Assistant General Counsel

The College of Southern Nevada appreciates your interest in employment at our growing institution. We want your application process to go smoothly and quickly. We ask that you keep in mind the following when completing your application:

• Once you start the application process you cannot save your work. Please ensure you have all required attachment(s) available to complete your application before you begin the process.
• Required attachments are listed below on the posting. Your application will not be considered without the required attachments.
• Please note that applications must be submitted prior to the close of the recruitment. Once a recruitment has closed, applications will no longer be accepted.

If you are unable to attach the required documents to your online application or need assistance regarding the application process, please contact the Talent Acquisition team within Human Resources via email at hr.recruitment@csn.edu or call (702) 651-5800 to be directed to the appropriate Recruiter.

Job Description

Diversity Equity and Inclusion Statement

About the College of Southern Nevada

Founded in 1971 and situated in the greater Las Vegas metropolitan area, the College of Southern Nevada is the most ethnically diverse college in Nevada and the first to receive the HSI designation. We’ve prioritized providing an affordable, collaborative, and welcoming environment that allows all students to shine. CSN is a fully accredited institution offering hundreds of degrees and certificates in 70 academic programs. CSN proudly hosts students from all 50 states and over 60 countries with a student population that mirrors Clark County Nevada, one of the most diverse counties in the US. More than one-third of our students are first-generation, half are Pell Grant eligible, and nearly three-fourths are part-time.

The College of Southern Nevada, a Minority Serving Institution designated as a Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) and Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institution (AANAPISI) provides associates and select bachelor’s degrees. Consistent with CSN’s mission, vision, and values we are passionate about fostering an environment where our highly diverse students achieve, succeed, and prosper. 

Institutional Commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

The College of Southern Nevada recognizes that embracing diversity maximizes faculty and staff contribution to our goals and provides the best opportunity for student achievement. We seek faculty who demonstrate their commitment to our communities, value equity and inclusion, and amplify diverse perspectives. Faculty are intentional about providing culturally responsive instruction to promote creativity, innovation, growth, and academic excellence.

We believe equity is the foundation for a thriving, justice-centered institution that serves all. We strive to uphold our mission, to create, and preserve an inclusive environment that is dedicated to achieving educational access, equity, inviolable dignity, and opportunity for all to participate, prosper, and reach their full potential. 

We ensure that all our work and efforts are transformative and build a truly Students First institutional culture. We commit to the journey ahead, embrace difficult conversations, examine implicit biases, and remain steadfast in our continuous process of improvement. We do this by creating, uplifting, and centering all the voices and experiential knowledge of our students, employees, and campus communities.  

CSN is committed to providing a place of work and learning free of discrimination based on race, color, national origin, disability, religion, age, sex/gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetic information, and veteran status in the programs or activities which it operates.

Why Live and Work in Southern Nevada?

The region has an environment where professional satisfaction and career achievement are paired with optimal quality of life in a locale with abundant opportunities for work and leisure. Southern Nevada is an excellent base camp for outdoor recreation. Popular nearby hiking and rock-climbing spots include Lake Mead National Recreation Area, Red Rock Canyon, the National Conservation Area, Spring Mountain Ranch State Park, and Valley of Fire State Park.

Residents enjoy vibrant urban and suburban communities, within the cities of Las Vegas, North Las Vegas, and Henderson, world-class restaurants, and beautiful parks. The region features a reasonable cost of living, with affordable prices on everything from housing to utilities to groceries compared to most major cities across the nation. Thanks to its mild winters and ample sunshine, the area appeals to a variety of age groups, from retirees to early career professionals. There are plenty of family-friendly activities available to keep families busy. Las Vegas is also a haven for professional sports fans with the NHL Golden Knights (2023 Stanley Cup Winner), WNBA Las Vegas Aces (2022 and 2023 National Champions), NFL Raiders Football Team, Las Vegas Lights FC and the Las Vegas Grand Prix.

