Legal Counsel

Follow your passion 

Are you looking to make a BIG impact? At Zeta, we pursue an unprecedented combination of high academic achievement and social-emotional development for our students. We insist that every student receives a world-class education while fostering a love for learning. We are passionate about changing the landscape of public education in New York City and beyond, and we are uncompromising in our mission.

Currently, we operate multiple elementary and middle schools in the Bronx and Upper Manhattan, and are opening three new elementary schools in Queens for the 2025-26 school year. We plan to grow and open 1-2 schools each year because children in every community deserve excellent, equitable education. Join our growing team today, and be a change agent for children.

Deliver powerful results 

To achieve our vision, we are searching for a results-driven Legal Counsel with 4+ years of legal experience to join our team. This role is an opportunity for a creative, talented attorney to join a committed start-up team dedicated to delivering excellent, free public education to children of all backgrounds and transforming the landscape of public education.

As a Legal Counsel, you research and advise on a wide variety of schooling and legal matters and manage mission-critical special projects necessary to support our growth, including:

• Researching and advising on legal questions touching all aspects of our organization (education law/regulations, special education, intellectual property, tax-exempt, litigation, employment, contract review, building code, facilities/real estate, etc.)
• Drafting charter applications and program descriptions
• Developing and drafting organizational policies and procedures
• Seeking grant opportunities and drafting grant applications
• Monitoring education-related policy and legislative developments and advancing policy strategies that increase access to high-quality public education
• Compliance reporting and oversight (regulatory and grant requirements)
• Supporting operations team on building short-term and long-term operational practices and systems to shape every aspect of our operations
• Overseeing and managing special projects at a high level
• Interfacing with and overseeing outside counsel, stewarding these relationships
• Proactively driving innovation, trying new approaches, and tackling problems from many angles to find creative solutions
• Identifying and spreading best practices and innovations that lead to excellent outcomes and processes
• Wearing multiple hats as a part of a lean startup-up team, supporting the work of others on the team and taking on new projects and tasks as needed