Assistant General Counsel

Occidental College; Los Angeles (CA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Occidental College seeks an experienced Assistant General Counsel to provide strategic legal counsel on labor, employment, and transactional matters. The role requires guiding campus leadership, ensuring regulatory compliance, and managing disputes with agility and sound judgment.

The position involves drafting agreements, developing governance documents, and advising on risk mitigation within a dynamic higher education setting.

Qualifications

• Requires a J.D. from an accredited law school and admission to practice in California or eligibility for in-house counsel.
• Significant experience advising on labor and employment matters, including counseling, investigations, compliance, and dispute resolution.
• Strong knowledge of California and federal labor and employment laws and regulations.

Responsibilities

• Advise clients on employment and labor relations, including discrimination, harassment, leave management, and wage/hour issues, in a regulated environment.
• Provide risk management, compliance counseling, and mitigate legal and reputational risks for campus initiatives.
• Investigate and respond to employment-related claims and oversee litigation with outside counsel as needed.
• Draft and review policies, handbooks, bylaws, and legal memoranda to ensure clarity and compliance.
• Serve on committees and negotiate contracts and legal agreements on behalf of the College.
• Represent the College in administrative proceedings and private dispute resolution as required.

Skills

Communication

Discretion & judgment

Time management

Project management

Independent & collaborative

Education

Juris Doctor (J.D.)

California Bar admission or eligibility

Tools

Microsoft Office

Google Workspace

Adobe Acrobat

Web editing tools

Job description

Title: Assistant General Counsel

Department: Office of the General Counsel

Duration: Indefinite

Employment Status: Exempt, Full-Time

Job Summary

Reporting to the General Counsel, the Assistant General Counsel provides strategic legal counsel to the College on a broad range of labor, employment, and transactional matters, ensuring compliance with applicable federal, state, and local laws and regulations. The Assistant General Counsel advises campus leaders on employment, risk management, and institutional initiatives; represents the College in administrative proceedings and other legal matters; and oversees employment-related disputes and litigation. The Assistant General Counsel drafts and negotiates agreements, develops and reviews policies and governance documents, and supports the College's mission by providing practical, solution-oriented legal guidance while proactively identifying and mitigating legal and reputational risks. Success in this position requires strong legal judgment, sound discretion, exceptional client service, and the ability to manage complex, competing priorities in a dynamic higher education environment.

Required Application Materials: Resume and Cover Letter

Job Duties

• 45% - Advise clients on all aspects of employment and labor relations, including discrimination, harassment, reasonable accommodations, leave management, wage and hour issues, workers' compensation, and labor relations, in a highly regulated environment subject to evolving federal, California, and local laws. Represent the College before various federal and state agencies, including the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL), the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), the California Civil Rights Department (CRD), the California Department of Industrial Relations (DIR), and the California Division of Labor Standards Enforcement (DLSE), as well as in private arbitration and mediation proceedings. May be required to represent the College in civil court to obtain injunctions and restraining orders. - (Essential)
• 15% - Provide employment, risk management, and compliance counseling in support of various College initiatives. Proactively identify and assess potential legal and reputational risks and recommend practical, creative solutions to mitigate those risks. - (Essential)
• 15% - Investigate and respond to employment-related claims filed by government agencies and individuals. Defend the College in pre-litigation disputes to minimize litigation exposure. Oversee litigation matters in coordination with outside counsel at the direction of the General Counsel. - (Essential)
• 10% - Draft and review College policies, handbooks, and bylaws to ensure completeness, clarity, and compliance with applicable laws, regulations, and best practices, with a focus on labor and employment matters and other College operations. Develop legal memoranda and guidance documents, including questions and answers, to explain policies, procedures, and legal requirements. - (Essential)
• 5% - Serve on College committees and working groups as assigned. - (Essential)
• 5% - Draft, review, and negotiate contracts and other legal agreements on behalf of the College. - (Essential)

Minimum Qualifications

• Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree from an accredited law school.
• Four years of experience practicing law, with significant experience advising on labor and employment matters, including employment counseling, workplace investigations, regulatory compliance, litigation management, and dispute resolution.
• Demonstrated expertise in California and federal labor and employment laws and regulations, including experience advising on employment matters, compliance issues, and related legal risks.
• Admission to practice law in the State of California or another U.S. jurisdiction, with the ability to qualify as Registered In-House Counsel in California upon commencement of employment.
• Strong client service skills with the ability to manage competing priorities, complex projects, and a broad range of client needs effectively in a dynamic academic environment.
• Demonstrated discretion, flexibility, sound judgment, and the ability to handle confidential and sensitive matters with professionalism.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively within the parameters of specific and general assignments.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint), Google Drive/Docs/Forms, Adobe Acrobat, web editing tools, social media applications, and other productivity software applicable to position responsibilities.
• Strong attention to detail with the ability to anticipate and prevent potential issues, manage multiple tasks efficiently, and deliver accurate, high-quality work products.
• Excellent verbal, written, and electronic communication skills, with the ability to effectively collaborate with diverse constituencies across all levels of the College.
• Demonstrated commitment to justice, equity, inclusion, and diversity.
• Ability to adapt and perform effectively in a high-volume, high-accountability, confidential environment with multiple and changing priorities.
• Strong organizational, time management, planning, and project management skills, with the ability to prioritize and manage multiple assignments while meeting deadlines.
• Demonstrated ability to provide effective leadership, guidance, and training and to work professionally across functions, disciplines, levels, and with diverse groups.

EXPECTED HIRING RANGE: $120,000/yr-$150,000/yr

If you are offered this position at Occidental College, your final base salary compensation will be determined based on factors such as skills, education, experience, and/or geographic location. In addition to those factors, Occidental complies with applicable pay equity laws and considers internal equity among current employees when developing the final offer. Please keep in mind that the range mentioned above is the base salary range for the role. Hiring at the maximum of the range would not be typical in order to allow for future and continued salary growth. We also offer a generous compensation and benefits package.