Associate General Counsel, Office of the General Counsel - UT System

This position is part of the Office of the General Counsel which represents The University of Tennessee, a statewide system of public higher education.  The position will be based in Knoxville, but responsibilities may involve service to all campuses and institutes in the University system.  This position will primarily be responsible for defending the University in litigation, including healthcare liability, other torts, breach of contract, and student and employee issues.  This position may also assist with responding to complaints made to administrative agencies.  This position is expected to handle all aspects of litigation, including acting as lead trial counsel and usually will be the only attorney assigned to a matter.  This position also provides proactive legal advice on risk management and mitigation to a variety of University offices.

Representing the University and the State of Tennessee as defense counsel in claims filed in federal and state courts and in the Tennessee Claims Commission (TCC), primarily health care liability claims and also claims for personal injury, premises liability, motor vehicle accidents, other torts and workers' compensation, employment actions, and breach of contract actions.  Handling all phases of litigation including reviewing and analyzing pre-suit notices for statutory compliance, drafting all pleadings, drafting and arguing pre-trial and dispositive motions, propounding and responding to written discovery, participating in depositions of parties, fact witnesses and experts, preparing mediation statements and participating in mediations, conducting settlement negotiations with opposing counsel, preparing settlement documents and settlement memoranda, conducting trials, and representing the University and the State in all phases of appeals, including preparation of appellate briefs and appellate oral arguments.

Advise UT administrators and department personnel on various litigation-related administrative matters and policies, risk management and mitigation, and subpoenas and other third party discovery.

Review and revise responses to claims history credentialing requests for present and former UT residents and faculty to send to health care facilities and licensing boards for provider hospital medical staff privileges and licensure.

JD from an accredited law school; Tennessee law license or eligibility for Tennessee license; minimum of five (5) years of relevant litigation experience, including healthcare liability matters; strong academic record; and strong legal writing and oral communication skills.

Additional skills, experiences, and qualifications include:

Knowledge - Tennessee Law, Civil Law - Tort, contract, employment, and other litigation; Higher Education Law

Skills - Exceptional analytical, problem-solving, diplomatic, and oral and written communication skills

Ability - Demonstrated ability to manage multiple, demanding tasks; demonstrated ability to prioritize tasks and work independently in a highly collegial and high-performing environment; highly versatile set of legal skills; pragmatic and objective business acumen and ability to recognize the broader consequences of legal advice; ability to perceive and explain to non-lawyers the practical application of law and policy in complex situations; high degree of personal integrity, sound judgment, and a commitment to accountability; initiative and intellectual curiosity.

Preferred Qualifications
More than 10 years of litigation experience, including first-chair trial experience.

Application Process 
For full consideration, applications should be accompanied by a letter of interest, a resume, and three professional references. Review of applications will begin immediately.      

Benefits and Compensation
Compensation for this position will be competitive with comparable positions at peer institutions. 

The University offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes excellent healthcare and tuition benefits for employees and their families, generous retirement benefits, a wide variety of professional development opportunities, supportive work and family benefits and much more. Additionally, Tennessee residents do not pay a state income tax. For more information on the University of Tennessee’s benefits, visit https://hr.tennessee.edu/benefits/