General Counsel

 

Southern Utah University (SUU)'s General Counsel (GC) serves as the University's chief legal officer. The GC provides advice on critical strategic, legal, and policy issues, primarily advising the President, Board of Trustees, and SUU's highest levels of leadership. The General Counsel is a strategic advisor, able to provide advice quickly in fast moving situations, in a wide array of scenarios with a view towards not only legal impacts, but also internal stakeholders, external constituencies, local community, and broader public relations, as well as the more general higher education context. The GC oversees and coordinates legal services for the University, including supervision of the Office of Legal Affairs, which houses legal advising, as well as contracts administration and policy analysis. The GC coordinates with the State Attorney General Office on matters of risk management and litigation, pending and potential, and Utah System of Higher Education attorneys. The primary legal areas for which the GC provides advice include crisis management, personnel and employment issues, policy development, student affairs, academic affairs, non-discrimination, conflicts of interest, contracts, insurance and risk management, real estate, aviation, athletics, and compliance with federal and state law.

 

Duties and Responsibilities:

 

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Serve as the University's lead legal advisor, regularly advising the President, other Cabinet members, and the Board of Trustees in high stakes legal and other matters with public relations, community relations, campus relations, and other impacts, often assisting these leaders with decision letters and other written and verbal communications.

 

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Provides proactive and requested legal advice and opinions (both in writing and verbally) and advice to SUU administrators and working groups, through a proactive, but practical and streamlined approach, with a focus on helping clients reach their goals.

 

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Oversee and prioritize legal education and training needs for campus leadership and decision makers, including in person sessions, newsletters, website, email, both periodically and one time advice to address specific issues; create a culture of empowering clients to make legally informed decisions.

 

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Supervises and leads all aspects of the Office of Legal Affairs, including supervising all staff (such as reviewing work to go to clients and giving feedback, as applicable), selecting and managing outside counsel, managing the office budget, creating, updating and managing office processes, and safeguarding confidential attorney/client communications.

 

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Reviews university policies, contracts, and other legal documents. Research related legal issues and recommend revisions as necessary. Drafts contracts where appropriate, such as for Athletics and Aviation matters.

 

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Selects and retains outside counsel to obtain legal opinions or to handle claims, in coordination with the Office of the Attorney General.

 

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Coordinates with and represents the University interests with internal stakeholders and state level offices on litigation, claims, insurance, and risk.

 

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Other duties as assigned

 

Education and Experience Requirements:

 

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A minimum of a juris doctorate from an ABA accredited law school is required.

 

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At least five (5) years relevant law and/or compliance experience in areas relevant to higher education legal practice.

 

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An active license in good standing to practice law in Utah, or the ability to become licensed within six (6) mont hs of beginning employment, along with demonstrated understanding of ethical issues in serving an organizational client. For information about admission to the Utah Bar please visit https://admissions.utahbar.org/home . UCJA https://legacy.utcourts.gov/rules/view.php?type=ucja&rule=14-705 addresses admission by recipro ity.

 

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Experience consistently maintaining the highest integrity in difficult situations and confidentiality of client information.

 

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Demonstrated ability to develop relationships and deliver advice in a manner that instills confidence in the General Counsel role and the Office of Legal Affairs as a whole (or previous role focused on client interactions).

 

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Ability to make quick decisions and use language in effective ways to assist clients with talking points and other written communications; additionally, demonstrated excellent writing skills, including the ability to communicate in short, practical, solution-oriented ways.

 

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Ability to conduct thorough legal research and provide sound, thorough legal advice in the areas of, and in the context relevant to, higher education setting.

 

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Experience balancing and executing multiple competing demands with a get-it-done, collegial approach.

 

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Maintain composure and exude calm for clients undergoing stressful situations.

 

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Have litigation or similar experience with representing clients through proceedings.

 

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Demonstrated ability to effectively collaborate with office staff, utilizing their skills and strengths and delegating work to the lowest level where work can be effectively performed.

 

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Demonstrated ability to streamline processes and run an office efficiently, in part, through use of new technology and also by proactively empowering clients to make legally informed decisions.

 

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Demonstrated ability to act as a team player in all circumstances, as defined by contributing to the successful outcome of goals and initiatives of others and the operation of the university.

 

Preferred Qualifications

 

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Excellent negotiating skills.

 

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Experience drafting and negotiating contracts.

 

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Experience drafting, revising, and creating policies.

 

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Experience working with shared governance leaders.

 

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Ability to represent institutional concerns persuasively to internal and external parties.

 

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Direct experience providing legal services to an institution of higher education.

 

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Demonstrated experience leading a collaborative team, with a focus on effectively and efficiently serving clients.

 

Documents:

 

• Resume

• Cover Letter

• References

 

Southern Utah University does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, citizenship, sex (including sex discrimination and sexual harassment), sexual orientation, gender identity, age, ancestry, disability status, pregnancy, pregnancy-related conditions, genetic information, military status, veteran status, or other bases protected by applicable law in employment, treatment, admission, access to educational programs and activities, or other University benefits or services. For more information or contact information, please visit https://www.suu.edu/nondiscrimination/.

 

To apply, visit https://apptrkr.com/5240961

 

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