Job Description

PAY GRADE:34E

CONTEXT OF THE JOB:

Office of General Counsel (“OGC”) attorneys have wide-ranging practices and must handle multiple, unrelated matters concurrently. All attorneys must be able to complete complex projects both independently and with direction from the General Counsel. Reporting into the Associate Vice President and Deputy General Counsel, the Assistant General Counsel must be able to prioritize multiple competing priorities and communicate effectively with colleagues and clients. Experience working in an in-house environment, especially within higher education, will be strongly considered. The Assistant General Counsel will be expected to handle matters and transactions from beginning to end with minimal supervision, participate in team-wide process improvement initiatives, and provide advice and guidance on complex legal matters to the University leadership and departments.

MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Represent the university across a wide array of legal matters, serving as both a generalist in multiple areas of law and policy and a specialist by cultivating expertise in specific legal domains.
• Serve as the primary legal point of contact for various university units, offering guidance on a diverse range of topics relevant to the institution’s business and operations.
• Identify and assess legal issues and risks, providing clear and constructive recommendations while ensuring compliance with local, state, federal, and international laws and regulations.
• Offer counsel on university governance, participating in the development of policies, procedures, and guidelines in alignment with legal standards.
• Address and resolve disputes, including drafting and negotiating agreements.
• Represent the university in Justice of the Peace court matters in Delaware and administrative charges.
• Work with and manage outside counsel on other litigation or arbitration proceedings.
• Aid clients in refining business processes, documentation, and agreements to enhance efficiency; engage in drafting and negotiation of agreements.
• Collaborate with university officials, offices, and departments to design and deliver legal education and support for the University of Delaware community.
• Interpret and evaluate university regulations, policies, and procedures to discern the necessity for policy development or changes that safeguard and advance the university’s legal interests.
• Serve as a legal advisor to key work groups, committees, and related entities as needed.
• Work within the OGC to provide advice and counsel on a variety of other issues facing academic institutions and large employers as needed.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree from an accredited ABA law school and three years of experience as a practicing attorney.
• Prior employment in a higher education setting, government, or non-profit organization and thorough understanding of legal, academic, and operational issues pertinent to research-intensive public universities preferred.
• State of Delaware law license or eligibility for licensure within twelve months of hire under an in-house limited license.
• Proficiency and experience in drafting and negotiating agreements, as well as advising on compliance matters.
• Strong research and analytical skills, coupled with sound judgment.
• Demonstrated ability to perform effectively under the pressure of frequent interruptions, conflicting demands, and changing priorities.
• Excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills, capable of effectively communicating at all levels within the University and externally.
• Strong client service orientation and skills.
• Demonstrated ability to identify potential legal issues or long-term implications of policy and legal decisions.
• Capacity to thrive in a collaborative, diverse environment and work independently with a high degree of motivation.
• Substantial expertise in at least three practice areas relevant to higher education, such as student life, civil rights, state and federal constitutional law, contracts and procurement, public records, public meetings, intellectual property protection, subpoenas and discovery, privacy, ethics, Title IX, institutional compliance, labor and employment, immigration, sponsored research, NCAA division one athletics, police and law enforcement, campus safety, threat assessment, data privacy and security, development, governance, technology transfer, business transactions, taxation and public finance, real property, and risk management and insurance, or others.
• High ethical standards, reflecting honesty, integrity, and reliability.
• Exceptional judgment in balancing legal risks with business strategy and establishing relationships with various constituencies.
• Familiarity with laws and regulations specific to colleges and universities, including Title IX, Section 504, FERPA, GDPR, and PIPL preferred.
• Willing to develop expertise in new subject areas as needed.

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