ignoring the nonprofit, tax-exempt, and social justice context.
• Focusing only on employment law and neglecting the broader legal areas mentioned, such as contracts, transactions, and organizational policies.