Description:
The Legal Counsel job family provides enterprise legal guidance to support business strategy while managing regulatory, contractual, and reputational risk within a highly regulated financial services environment. Roles within this family advise leadership on complex legal matters, ensure compliance with applicable laws and supervisory expectations, and help the organization navigate risk-informed decision-making. As career levels progress, responsibilities expand from execution and subject-matter expertise to practice leadership, enterprise risk ownership, and board-level advisement. Collectively, this job family serves as a strategic partner to the business while safeguarding the institution’s legal integrity and governance obligations.
Enterprise Legal Leadership-
Translate the GC/CLC’s legal strategy into execution across the department (priorities, operating rhythms, metrics, capacity planning).
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Lead enterprise-wide legal initiatives impacting governance, risk, and regulatory posture.
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Ensure consistent risk philosophy and decision-making across practice areas.
Executive & Board-Level Support-
Prepare or review board/committee materials related to legal, governance, litigation, enforcement matters, and significant risk topics.
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Serve as primary legal advisor for designated business areas and strategic advisor to executive leadership.
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Present updates to committees as delegated by GC/CLC.
Regulatory/Enforcement Strategy-
Lead legal strategy for significant regulatory matters (MRAs/MRBAs, consent orders, enforcement actions) in partnership with compliance/risk.
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Oversee privileged assessments and remediation governance.
Crisis & Sensitive Matter Leadership-
Lead legal response to critical incidents: material complaints, data breaches, investigations, reputational events, enterprise disputes.
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Coordinate with Communications, Risk, Compliance, and executive leadership to manage legal exposure and messaging.
Department Operations & Quality-
Improve legal operations: matter management, outside counsel spend, playbooks, template standardization, contracting SLAs.
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Oversee litigation management with outside counsel, including legal process workflows (subpoenas, garnishments) and cost-effective strategy for staffing and spend.
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Partner with Risk and Compliance to align legal advice to enterprise risk frameworks and ensure execution of agreed risk mitigations.
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Provide continuity and succession support for the Chief Legal Counsel role; serve as acting delegate as assigned.
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Support legal review of deposit, payment, and BaaS products
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Establish quality controls (review protocols, training plans, knowledge management).
Typical Scope Indicators
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Often the most senior leader beneath GC/CLC.
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Strong enterprise influence; frequent executive exposure; acts on behalf of GC when absent.
Requirements:
- Juris Doctor (JD) from an accredited law school
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Active license to practice law in MN or ND; broad licensure or national practice experience preferred
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10+ years of legal experience, including senior leadership roles, including both law firm and in-house roles
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Extensive experience in financial services, regulatory matters, governance, or enterprise risk
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Enterprise-wide legal and regulatory expertise with strong business acumen
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Ability to oversee multiple legal practice areas and resolve complex, high-impact issues
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Strategic decision-making skills with sound, defensible risk judgment
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Experience advising executive leadership and supporting board-level matters
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Proven ability to lead large initiatives, crisis response, and regulatory engagements
Travel Requirement
This position requires some travel to support business needs, including team collaboration, internal trainings, and cross-functional initiatives. The frequency and duration of travel will vary based on organizational priorities and team needs.
Cultural Alignment
Choice is #PeopleFirst, banking second.
People don’t need just another bank. People need to be supported by a team of trusted partners who will get to know them and their business, understand their challenges, discover their dreams, and recognize the success in bringing people and banking together in our communities.
In contributing to our culture, Choice team members are guided by our core values.
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Embrace change and encourage innovation.
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Know when to ask for help and know when to offer help.
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Better the places we live.
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Work hard. Do the right thing. Have a little fun.
Our vision of Diversity at Choice is supported by our #PeopleFirst mission and our core values.
Being #PeopleFirst means that Choice is committed to focusing attention and resources towards creating an environment where everyone feels respected and valued and can do their best work. Doing the right thing means encouraging employees to share their experiences and ideas, and to bring their whole authentic selves to work. Together, we can build an inclusive culture that seeks out, supports, and celebrates diverse voices. We can use our diversity to fuel creativity and innovation and bring us closer to our customers and the communities we serve. Be welcome at Choice. We can see you here.
Disclosure
This job description is intended to describe the general content of, and requirements for, the performance of this job. It is not to be construed as an exhaustive statement of duties, responsibilities or requirements. All requirements are subject to possible modification to reasonably accommodate individuals with disabilities. Some requirements may exclude individuals who pose a significant risk to the health and safety of themselves or other employees.
All employment at Choice Financial Group is “at will” employment. This position description does not create an employment contract, implied or otherwise.
The base salary for this role is listed below. This pay range is posted to comply with wage transparency laws. The base salary may vary based on skill, ability, knowledge, experience, and geographic location. Full-time employees are also eligible for a competitive bonus and benefits package.
