General Counsel

Lyon College seeks a senior legal counsel (SC) to manage and oversee its legal affairs. The SC provides strategic legal advice and representation across a broad range of legal, regulatory, compliance, insurance, and risk management matters in support of Lyon College’s undergraduate campus, School of Dental Medicine, and School of Veterinary Medicine. These responsibilities are carried out in alignment with the mission, values, and strategic plan of Lyon College. The SC reports directly to the President and the Board of Trustees and serves as a trusted advisor to the Board, President, senior leadership, faculty, and staff.

LOCATION

The SC may be located on the College's undergraduate campus in Batesville, Arkansas, or on the College's School of Dental Medicine Campus in Little Rock, Arkansas.

 

JOB DUTIES

• Performing and managing work regarding Board governance, including preparation and maintenance of Board and Board Committee materials, resolutions, minutes and other documents.
• Preparing, reviewing and negotiating contracts, leases, loan documents, other legal documents, correspondence, resolutions, opinions and general corporate documents and agreements.
• Maintaining strong relationships with Trustees, the President, College officers, all College component heads, and other internal stakeholders, committees and task forces in order to anticipate and understand legal risks and needs; responding promptly to requests from internal stakeholders for legal services related to the business of the College.
• Maintaining strong relationships with the College’s external auditors, accountants, tax experts, outside legal counsel, and other consultants.
• Developing and reviewing the College’s policies and guidelines for legal and regulatory compliance sufficiency, and providing review and recommendations regarding regulatory, corporate governance or other legal compliance.
• Providing legal insight and advice in areas including, without limitation, education law, health care law, property law, intellectual property law, employment law, and government relations.
• Identifying areas of legal risk and providing advice regarding such risk; including intellectual property and other legal risks associated with the College’s Marketing and Creative Design efforts.
• Working with, and managing the work of, the College’s outside legal counsel.
• Other responsibilities may be established as needed.

QUALIFICATIONS/REQUIRED SKILLS

• JD degree from an ABA accredited law school.
• Licensed to practice law in the State of Arkansas.
• 5 years of substantial business and corporate law experience.
• Corporate In-house attorney experience preferred.
• Higher education law experience preferred.
• Excellent oral, written and presentation communications skills; ability to explain complex legal concepts to non-attorneys.
• Excellent legal analysis, problem solving and legal writing skills.
• Excellent interpersonal, communications, organizational, planning, project management and time management skills.

About Lyon College
Lyon College is a selective private liberal arts college affiliated with the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) in the historic town of Batesville, Arkansas. The College also has a School of Dental Medicine located in Little Rock, Arkansas, and is developing a School of Veterinary Medicine to be located in Cabot, Arkansas. The undergraduate campus is home to more than 660 students from 30 states and 18 countries and is renowned for its inclusive and nurturing academic community. Batesville, with a population of 11,000, was named the Best City to Live in Arkansas by USA Today. It offers a safe, vibrant environment and is a regional hub for commercial, medical, and social activities. The School of Dental Medicine, which opened in June of 2025, is the first ever in the State of Arkansas and is currently home to 80 first-year dental students.

Why Lyon?
At Lyon, we prioritize excellent teaching, inclusive environments, and the persistence and success of our students and faculty. We support innovative teaching, meaningful research, and professional development in a close-knit academic community. Our liberal arts foundation encourages students to think critically about their place in the world and explore diverse perspectives.

Application Process
Interested candidates should submit a cover letter, curriculum vitae, and contact information for three professional references to Human Resources, P.O. Box 2317, Batesville, AR 72503-2317, or electronically at https://lyon.bamboohr.com/careers. Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled.

Equal Opportunity Employer
Lyon College does not discriminate based on race, color, religion, gender, age, disability, sexual orientation, or national origin. We comply with all federal and state laws regarding equal employment opportunities. Learn more about Lyon College at www.lyon.edu. Join us at Lyon College and be the difference in shaping the future of curious and dedicated students!