University Counsel and Assistant Secretary to the Board of Trustees

Position Description & Qualifications

PRIMARY OBJECTIVE

Serving as the chief legal officer of the University, the University Counsel provides strategic legal guidance, consultation, and support to the President, the Board of Trustees, and senior leadership. The role safeguards the institution’s integrity while advancing its academic mission and strategic priorities through expert counsel on a comprehensive range of legal, regulatory, and governance matters.

• Provides expert legal opinions, advice, and counsel on matters affecting a private liberal arts institution, including but not limited to statutory and regulatory compliance, employment law, University policies and procedures, student affairs, contracts and grants, real estate transactions, tax matters, and liability and insurance issues.
• Maintains accurate records of Board of Trustees meetings, including drafting, reviewing, and finalizing official meeting minutes.
• Anticipates, identifies, and mitigates legal and reputational risks; provides timely and strategic counsel to University officers, often in matters of high sensitivity and significant institutional impact.
• Reviews, researches, interprets, and delivers written and oral legal opinions on a wide array of issues affecting the University.
• Drafts, reviews, negotiates, and oversees a broad range of agreements, including partnership agreements, memoranda of understanding (MOUs), nondisclosure agreements (NDAs), releases, and other related documents ensuring legal sufficiency and institutional alignment.
• Selects, engages, and manages outside counsel as needed for specialized legal matters, litigation, or claims management.
• Develops and implements a comprehensive system for contract review and management.
• Develops and implements a comprehensive system for contract review and management.
• Supports the Secretary to the Board of Trustees with activities such as taking minutes, meeting planning and organizing, research and support for Board committees and sub-committees.
• Performs additional duties as assigned in support of the University’s mission.

POSITION REQUIREMENTS

• Juris Doctor (J.D.) from an American Bar Association (ABA) accredited institution, with 7–10 years of progressively responsible legal experience.
• Membership in good standing with the Wisconsin State Bar, or eligibility to obtain Wisconsin bar licensure within 12 months of hire.
• Demonstrated experience in higher education law, either within a college/university setting or through legal practice serving higher education clients.

ADDITIONAL KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills with strong cultural competence and sound judgment.
• Ability to develop and deliver effective presentations and training sessions.
• Strong negotiation, problem-solving, and analytical capabilities.
• Prowess in Microsoft Office Suite (Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and contract management tools.