General Counsel

TITLE: General Counsel

DEPARTMENT: Office of General Counsel

REPORTS TO: University President

CLASSIFICATION: Staff-12 months

EFFECTIVE DATE: TBD

STANDARD WORK HOURS: 37.5 hours per week

EMPLOYMENT STATUS: Full-Time 

EMPLOYMENT CLASSIFICATION: Exempt 

JOB SUMMARY: 

The General Counsel serves as the chief legal officer of the University and oversees all legal services provided to the institution. This role ensures the University’s operations comply with applicable laws and regulations while protecting its legal interests. The General Counsel advises the President, senior leadership, and other stakeholders on a wide range of legal matters and supports the University's mission through strategic legal guidance. 

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:

• Provides legal counsel and guidance to the officers of the institution and other upper management on all legal matters relevant to a public institution, including personnel law,
• policies, procedures, rules and regulations, and laws pertaining to students, real estate
• transactions, contracts and grants, tax matters, worker's compensation, liability and
• insurance matters, public monies and purchases, affirmative action, and other laws and
• regulations.
• Anticipates and identifies legal issues and counsels officers of the institution and other upper
• management in order to develop legal strategies and solutions, often in situations of great
• political, public relations, or financial risk or significance, and with limited time for
• assessing alternatives.
• Reviews, researches, interprets, and prepares both written and oral opinions on a wide
• variety of legal issues.
• Drafts, reviews, and approves policies and procedures, regulations, bylaws, and other legal
• documents.
• Reviews contracts, leases, and other legal documents; research legal issues and
• recommends revisions as necessary.
• Represents or oversees the representation of the institution and upper management in
• judicial and administrative proceedings, and in negotiations with other state agencies.
• Develops and manages annual budgets for the office and performs periodic cost and
• productivity analyses.
• Selects and retains outside counsel, as required, to obtain legal opinions or to handle claims
• and litigation.
• Supervises legal work of outside counsel; consults on difficult or sensitive issues.
• Provides training to the campus community on various legal issues through seminars and
• meetings.
• Maintains professional growth and development through seminars, workshops, and
• professional affiliations to keep abreast of latest developments in college and university law
• and in other related areas. 

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES REQUIRED: 

• Knowledge of community legal resources.
• Knowledge of contract law.
• Knowledge of current and developing legal issues and trends in area of expertise.
• Knowledge of faculty and/or staff hiring procedures.
• Knowledge of financial/business analyses techniques.
• Knowledge of institutional policies and procedures, regulations and bylaws, and the legal
• environment within which they operate.
• Knowledge of legal documentation procedures and requirements.
• Knowledge of the judicial system and procedures.
• Knowledge of the principles and procedures of legal research.
• Knowledge of the range of applicable laws and regulations which impact on all facets of
• university policy and operations.
• Negotiating skills.
• Skill in budget preparation and fiscal management.
• 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 and deliver presentations.
• Ability to develop and implement legal strategies and solutions.
• Ability to foster a cooperative work environment.
• Ability to provide competent legal advice and counsel to senior university officials on a
• wide range of legal and policy issues.
• Ability to supervise and coordinate the work of legal professionals, paraprofessionals, and
• consultants.
• Ability to supervise and train staff, including organizing, prioritizing, and scheduling work
• assignments.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITY: 

• This position does have supervisory responsibility. 

OTHER DUTIES: 

• Performed related duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS: 

• Doctorate or terminal degree in Jurisprudence with seven (7) to ten (10) years of experience directly related to the duties and responsibilities specified.
• Member of Kentucky State Bar, or member of other state bar (KY membership required within 12 months of date of hire).

WORKING CONDITIONS:

• Work is normally performed in a typical interior/office work environment.
• No or very limited physical effort required.
• No or very limited exposure to physical risk.

Applicants must be authorized to work for any employer in the United States. At this time, Kentucky State University is unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment visa

Internal candidates are encouraged to apply.

KENTUCKY STATE UNIVERSITY is an Equal Opportunity Employer

The functions, qualifications, knowledge/skills, and physical requirements listed in this job description represent the essential duties of the job, which the incumbent must be able to perform either with or without reasonable accommodation. The Job Functions listed do not necessarily include all activities that the individual may perform.