Associate General Counsel, General Law Section

Exempt

Negotiable depending on qualifications

40 hours weekly

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.

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, five health institutions, and The University of Texas System Administration. The institutions of the UT System employ more than 116,000 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 fourteen 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.

The selected candidate will report to the Assistant Vice Chancellor and Managing Counsel for General Law and provide advanced and specialized legal advice, counsel and representation to the UT System and its institutions. OGC's General Law Section is a group of attorneys and administrative staff with diverse specialties that are critical to the mission of UT System. The selected candidate will provide legal advice, representation, and counsel on matters as diverse as employment law, constitutional law, tort, insurance, Title IX, and higher education law, including student affairs.

No single day is typical for any of our institutions, so our commitment is to provide or, when necessary, develop the substantive expertise our clients need. For that reason, the ideal candidate will be an agile individual who thrives in problem-solving for our diverse clients, including UT System officials; academic, business and health leaders at our institutions; and campus-based attorneys.

• Provides preventative and proactive legal advice, representation, and training on a broad range of issues, including, among other areas, employment law, constitutional law, tort, insurance, Title IX, higher education law, student and faculty affairs, immigration, athletics, university policies, state and federal statutory and regulatory compliance, campus safety, and litigation avoidance.
• Manages UT System litigation and supports the institutions 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.
• Reviews, interprets, and applies relevant UT System policies, state and federal legislation, and regulations.
• Proposes, interprets, and reviews legal policies and documents to provide strategic legal advice and to ensure compliance with federal, state, and local laws and UT System and institution policies.
• Conducts legal research and prepares written legal opinions to institution leadership regarding compliance with state and federal laws and UT System and institution policies.
• Represents System and components in adversarial institutional hearings.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

• Translates legal concepts to, and develop 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 Principals.

• Juris Doctorate from a law school accredited by the American Bar Association
• Admission to 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 10 years of experience in the practice of law.

• Experience in risk management counseling, including on directors and officers and employment practices liability insurance, property and casualty insurance, and workers' compensation compliance and litigation.
• Experience representing institutions of higher education, systems of higher education, and/or similarly complex and decentralized entities.
• Litigation experience.
• Knowledge of legal principles applicable to Texas state government agencies.

• May work around standard office conditions
• Repetitive use of a keyboard at a workstation
• Uses standard office equipment
• 10% Travel
• Requires occasional evening or weekend hours

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.

The University of Texas System Administration is a federal contractor 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 at oti@utsystem.edu.