Benefits of Working at CSN

• Grant-in-Aid: Tuition & fee assistance for employees and their families at NSHE institutions.

• Time Off: CSN provides a variety of time off options to help employees manage their work-life balance.

• Holidays: All CSN employees receive 11 paid holidays per year.

• Benefits: CSN offers attractive and customizable health insurance plans for employee and dependents.

• Retirement Plan:  Participants contribute 17.5% with 100% employer match.

• On-site Early Childhood Education Center services available

• Learning & professional development opportunities.

• Active CSN Affinity Groups that focus on campus-wide diversity initiatives to create a welcoming campus climate.

For more information about the benefits offered at CSN, please click the link https://www.csn.edu/benefits-retirement

*This position will be Open until Filled.  For full consideration, all application related materials should be submitted by October 25, 2024.

The Office of General Counsel represents the College in all legal matters arising from College business. Responsibilities of the Office of General Counsel include interpreting the constitutional, statutory and regulatory framework in which the College operates, managing outside counsel and litigation and agency complaints, and providing legal and policy advice in a variety of areas within the College, including employment law, student affair issues, intellectual property, real estate, contracts, organizational governance, affiliated entities, sponsored research, disabilities, drug-free workplace requirements, computer and information technology issues, copyright issues, defamation issues, civil rights, sexual harassment, promotion and tenure processes, statutory and regulatory compliance, and fundraising.

The Assistant General Counsel reports directly to the General Counsel.  This position is responsible for assisting the General Counsel in providing comprehensive legal advice and counsel to senior academic and administrative officers of the College concerning its legal rights and obligations, including litigation and threatened litigation for all units of the College.  The incumbent meets regularly with the General Counsel or designee to ensure consistent application of Nevada System of Higher Education (“NSHE”) and College policies and procedures and to inform the General Counsel or designee of any new legal matters that arise. 

This position’s key role includes litigating on behalf of CSN in courts of both the State of Nevada and the United States, and proceedings in federal and state administrative and regulatory agencies.  The Assistant General Counsel will play a critical role in conducting research and providing litigation and pre-litigation services and advising College leadership on matters pertaining to compliance with state and federal laws affecting the College, with a particular emphasis on civil rights/constitutional law, contracts, tort law, employment law, dispute resolution, student rights, public records, and public/private partnerships. The position is also responsible for other such legal or administrative duties as may be assigned by the General Counsel.

Successful candidates also may have responsibilities in a diverse range of additional practice areas common to higher education institutions, such as student life and academics, compliance, litigation strategy and oversight, labor and employment, governance, public procurement, public records, privacy, civil rights, research, accreditation, risk management, law enforcement, real estate, public finance, administrative law, threat assessment, student health and safety, hearings, policy and procedure development, information technology, legislative, constitutional matters, and affiliate entities.

This position requires the Assistant General Counsel to handle work duties and College client interactions in a manner that builds confidence in the Office of General Counsel while maximizing client perceptions of the office as open, collaborative, respectful and approachable. 

This position has a variable work schedule and requires occasional travel. May be required to attend meetings outside normal work hours.  Concurrent private practice is prohibited.

Required Qualifications

• Juris Doctor degree from an ABA accredited law school
• Strong academic background
• Admission to the Nevada State Bar in good standing
• Licensed or ability to obtain license within 2 months of hire in Federal Court
• 4 years of legal practice or relevant legal experience for an academic institution, government, or other entity, in one or more of the following practice areas:  labor and employment, academic and educational affairs, compliance, civil rights and constitutional law
• Experience advising clients on multifaceted and complex legal issues, especially with governmental entities
• Ability to function effectively in a fast-paced environment with multiple and changing priorities and objectives.

Preferred Qualifications

• 6 or more years of legal experience working in higher education and/or government law
• Knowledge Nevada Public Records and Open Meeting Law
• Knowledge of the laws pertaining to higher education
• Knowledge of Employment Law
• Knowledge of fund raising and philanthropic activities
• Superior written and oral communication and interpersonal skills.

