Legal Counsel

This position will reside in the USG’s Office of Legal Affairs at the University System Office (USO) on Capitol Hill in downtown Atlanta. The USO supports the USG’s 26 public colleges and universities. Common legal issues handled by USG’s Office of Legal Affairs include student matters, employment matters (including faculty and staff), contracts, real estate transactions, constitutional issues, legislation, Board governance, litigation support, regulatory compliance, and open government. The legal counsel position will work as part of a collaborative team of attorneys and support staff to provide legal advice to administrators at the USO and at the USG’s colleges and universities.

The University System of Georgia (USG) is accepting applications for a Legal Counsel position. This position will focus primarily on transactional work with an emphasis on drafting, negotiating, and reviewing contracts of all types, including some real estate. Approximately three to seven years of experience practicing law with a focus on contracts, public procurement, real estate, or education law is preferred but not required.

1. Drafts, negotiates, and reviews contracts
2. Assists with real estate transactions and related work
3. Identifies and prioritizes the response to various areas of legal risk and establishes a clearly understood framework for legal policies.
4. Receives and investigates inquiries and complaints from system and institutional administrators, including matters related to system policies.
5. Confers with system employees on matter involving legal interpretations and decisions related to institutional activities, policy questions and operating problems.
6. Conducts research on state and federal legislation and administrative and court decisions; investigates legal problems and makes recommendations.
7. Drafts, reviews and approves policies and procedures, bylaws, and other documents within legal specialty areas.
8. Educates system employees on relevant state and federal laws, policies, procedures, and regulations.
9. Prepares, reviews, and negotiates agreements for the Board of Regents and for system institutions.
10. Advises senior management on legal issues related to commercial matters.
11. Provides legal counsel and support to system departments and divisions.
12. Assists Secretary to the Board with Board duties.
13. Reviews and analyzes proposed legislation.
14. Performs related duties as assigned.

• J.D. from an ABA-accredited law school
• Current member of the Georgia Bar, or another state's bar and able to become licensed in the State of Georgia within one year after date of hire

• 3 - 7 years of experience actively practicing law

• Ability to work with many varying constituents, including but not limited to the Board of Regents, the Chancellor, the Chancellor's senior staff, Presidents of institutions within the University System of Georgia and their administrators
• Knowledge of board-level governance, functions, and relationships and history
• Knowledge of federal and state laws, rules and regulations impacting higher education
• Knowledge of state ethics and government transparency regulations
• Skill in written communication with executive and subject matter expert audiences and the news media
• Skill in collaborating with multiple constituents
• Skill in decision-making and problem-solving
• Skill in interpersonal relations and in dealing with the public
• Skills in oral and written communication
• Ability to conduct investigations and articulate findings and results of investigations
• Ability to respond diplomatically to sensitive and critical issues
• Ability to effectively multi-task

The University System of Georgia is comprised of our 26 institutions of higher education and learning as well as the System Office. Our USG Statement of Core Values are Integrity, Excellence, Accountability, and Respect. These values serve as the foundation for all that we do as an organization, and each USG community member is responsible for demonstrating and upholding these standards. More details on the USG Statement of Core Values and Code of Conduct are available in USG Board Policy 8.2.18.1.2 and can be found on-line at https://www.usg.edu/policymanual/section8/C224/#p8.2.18_personnel_conduct.

Additionally, USG supports Freedom of Expression as stated in Board Policy 6.5 Freedom of Expression and Academic Freedom found on-line at https://www.usg.edu/policymanual/section6/C2653.

Offers of employment are contingent upon completion of a background investigation including a criminal background check demonstrating your eligibility for employment with the University System Office as determined by the University System Office in its sole discretion; confirmation of the credentials and employment history reflected in your application materials; and, if applicable, a satisfactory credit check. Offers are made expressly subject to the applicable federal and state laws, to the statutes, rules and regulations of this institution and to the Bylaws and Policies of the Board of Regents (BOR) of the University System of Georgia (USG), which are available for your inspection upon request.