Job Description

Job Description

Position: Legal Counsel (Contract/Retainer)

Commitment: 5-10 hours per month

Reports to: Executive Director

About Monterey Opportunity Housing Trust

Monterey Opportunity Housing Trust is a Community Land Trust dedicated to developing and preserving permanently affordable workforce housing for households earning 80-150% of Area Median Income on the Monterey Peninsula. We serve essential workers—teachers, healthcare professionals, firefighters, and others—who are priced out of our region's housing market.

Position Summary

MOHT seeks legal counsel to provide ongoing advisory services on a retainer basis. The ideal candidate brings expertise in nonprofit law and real estate transactions, with particular knowledge of the legal structures that enable affordable housing development, including Community Land Trusts, housing cooperatives, and blended public-private financing.

Scope

• Review and draft ground lease agreements, deed restrictions, and other CLT-specific legal documents
• Advise on formation and governance of housing cooperatives
• Structure nonprofit partnerships, joint ventures, and development agreements
• Navigate public-private partnerships involving government agencies, CDFIs, and impact investors
• Review loan documents, promissory notes, and financing agreements
• Ensure compliance with California nonprofit corporation law and IRS regulations for 501(c)(3) organizations
• Advise on real estate acquisition, due diligence, and title matters
• Support contract negotiations with developers, contractors, and service providers
• Provide guidance on California affordable housing law, including surplus land regulations and deed restriction requirements

Qualifications

Required

• J.D. from accredited law school and active California Bar membership in good standing
• Demonstrated knowledge of nonprofit corporate governance and tax-exempt organization requirements
• Experience with real estate transactions including purchase agreements, title review, and closing documents

Strongly Preferred

• Direct experience with Community Land Trusts or similar shared-equity homeownership models
• Background in housing cooperative formation and governance
• Familiarity with CDFI lending, impact investing structures, and below-market financing arrangements
• Experience with California affordable housing programs and regulations
• Understanding of public agency partnerships and government contracts
• Prior work with mission-driven housing organizations

Compensation

Pro-bono or nonprofit discount rate highly preferred

To Apply:

Submit your resume and interest to gabriel@opportunityht.org.

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