Assistant General Counsel

Job Location: Denton, Texas | FTE: 1.0 | Retirement: ORP Eligible | Salary commensurate with position and experience.

About the Role

The Office of General Counsel represents the University of North Texas System in all legal matters, committed to exceptional representation and collaborative advice in an atmosphere of trust and respect. The UNT System includes the System Administration, the University of North Texas, the University of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth, and the University of North Texas at Dallas. The Office of General Counsel includes ten attorneys and seven professional staff located on institutional campuses and at the UNT System building in downtown Dallas.

The Assistant General Counsel will provide legal advice and services to UNT System and its component institutions as a member of the System Office of General Counsel. The primary office location is on the UNT campus in Denton, Texas, with as-needed travel to UNT System locations and limited hybrid work opportunities. This position manages the public information process (estimated 30%–35% of workload), supporting the public information office and providing legal services for records requests and public information releases. The role is a generalist handling matters in academic affairs, student affairs, administrative law, general risk management and insurance, policy review and legislation analysis, litigation support, ethics and conflicts of interest, HR/employment law, FLSA, FMLA, EEOC, information management, regulatory and compliance matters such as the Clery Act, FERPA, Title IX, Title VI, Title VII, and general higher education issues.

Responsibilities

• Manage the public information process.
• Draft and file briefs requesting public records rulings.
• Provide legal advice and recommend courses of action to resolve legal, procedural, or administrative issues in compliance with all applicable legal standards.
• Conduct legal research and provide analysis, written and oral advice, and training directed at client outreach and engagement and to keep institutions current on laws and regulations impacting assigned areas.
• Review policies, rules, regulations, and internal investigations for legal sufficiency.
• Provide direct client contact and support with administrators and staff within the UNT System and its component institutions.
• Support litigation deadlines with other attorneys and assist the Office of Attorney General with discovery requests.
• Provide UNT System managerial-level officials legal advice and recommend courses of action to resolve legal issues in areas including employment, equal opportunity, student affairs, general risk management and insurance, and regulatory and compliance matters such as the Clery Act, FERPA, Title IX, and general higher education issues.
• Draft responses to investigations by federal and state regulatory agencies.
• Attend student disciplinary hearings as the legal representative of the campus.
• Research and author written legal educational material directed at client outreach and engagement.

Requirements

• Two years of active legal practice.
• Graduation from an accredited law school with a Juris Doctor (JD) degree.
• J.D. from a law school accredited by the American Bar Association.
• Licensed and admitted to practice law in Texas (or eligible to be licensed in Texas within one year from date of employment), and in good standing (or qualified to be in good standing) with the State Bar of Texas.

Qualifications

• At least four years of relevant experience practicing law in a higher education setting, with higher education clients, or in a government position such as an office of the Attorney General.
• Active license to practice law and in good standing with the State Bar of Texas.

Skills

• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Ability to research complex legal issues and prepare legal opinions and documents.
• Ability to work collegially and advise managerial-level clients in an ethical, professional, and respectful manner.
• Ability to identify and frame complex legal issues and convey advice clearly and effectively to non-lawyers.
• Ability and willingness to engage in creative thinking and problem solving.
• Ability to communicate effectively with the General Counsel, senior attorneys, other office members, external attorneys, and governmental agencies about matters of significance affecting the UNT System.
• Ability to establish cooperative working relationships with members of the Office of General Counsel and varied constituents within the UNT System.
• Excellent time management and prioritization skills.
• Ability to work independently while handling multiple general assignments, and the desire and ability to handle complex assignments with moderate supervision.
• Self-motivation, a strong sense of intellectual curiosity, and a desire to learn new areas of the law.
• Discretion and the ability to gain trust and maintain confidences.

Work Schedule & Conditions

• Work Schedule: Monday through Friday.
• Physical Requirements: Sedentary work primarily involving sitting/standing; lifting and moving objects up to 20 pounds; communicating with others to exchange information.
• Environmental Hazards: No adverse environmental conditions expected.
• Security Sensitive: This is a Security Sensitive Position.
• Driving University Vehicle: Not required.