General Counsel

About Us Georgia College & State University (GCSU) is the state's designated public liberal arts university, where students learn the essential skills to compete in a fast-paced and technology-driven global society.
The university prepares students for successful careers, leadership in communities, problem solving and life-long learning through personalized attention in a residential setting with opportunities for a variety of transformational experiences through its award-winning, high-impact practices.
One of only three selective universities within the University System of Georgia and a top 10 ranked public university in the Southeast, GCSU offers undergraduate degrees in more than 40 majors, 34 graduate programs, doctorates in education and nursing, professional certificates and continuing education programs.
As a member of the prestigious Council of Public Liberal Arts Colleges (COPLAC), GCSU is committed to fostering a liberal arts environment that values academic preeminence, interdisciplinary inquiry and an inclusive learning community.
GCSU enjoys a strong reputation for academic excellence and nationally ranked programs according to US News & World Report, The Princeton Review and Colleges of Distinction - among other ranking sources.
Georgia College & State University takes great pride in combining the educational experience of a private liberal arts college with the affordability of a public university.
Faculty and staff are dedicated to student engagement and experiential learning through high-impact practices such as internships, service- and community-based learning, diversity, study abroad opportunities, mentored undergraduate research and a capstone project that fosters intellectual curiosity, reasoned inquiry and critical thinking.
The university's beautiful and historic campus is located downtown in Milledgeville, Georgia, a charming, diverse college town of approximately 19,000 residents in Central Georgia, and only 90 miles southeast of Atlanta.
Milledgeville is also the home of noted American author and alumna, Flannery O'Connor, '45, and the college community enjoys many exciting literary arts programs at O'Connor's former home, Andalusia, now owned by the university.
Milledgeville is located on the banks of beautiful Lake Sinclair and Lake Oconee, allowing faculty, staff and students to take full advantage of the environmental and recreational benefits of being part of a lake community.
For cultural, educational and leisure opportunities beyond Milledgeville - Macon and Atlanta are located within easy driving distances.
Georgia College & State University is committed to protecting academic freedom in addition to supporting the freedom of expression as outlined in the University System of Georgia's Freedom of Expression and Academic Freedom policy and its Ethics Code of Conduct.
For more information, visit us online at gcsu.
edu.
Job Summary Reporting to the President, the General Counsel at Georgia College & State University (GCSU) is responsible for providing counsel and support to the University on a broad spectrum of legal issues to help fulfill the University mission and meet all legal and compliance obligations.
Responsible for providing professional in-house legal advice and assistance on a wide variety of issues to University officials; overseeing internal University investigations; serving as legal counselor to University committees; serving as a resource to University Clery committee, Title IX Officer, and other compliance-heavy areas; and evaluating and developing University policies, procedures, and processes related to legal and/or compliance matters.
Responsibilities Advising & Risk Management - 35% Provides general legal advice and recommends courses of action to resolve legal, procedural, or administrative issues in compliance with all applicable legal standards.
Analyzes and provides policy and process advice related to compliance/legal issues and participates in developing and drafting policies.
Develops processes in such areas as records retention, open records, contract processing and other areas as assigned.
Conducts legal research and provide analysis of legal, policy, process and other areas and issues as assigned.
Drafts policies, organizational by-laws, contracts and similar documents.
Provides legal support and assistance on all legal matters affecting the institution, including responsibility for a wide range of legal, compliance, risk management matters and manages the legal resources in a manner that supports the overall priorities of the organization.
Keep abreast of compliance/regulatory related changes and educate University constituents.
Serves as Privacy Officer and Records Officer.
Operations Management - 25% Direct, supervise, coordinate, and review the activities of subordinate legal and support staff, issue office policies, procedures, and guidelines.
Coordinates with Georgia Attorney General's Office and legal office of the University System of Georgia on litigation and legal matters of significance, including engaging such outside counsel as is needed to adequately provide for the University's legal affairs.
Recruits, hires, supervises, and educates legal externs for an externship program in the Office of Legal Affairs; the same for GCSU undergraduate student workers as needed.
Contract Administration - 10% Negotiates, drafts, edits and reviews complex contracts.
Assists departments and administrators in contract drafting and negotiations.
Trains, oversees, and supervises Legal Office Manager in negotiating, drafting, editing, and reviewing routine university contracts.
Liaison - 25% Serves as a liaison to outside counsel in specialty areas as assigned.
Reports to the President, and works closely with University and System Office administrators, especially lawyers in the USG Office of Legal Affairs.
Develops and maintains relationships also with lawyers at the Georgia Attorney General's Office and Department of Administrative Services, particularly those on the Large Loss Committee, as those agencies' lawyers handle litigation matters for the University.
Establishes and maintains relationships with counsel for other higher educational institutions to discuss and stay abreast of areas of common concern and new developments.
Manages legal representation in litigation and administrative proceedings with the Attorney General's office, including the oversight of contracted outside counsel, when appropriate.
Other - 5% Performs other duties as assigned including but not limited to serving on division or campus committees, develop initiatives for the department and division, and implementing special projects.
Required Qualifications Educational Requirements J.
D.
or equivalent from ABA accredited law school Required Experience Seven years or more of related work experience as an attorney.
Preferred Qualifications Preferred Experience Higher Education experience, in-house or with a law firm Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities ABILITIES Ability to work constructively and cooperatively with a wide range of constituents (faculty, staff, students, administrators, community members) in a higher education setting.
Knowledge and understanding of GCSU's mission as Georgia's designated liberal arts university.
Ability to provide competent legal advice and counsel to senior university officials on a wide range of legal, policy, and compliance issues.
Knowledge of the range of applicable laws and regulations which impact on all facets of university policy and operations.
Ability to analyze and interpret issues and to prepare legal opinions.
Ability to communicate and interact with officials at all levels of government.
Ability to develop relationships of trust throughout a campus.
KNOWLEDGE Knowledge of current and developing legal issues and trends in area of expertise.
Knowledge of contract law.
Knowledge of the judicial system and procedures.
Ability to develop and implement legal strategies and solutions.
Knowledge of community legal resources.
Knowledge of faculty and/or staff hiring procedures.
Self-motivated, energetic, service-minded, and adept at solving problems.
Excellent organizational, management, leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills.
Understanding risk management in a university setting.
Equal Employment Opportunity Georgia College & State University (GCSU) is committed to the fundamental principle of equal opportunity and equal treatment for every prospective and current employee.
No person shall, on the grounds of race, color, sex (including pregnancy, sexual orientation, and gender identity), religion, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or genetic information, be excluded from employment or participation in, be denied the benefits of, or otherwise be subjected to discrimination, under any program or activity conducted by GCSU.
Georgia College & State University is a national award-winning institution in areas of student success and achievement.
It strives to achieve excellence in the composition of its community, educational programs, university policies, research and scholarship, campus life, employment practices, extracurricular activities, and community outreach.
It is a priority of the university to be a welcoming and inclusive environment so that its campus culture will enhance the ability of its community members to succeed in their endeavors, to be respected as individuals, and to feel a sense of belonging.
Please visit Equal Employment Opportunity for more information.
Other Information This is a supervisory position.
This position has financial responsibilities.
This position will be required to drive.
This role is considered a position of trust.
This position does not require a purchasing card (P-Card).
This position may travel 1% - 24% of the time Background Check Criminal Background Report Motor Vehicle Report Credit Report Education Verification