Assistant General Counsel, Higher Education & Compliance

Westcliff University; Irvine (CA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Westcliff University seeks an Assistant General Counsel to support the General Counsel in providing legal advice across a broad range of university matters. This is a generalist in-house counsel role for a lawyer with strong drafting skills and sound judgment in a fast-paced higher education environment.

The Assistant General Counsel will assist with employment, student privacy, governance, and regulatory compliance, translating legal analysis into practical guidance for university leaders and

Qualifications

• Active bar membership in good standing in California, or ability to satisfy applicable requirements for lawful in-house practice.
• Approximately 3–4 years of relevant legal experience.
• Excellent legal writing, editing, and verbal communication skills.
• Experience drafting, reviewing, or negotiating contracts.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines with careful attention to detail.
• Ability to work professionally and collaboratively with executives, administrators, faculty, and staff.
• Discretion in handling sensitive and confidential matters.

Responsibilities

• Reviewing, drafting, revising, and negotiating a wide variety of agreements, including vendor, services, consulting, licensing, academic partnership, and other institutional contracts
• Conducting legal research and preparing memoranda, email guidance, talking points, templates, and other practical legal work product
• Advising internal clients on legal and compliance issues affecting university operations
• Assisting with employment-related matters, including policy interpretation, workplace issues, investigations support, discipline-related questions, and coordination with Human Resources
• Assisting with student-facing legal matters, including privacy, conduct, accommodations, and related risk-management issues
• Supporting legal work relating to higher education regulation, state authorization, accreditation-sensitive matters, and institutional compliance
• Assisting with governance matters, including board and committee materials, bylaws, resolutions, and corporate records
• Supporting dispute management, claims, subpoena responses, and coordination with outside counsel
• Assisting with privacy, data governance, and emerging technology issues, including AI-related legal questions
• Participating in due diligence, transactional support, and post-closing integration work as needed
• Helping to develop, revise, and maintain policies, procedures, forms, and training materials
• Performing other related duties as assigned by the General Counsel
• Handles other projects and tasks as needed

Skills

Excellent legal writing

Verbal communication

Analytical ability

Practical judgment

Contract drafting

Negotiation

Multiple priorities

Client-service orientation

Interpersonal skills

Education

J.D. from accredited law school

Job description

Westcliff University seeks an Assistant General Counsel to support the General Counsel in providing legal advice across a broad range of university matters. This is a generalist in-house counsel role for a lawyer with strong drafting skills and sound judgment in a fast-paced higher education environment.

The Assistant General Counsel will assist with employment, student privacy, governance, and regulatory compliance, translating legal analysis into practical guidance for university leaders and