Assistant General Counsel

Job ID

14400

Location

Austin, TX

Full/Part Time

Full-Time

Regular/Temporary

Regular

FLSA Status

Exempt

Earliest Start Date

Immediately

Salary

Negotiable depending on qualifications

Hours per Week

40.00 Standard from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM

Hiring Department

General Counsel

Required Application Materials

A resume and letter of interest is required to apply. Candidates under final consideration will also be required to submit professional references, college degree information, and employment history to an online third-party vendor.

About Us

For more than 140 years, The University of Texas System has improved the lives of Texans — and people all over the world — through education, health care, and research. The System consists of nine academic institutions, four health institutions, and The University of Texas System Administration. The institutions of the UT System employ more than 160,000 faculty, health care professionals, researchers, support staff, and student workers.

The UT System Administration is primarily based in Austin, Texas. It supports the missions of the System's thirteen institutions by providing financial, legal, planning, purchasing, government relations, communications, development, and other central services. Serving a growing state, the UT System Administration strives to provide a welcoming, supportive work environment that embraces different perspectives - not only because it enables the organization to be stronger, creative, and thoughtful, but because it is the right thing to do. To that end, UT System Administration embraces state laws on military and former foster children employment preferences.

Purpose of Position

In the Office of General Counsel, we help our clients solve problems that affect their diverse educational, healthcare, research, and business missions. Formally, we are a full-service legal department composed of 30+ attorneys in three practice groups: General Law, Business Law, and Health Law. In partnership with campus-based attorneys, we serve all 13 UT System Institutions.

The selected candidate will report to the Assistant Vice Chancellor and Managing Counsel for General Law and provide legal advice, counsel and representation primarily to The University of Texas Permian Basin (UTPB), as well as to UT System Administration and the other UT institutions.

Essential Functions

• Provides preventative and proactive legal advice, representation, and training to The University of Texas Permian Basin administration on a broad range of issues that may include, among other areas, employment law, constitutional law, contract law, tort (personal injury and property damage), insurance, Title IX, higher education law, student and faculty affairs, university policies, state and federal statutory and regulatory compliance, campus safety, and litigation avoidance.
• Reviews, interprets, and applies relevant UT System and UTPB policies, state and federal legislation, and regulations.
• Proposes, drafts, interprets, and reviews UTPB policies and documents to provide strategic legal advice and to ensure compliance with federal, state, and local laws and UT System and UTPB policies.
• Reviews proposed transactions, licenses, contracts, affiliation agreements, and other agreements to ensure compliance with federal and state law and applicable UT System Regents' Rules and UT System and UTPB policies.
• Conducts legal research and prepares written legal opinions to UTPB leadership regarding compliance with state and federal laws and UT System and UTPB policies.
• Manages UTPB litigation and supports UTPB in litigation management by working with the Office of the Attorney General or other outside counsel, assisting with discovery, reviewing and revising draft briefs, participating in settlement negotiations, and trial preparation, and summarizing and reporting on the status of pending litigation.
• Advises and represents UTPB and other UT institutions in adversarial institutional hearings.
• Performs other duties as assigned, including but not limited to performing legal work for UT System institutions other than UTPB.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Translates legal concepts to, and develops solutions with, a variety of clients, including administrators, other professionals, and other relevant stakeholders.
• Exhibits excellent oral and written communication, analytical, adaptability, and problem-solving management skills.
• Communicates effectively with clients and team members.
• Excellent time management skills and ability to manage competing priorities while ensuring timely completion.
• Works inclusively and collaboratively, in person and remotely.
• Embodies and supports OGC's Service Principles.

Required Qualifications

• Juris Doctorate from a law school accredited by the American Bar Association.
• Admission to the Texas Bar is required or, for out-of-state applicants licensed in another jurisdiction, Texas Bar admission within six months of hire date.
• A minimum of 6 years of experience in the practice of law.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience representing institutions of higher education, systems of higher education, Texas state government agencies, and/or similarly complex and decentralized entities.
• Experience drafting, negotiating, and advising clients on contracting and procurement involving some of the following industries: government, computer software, utilities, higher education, and service providers.
• Litigation experience.
• Knowledge of legal principles applicable to Texas state government agencies.

Working Conditions

• May work around standard office conditions
• Repetitive use of a keyboard at a workstation
• Uses standard office equipment
• 25% Travel
• Requires occasional evening or weekend hours

Additional Information

The standard retirement plan for this position is Teacher Retirement System of Texas (TRS), subject to the position being at least 20 hours per week and at least 135 days in length. However, the incumbent of this position may elect the Optional Retirement Program (ORP) subject to the position being 40 hours per week and at least 135 days in length. Participation in either TRS or ORP is mandatory.

A background check will be conducted on applicants under final consideration. The background check may include any or all of the following: criminal history check, prior employment verification, education verification, professional references check, and motor vehicle records check. Background checks are conducted by third-party vendors. Upon request from the third-party vendor, candidates under final consideration must provide the required information for the background checks to be completed.

EO/AA Statement

The University of Texas System Administration is committed to providing equal employment opportunity for all qualified applicants and employees in all terms and conditions of employment. U. T. System will provide equal employment opportunity to all qualified persons and will not discriminate on the basis of race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, pregnancy, religion, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal or state laws.

For information on accommodations for individuals with disabilities, please contact the Office of Talent and Innovation

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