Description

The Associate Attorney (“Counsel”) plays a key role in supporting Georgia United Credit Union’s legal, risk, and compliance operations under the supervision of the Chief Risk Officer & General Counsel (“CRO & GC”). This position provides expert legal advice and guidance on a wide range of matters, including consumer banking, consumer protection, mortgage lending and servicing, collections, bankruptcy, and regulatory compliance. The Counsel independently drafts, reviews, and negotiates legal documents, interprets and applies relevant laws and regulations, and partners with business units and outside counsel to address legal issues. The position requires sound judgment, appropriate escalation of complex issues, and independent initiative within established parameters.

Requirements

Essential Duties/Responsibilities

• Provides counsel to Georgia United’s business unit personnel on a broad array of proposed, new, or existing retail lending and account products and services with a focus on consumer banking, consumer protection, mortgage lending, mortgage servicing, collections, and bankruptcy. Exercises independent judgment in routine matters, escalating complex issues to the CRO & GC as needed.
• Drafts, reviews, and revises various legal documents involving the interests of the credit union and its members, including Membership and Account Agreements, commercial contracts, and regulatory disclosures, with autonomy while seeking guidance for high-risk matters.
• Partners with outside counsel as needed to consult on consumer protection, litigation, bankruptcy, intellectual property, and commercial real estate issues, coordinating with the CRO & GC to ensure alignment with organizational goals.
• Remains informed of legislation, regulations, judicial and other legal developments, and trends affecting Georgia United, the credit union industry, and the financial services industry in general. Utilizes this knowledge to support independent decision-making in daily responsibilities.
• Analyzes and interprets laws, rulings, and regulations, providing recommendations and probable outcomes for the credit union. Demonstrates the ability to act independently within established guidelines and escalate as appropriate.
• Advises business units in partnership with the Compliance team on NCUA, CFPB, and other consumer regulatory compliance matters related to consumer lending, deposit products, or services such as Regulation Z, FCRA, FDCPA, FACTA, Truth In Lending Act (TILA), privacy, as well as applicable federal or state consumer protection laws and regulations, including Unfair, Deceptive, or Abusive Acts and Practices (UDAAPs).
• Performs other duties for Georgia United as assigned by leadership, demonstrating initiative and the capacity to work independently under senior oversight.

Qualifications

• Juris Doctor (JD) from an ABA-accredited law school
• Licensed to practice law as an active member in good standing with the State Bar of Georgia.
• At least 2 years of legal experience in relevant practice areas, preferably in financial services, credit union, banking, or other highly regulated industries.
• Experience as a corporate generalist or with a specialization in consumer lending, commercial lending, financial services operations, regulatory compliance (credit union or banking), corporate governance, payment services, collections and bankruptcy, or contract and vendor management is preferred.
• Preferred experience advising on federal and state consumer credit laws and regulations, such as Truth-in-Lending/Regulation Z, Equal Credit Opportunity Act/Regulation B, Fair Credit Reporting Act/Regulation V, Electronic Funds Transfers/Regulation E, and UDAAP.
• Demonstrated ability to make independent decisions on routine legal matters, with a willingness to seek oversight when appropriate.
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple tasks and prioritize effectively in a fast-paced environment.
• Proficient in legal research tools and Microsoft Office Suite.

 Key Behaviors for Success

• Demonstrated experience in managing complex projects that are strategic in nature, time sensitive, and of high importance to the organization’s success.
• Demonstrated responsiveness and ability to simultaneously handle multiple assignments, prioritize work assignments, and meet the needs of a fast-paced environment. Self-starter, motivated to undertake projects as needed without extensive direction.
• Excellent communication, negotiation, problem solving and writing skills as well as the ability to effectively work with all levels of employees and management.
• Ability to research, interpret, synthesize, and explain laws, rules, regulations, policies, and procedures to different audiences and make clear verbal and written presentations of facts or concepts.
   

Statement of Understanding
This job description is intended to provide a general overview of the essential duties, responsibilities, requirements, and working conditions associated with the position. It is not intended to be an exhaustive or comprehensive list of all tasks or responsibilities.  The organization may assign additional duties or modify existing ones as needed, at its discretion. Job descriptions may be updated periodically to reflect business needs and organizational changes.

Reasonable accommodations may be made in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and other applicable laws, so long as such accommodations do not poses undue hardship to the organization or create significant health or safety risks.

Nothing in this job description should be construed as creating an employment contract, either expressed or implied. Employment remains at-will, meaning that either the team member or the organization may end the employment relationship at any time, for any reason not prohibited by law.

Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO)
Georgia United is committed to providing equal employment opportunities and fostering a workplace where all individuals have the chance to succeed. We consider all qualified applicants for employment and advancement without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. We value the unique perspectives and contributions that each team member brings to our organization, believing that a diverse and inclusive workforce strengthens our credit union.

E-Verify
Georgia United participates in the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s E-Verify program. E-Verify is an online system used to confirm the eligibility of employees to work in the United States. This process involves electronically verifying the information provided by new hires against records maintained by the Department of Homeland Security and the Social Security Administration.