Assistant General Counsel

If you have any questions about the position or our application process, reach out to us at recruiting-u@smith.edu.

Smith College, a distinguished liberal arts college, seeks a dedicated, collaborative, and experienced Assistant General Counsel (AGC) to join the Office of the General Counsel (OGC). Reporting directly to the Vice President & General Counsel, the AGC will provide timely, thoughtful, and strategic legal support to the College's academic and administrative leadership across a broad range of institutional matters. This position provides the uniquely rewarding experience of practicing law within higher education, and the person in this role will be instrumental in advising on legal, regulatory, and compliance risks while aligning with the College's mission of providing a world-class education.

The right candidate will have outstanding communication skills and interpersonal skills, the ability to solve complex problems in a collaborative way, a high degree of composure when faced with challenges, and the highest degree of integrity. Qualified candidates will have the ability to operate as a generalist within the Office of the General Counsel, handling a wide range of legal issues, and will also have significant experience with labor relations or a willingness to develop expertise in this area.

Key Responsibilities

General Legal Matters (35%)

• Provide strategic legal advice to the General Counsel and senior leadership regarding emerging issues in higher education law and regulatory compliance.

• Monitor and interpret developments in laws and regulations affecting the College's operations and advise accordingly, including through the provision of trainings and presentations, as needed.

• Conduct legal research and draft legal documents including memoranda, briefs, opinions, reports, and correspondence.

• Perform investigations into a variety of legal issues involving members of the College community.

• Provide legal advice to the Office of Civil Rights Compliance and Title IX Coordinator regarding discrimination, harassment, and sexual misconduct matters, including investigations.

• Oversee responses to a variety of legal requests and demands, such as complaints from state and federal agencies, letters from counsel, and subpoenas and other court orders.

• Help supervise and manage outside counsel to ensure high-quality and cost-effective legal services.

• In concert with the General Counsel, effectively manage all legal risks associated with the College.

Legal Compliance (20%)

• Assist in ensuring the College's compliance with federal and state laws including but not limited to the ADA, Section 504, FERPA, Title VI, Title VII, Title IX, Clery Act, and the False Claims Act, including policy development and updates.

• Engage in the regular review and advising on updates to College policies to ensure compliance with all applicable state and federal laws and alignment with current best practices.

• Provide training to various campus constituencies to support compliance needs of the College.

Labor Relations and Employment Matters (20%)

• Provide legal support for all labor relations activity at the College and strategize with key partners across campus regarding the same.

• Deliver legal advice on all manner of employment issues.

Contract review (10%)

• Review, negotiate, and manage a wide range of contracts.

Miscellaneous (15%)

• Represent the OGC on committees and at meetings, as needed.

• Act in the absence of the General Counsel.

• Attend professional development conferences (e.g., NACUA) to remain current on legal issues affecting higher education.

• Collaborate with external legal counsel, government agencies, and higher education consortia.

• Represent the College in external meetings and contribute to institutional committees as needed.

• Perform other duties as assigned by the General Counsel.

Minimum Required Qualifications

• Juris Doctor (J.D.) from an accredited law school.

• Active membership in the Massachusetts bar, or ability to obtain admission within a reasonable time.

• A minimum of 5 years practicing law, ideally in an institute of higher education.

• Broad experience as a legal generalist with demonstrated ability to analyze and apply laws relevant to higher education institutions.

• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills.

• Ability to navigate nuanced issues with thoughtfulness, sound professional judgment, and integrity.

• Collaborative and collegial approach with a demonstrated ability to work effectively across diverse teams and communities.

• Demonstrated experience managing legal risk in a complex organization.

• Strategic thinker with excellent judgment and adaptability.

• Willingness to work flexible hours when needed and serve as a trusted advisor to senior leadership.

Preferred Qualifications

• At least 10 years of experience in litigation, compliance, or corporate governance.

• Experience advising academic institutions or nonprofit organizations.

• Experience with legal compliance in higher education or similarly regulated environments.

• Experience managing labor relations.

Review of applications will begin on July 21, 2025.

Position Type:

Regular

Please attach/upload a current resume and cover letter in order for your application to be considered for this position.

Position Type:

Located in Northampton, MA, Smith College is one of the largest women's colleges in the country and is dedicated to excellence in teaching and research across the liberal arts. A faculty of outstanding scholars interact with students in small classes, as advisors, and through student-faculty research projects. The College is a member of the Five College Consortium with Amherst, Hampshire and Mt. Holyoke Colleges, and the University of Massachusetts Amherst.Students cross-enroll and faculty cross-teach across the Five Colleges.

As set forth in our mission and values, Smith College is committed to promoting a culture of equity and inclusion among students, staff and faculty. The College will not discriminate in employment on the basis of age, race, color, ethnicity, national origin, creed, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, genetic information, age, veteran status, physical or mental disability, or any other classification protected by law. Smith College is an equal opportunity employer and complies with all state and federal laws that prohibit discrimination.