The ideal candidate should possess the following knowledge, skills, and abilities:

KNOWLEDGE Required

• Legal Knowledge: comprehensive understanding of litigation processes, civil and administrative procedure (federal and state), substantive law relevant to higher education institutions, including employment law, student rights, and educational regulations.
• Legal Research:  in-depth knowledge on performing legal research using various tools.
• Contract Law: Familiarity with contract negotiation and management, including drafting, reviewing, and interpreting various types of contracts.
• Regulatory Compliance: Familiarity with constitutional principles, federal and state laws and regulations that govern higher education, including Title IX, FERPA, ADAA, and Clery Act compliance, ensuring that the institution adheres to all legal requirements.
• Risk Management: Knowledge of risk assessment and mitigation strategies specific to litigation and legal disputes within the educational context.
• Employment Law: Awareness of employment regulations, including labor relations, faculty rights, and employee benefits.

Preferred

• Higher Education Law: Understanding of legal issues unique to academic institutions, including faculty and staff relations, student conduct, and institutional governance.
• Nevada Public Records and Open Meeting Law.

SKILLS Required

• Legal Research and Analysis: Proficient in conducting thorough legal research and analysis, enabling the formulation of well-informed legal opinions and strategies that effectively address institutional needs.
• Analytical Skills: Strong ability to analyze complex legal issues, interpret regulations, and assess risk to provide sound legal advice.
• Communication Skills: Excellent written and verbal communication and interpersonal skills for drafting legal documents and explaining legal concepts to non-legal audiences.
• Negotiation Skills: Proficiency in negotiating contracts and resolving disputes while maintaining positive relationships with stakeholders.
• Personal and professional integrity.
• Problem solving skills and inherent decision-making ability.

ABILITIES Required

• Problem-Solving Ability: Capacity to identify legal issues proactively and develop practical solutions that align with the institution’s mission.
• Collaboration: Ability to work collaboratively with faculty, administration, and outside counsel, fostering an environment of trust and transparency.
• Adaptability: Flexibility to adjust to changing legal landscapes and institutional priorities while managing multiple projects simultaneously.
• Leadership Ability: Capability to mentor and guide junior legal staff and contribute to the overall legal strategy of the institution.
• Effective Communication:  Ability to communicate complex legal concepts clearly and concisely to a diverse audience, including faculty, staff, and administrators, facilitating informed decision-making and promoting a culture of compliance.
• Demonstrates Consistent Reliability: Ability to consistently meet deadlines and commitments, maintain a high level of accuracy in work, and follow through on tasks with minimal supervision, ensuring trustworthiness and accountability in all responsibilities.
• Adaptability in a Fast-Paced Environment: Ability to efficiently prioritize tasks and remain focused under pressure, demonstrating resilience and flexibility while managing multiple projects and meeting tight deadlines without compromising quality.
• Ethical Conduct: Commitment to maintaining the highest standards of ethical conduct, confidentiality, and professionalism in all aspects of legal practice.

Salary information:

Administrative Faculty E - Starting Salary is $135,821

Exempt

Full-Time Equivalent 

Required Attachment(s)

To be considered for this position, please upload the following documents to your application:

• Resume/CV
• Cover Letter
• Contact information for three professional references (Name, email, and phone number)
• Unofficial Academic Transcripts (Applicants who have earned their degrees outside of the United States must have their educational transcripts evaluated by an approved evaluator if their college or university is not listed in the most recent edition of the Higher Education Directory, published by Higher Education Publications, Inc. If you have any questions regarding this, please reach out to the Human Resources, Talent Acquisition & Classification team).

National Search

Out of Area/State Candidates may be offered travel reimbursement with original itemized receipts and in accordance with GSA rates at time of travel.