Chief Legal Officer

Position Type:

Scheduled Weekly Hours:

Requested Start Date for this Position:

Campus Location:

Full-time or Part-time:

Job Summary:

Major Duties and Responsibilities:

Specific duties and responsibilities of the Chief Legal Officer shall include, but not be limited to the following: 

• Identify and interpret federal, state and local laws, regulations, ordinances, rules and executive orders applicable to the University or its related entities and their operations and recommend the means of compliance.
• Provide advice regarding all legal matters involving outside agencies or complainants.
• Provide legal representation, advice, counsel, and opinions in all areas of law affecting the University, including corporate, student, and faculty affairs, academic programs, promotion and tenure, intercollegiate athletics, research compliance, trademark licensing, intellectual property, technology transfer, international agreements, regulatory compliance, privacy law, real estate, open records, all aspects of employment law, important legal documents and agreements, and University policies and procedures.
• Provide legal oversight of issues related to higher education, and university contracts, agreements, and related matters; provide advice and representation concerning the University’s participation in joint ventures with other universities, healthcare enterprises, business entities, non-profits, or governmental organizations in the United States or abroad.
• As a member of the institution’s Enterprise Risk Management oversight committee, provide a legal perspective to the group.
• Bring legal issues and concerns to the attention of senior administration and assist in developing related University policies.
• In concert with University Vice Presidents, audit existing University policy and procedures for compliance with applicable laws, regulations and professional associations.
• Attend quarterly Board of Trustee meetings, as requested, and advise the Board in legal matters.
• Provide counsel and advice concerning compliance with federal and state statutes and regulations affecting institutions of higher education, including teaching, research, and clinical services.
• Acts as a resource on the interpretation of existing or proposed local, state, or federal laws and regulations.
• Provide legal representation, advice, and opinions in monitoring and resolving disputes that may lead to litigation.
• Coordinate the University response to claims filed with administrative agencies, including the Department of Education, Office of Civil Rights; Equal Employment Opportunity Commission; Colorado Civil Rights Commission; OSHA, or other local, state of national regulatory agencies.
• Represent the University, as requested, in real estate transactions. 
• Negotiate, draft and review for legal adequacy contracts, leases, deeds, and other instruments to be entered into or executed in the name of the University or related entities.
• Recommend the retention of, and upon receipt of proper approval, retain, supervise, manage and discontinue the services of outside counsel who provide legal advice or representation in areas of special expertise or in litigation.
• Assists, as needed, with University responses to external requests for information, reporting, complaints, or citations from external governmental or non-governmental organizations.
• Administer the University Conflict of Interest Policy. 
• Educate University personnel in the proper means and manner of identifying and administering matters of legal concern.
• Other duties as assigned by the President.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:

• Juris Doctorate degree from a law school approved for accreditation by the American Bar Association, a member in good standing of the Bar of the supreme court of the state in which he or she practices law, and the prompt eligibility for such license and standing in Colorado. 
• A minimum of 10 years of legal practice experience in a relevant area, having attained a senior position of responsibility in firm, corporation, government agency, or other organization that employs him or her. Five years as general counsel of a large educational, non-profit, for-profit, or governmental organization, or equivalent role as outside counsel, is preferred.
• Record of exercising excellent judgment on behalf of clients including large and complex organizations and issues.
• Commitment to the highest ethical and professional standards; personal and professional integrity beyond reproach; unquestioned discretion in maintaining confidentiality.
• Excellent written and oral communications skills in public and private settings with diverse audiences; ability to translate complex legal issues for a lay audience.
• Strong leadership and interpersonal skills, able to collaborate with a diverse population, and ability to relate well with Trustees, senior administrators, student, faculty, staff, government officials, and external audiences.
• Leadership at Regis University also requires a strong, personal resonance with the mission of the university, especially with its Catholic and Jesuit values.

ADDITIONAL PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Experience in collaborating with and, at times, supervising the work of other lawyers.
• Significant experience in higher education legal matters or representation of colleges or universities.
• Knowledge of immigration and intellectual property issues.
• Ready availability at all times, in person or electronically, to the President and senior administrators in case of emergency. 
• A sense of urgency and responsiveness in dealing with clients, and an ability to handle multiple tasks in a timely manner. 

DECISION MAKING:(Level of difficulty [scale 1=simple; 10=extremely complicated] or intensity of the mental process and is it routine or non-routine.)

This is a position that requires high level assessment and decision-making. Decisions must be made from a perspective that incorporates quality assurance, security, customer service, leading edge technology, within defined budgetary limitations. It is important that this person uses collaborative skills and sound professional judgment under pressure.  Level of difficulty is 10.

SCOPE of AUTHORITY: Financial, program, specific activity (Amount of freedom to establish methods to complete assignments.)

Has the authority to make the necessary personnel and infrastructure adjustments within the departments under his/her supervision to meet desired institutional and departmental goals.  Has budgetary responsibility.

COMMUNICATION:(Interpersonal level of communication, e.g., factual, interpretative, motivational.)

This position requires excellent verbal and written communication skills.  This person must be able to communicate complex, technical and sensitive issues to faculty, staff, senior administrators and Trustees members in a clear and professional manner.

RESULTS of ACTIONS:(Impact of results on the department/Regis.)

This position is important to the current and future success of the university.  Successful management will be demonstrated by minimal interruptions in service, effective communications with key campus constituencies, skilled and engaged staff, and a commitment to exceeding the expectations of students, faculty, staff and administrators.  Failure to meet expectations could result in complaints from students, faculty, and staff, enrollment declines, state and federal regulatory issues, and loss of revenue.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:(Necessary for essential duties.)

Physical and Mental:(Frequency, duration, very easy to very hard, essential to helpful)

Physical:

• Standard office working environment.  May require evening and weekend hours; may require working at multiple sites; may require local and occasional out-of-state travel; may require prolonged periods of sitting and standing; occasionally requires periods of bending, stooping, and lifting up to 10-pound objects; may require prolonged viewing of computer monitor.          

Mental:

• Essential to remember and recall a significant amount of information.
• Essential to read, write and speak fluent, correct English.
• Essential to have reasoning ability to deal with complex, dynamic decision making.
• Essential for individual to be self-motivated, astute and competent to take a proactive role in a wide variety of unpredictable situations.

Pay Rate: