Full Job Description
The Land Use Attorney will report to the head of the New Jersey office and involved partners and will be expected to provide guidance and training to junior associates and paralegals in the New Jersey office. They will be responsible for managing client cases advising clients on land use, permitting and zoning matters, as well as local and state permitting in New Jersey. This position will also maintain up-to-date knowledge of industry laws and regulations, perform legal research, and provide updates to and regularly consult with Senior Associate(s) and Partners.
Vicente Sederberg offers competitive salaries and a comprehensive benefits package including Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance coverages 100% paid for by Vicente Sederberg for all of our full-time employees and their dependents. Life, AD&D, Short Term, and Long-Term Disability Insurance coverages are paid 100% for all of our full-time employees. We also offer a 401k with a 4% company match, paid time off, and paid parental leave.
. Requirements:Responsibilities of our Land Use Associate include but are not limited to:
- Maintain a comprehensive understanding of rapidly evolving state and local cannabis laws in New Jersey and update team members on relevant developments in laws.
- Monitor changes to regulations and ordinances applicable to the cannabis industry.
- Leverage detailed knowledge of local laws, including local permitting and zoning regulations, to compile license applications (including personalized written narratives) to file with municipal bodies and the state Cannabis Regulatory Commission.
- Must be able to attend municipal hearings across New Jersey.
- Maintain familiarity with zoning boards, public hearings, and ordinances.
- Prepare correspondence, memoranda, real estate, and permitting documents.
- Preparation of commercial contracts.
- Advise clients on zoning, permitting, and land use matters.
- Review and analyze title reports, leases, deeds, and real estate documents.
- Focus on various issues involving federal, state, and local cannabis laws and implementing regulations.
- Advise cannabis businesses to ensure compliance with regulatory requirements for cultivating, processing, testing, transferring, marketing, and selling cannabis products, including advising businesses with respect to the intersection of federal, state, and local laws.
- Oversee state-level license applications for adult-use and medical cannabis facilities and promptly coordinate with staff to accomplish client goals.
- Develop standardized documents and design and implement compliance plans, operational guides, compliance checklists, standard operating procedures, and recommendations pertaining to a variety of regulations.
- Provide practical legal advice and support on business matters in a fast-paced environment.
- Act as a liaison with government regulatory bodies and administrative agencies on behalf of clients regarding product issues, inspections, and inquiries.
- Participate in rule-making processes, including drafting comments to regulators.
- Answer complex compliance questions incorporating nuanced state, local, and federal law areas and provide insight on enforcement and policy trends.
- Advise and consult with all levels of the organization, including senior leadership, to identify critical legal issues, assess potential legal options, and provide individuals and teams with analysis and a range of possible legal solutions.
- Contribute to the firm’s success by continuously improving client relations, profitability, productivity, and the collective expertise in cannabis law and the industry that defines VS.
Qualifications:
- Juris Doctorate required.
- Licensed attorney in New Jersey required. Additional licensure in New York and/or Pennsylvania preferred.
- 2-4 years of experience practicing law focusing on municipal, land use, or administrative law.
- Must have experience attending and presenting at municipal or administrative hearings on land use issues.
- Must be able to attend hearings in New Jersey.
- We are flexible with remote work, but candidates must be able to commute to regional offices as necessary.
- Familiarity with New Jersey cannabis regulations preferred.
- Must have strong interpersonal skills and the ability to work with clients, the public, and individuals at all levels of the organization in a positive, collaborative manner.
- Passion for providing unparalleled client service.
- Experience with Microsoft Office Suite, Adobe Acrobat, NetDocs, Lexis/Nexis, Westlaw, DocuSign, and Clio preferred.
- Exceptional organization skills and strong self-motivator with great attention to detail.
- Excellent time and deadline management skills in a fast-paced environment and the ability to juggle multiple projects and reprioritize quickly and efficiently.
- Excellent oral and written communication skills.
- Must be able to uphold the highest standards of discretion and confidentiality and exercise good judgment on day-to-day decisions.
Equal Employment Opportunity Policy:
Vicente Sederberg LLC 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 federal, state or local laws. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.
Counsel Job Functions Disclaimer:
The above statement reflects the general functions of this job and shall not be interpreted as a detailed description of all the work requirements inherent in this role. The immediate supervisor may expand upon the above list if it is determined that additional duties fall within the partners’ scope of responsibility.
