Description

About Lawyers for the Creative Arts

LCA's formation in 1972 was an effort to meet a challenge – the absence of effective pro bono legal representation for individuals and organizations in the arts. From that beginning as a struggling nonprofit, LCA has grown in every dimension, artists served, board support, financial position, and especially in the depth and range of its services and programs. By any measure, LCA is an established legal institution with an enviable reputation, financial resources, and support from legal and business practitioners. LCA regularly works, and in many cases closely partners, with other legal and arts service organizations on a wide range of issues critical to the arts and nonprofit community. These include, the Chicago Bar Foundation, Arts Alliance Illinois, Forefront, League of Chicago Theatres, Chicago Artists Coalition, See Chicago Dance, Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights, as well as key government agencies – Illinois Arts Council, a State Agency, and Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events. LCA also works with our foundation supporters in advancing solutions to challenges facing LCA clients and their grantees.

In addition, LCA recently acquired the programming of Arts & Business Council of Chicago, a longstanding nonprofit offering services through volunteer consultants and other professionals. LCA has begun to add programming from A&BC volunteers, and the next Executive Director will have the opportunity to further identify ways in which LCA can utilize the A&BC resources to enhance its ability to serve artists and arts organizations.

LCA seeks an Executive Director with the judgment and leadership skills needed to maintain and expand this position. In "ordinary" times that means providing key support for our Legal Services and LawSmarts seminars and workshops. The successful applicant will also bring an essential skill and ability to recognize and devise effective responses to crises and other major changes in the business and legal environment of the arts. Those skills contributed to our reputation as "like the Red Cross for the Arts," creating "game changing innovation" in response to national crises such as the Covid pandemic, changes in the technology of the arts such as AI, and current pressures from the federal government.

Consistent with these characteristics, LCA believes the next Executive Director will be an individual with a strong passion for the arts and a desire to exploit their professional strengths in new ways. Our current and previous Executive Directors have both commented on one the most rewarding aspects of the position – to enable colleagues in one's current job to make a difference to the individual artists and arts leaders who contribute so much to our arts and culture environment. In that way, the new ED will bring others into LCA's goal of nurturing the creative spirit.

LCA has for many years operated with a small staff (3-4 full-time and one or two part-timers.) With the expansion of our programs and services, LCA's board recognizes the need for at least one additional full time staff person, which has been approved and will be filled by the new Executive Director.

Learn more about Lawyers for the Creative Arts here:https://law-arts.org/

The Opportunity

For more than five decades, LCA has served as a vital resource and trusted advocate for artists, arts organizations, and creative entrepreneurs by providing access to pro bono legal services, education, and professional support. With a longstanding reputation for integrity, impact, and deep connection to the arts community, LCA stands at an important moment of challenge and possibility.

Following the tenure of a highly respected and long-serving Executive Director, the next leader will inherit a mission-driven staff and Board. A central priority for the Executive Director will be strengthening and expanding access to legal services for artists, creatives, and arts organizations. This includes building and maintaining relationships with pro bono attorneys, law firms, corporate legal partners, and bar associations; ensuring the delivery of responsive, equitable, and high-impact legal assistance.

The Executive Director will also serve as a compelling ambassador for the organization, elevating awareness of the unique legal challenges facing the arts and business sectors. This leader will operate through a combination of staff attorneys, volunteer pro bono counsel, legal clinics, referrals, and community partnerships for services that may include contract review, intellectual property and copyright guidance, trademark support, business formation, employment matters, dispute resolution, and educational workshops designed to help creatives better understand their legal rights and responsibilities.

Additionally, they will play a critical leadership role in strengthening and expanding legal service delivery, while overseeing organizational operations, fundraising, key partnerships, and financial management. This leadership transition presents a unique opportunity to thoughtfully steer the organization into its next chapter — honoring its history while positioning it for continued relevance, visibility, and modernization in an evolving arts and nonprofit landscape.

The specific demands of the ED position suggest that a candidate with a J.D. and experience in the legal community would be highly attractive characteristics. However, we welcome highly qualified individuals with compelling backgrounds and experience that may be a great fit, but who do not possess a formal J.D. degree.
Experience in the management of legal services is preferred but not required.

Compensation and Benefits

The salary range for this role is $150,000 - $175,000 with a generous benefits package. Candidates must reside in or be willing to relocate to the Chicago region. This is a full-time position based in a hybrid work environment.

Contact

DSG | Koya has been exclusively retained for this engagement, which is being led by Tiara Muse and Shelby Woods. Express interest in this role byfilling out our Talent Profileor emailing the search team directly at LCAED@dsgco.com. All inquiries and discussions are strictly confidential.

To apply, visit: https://www.dsgco.com/search/23074-lawyers-for-the-creative-arts-executive-director/





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