Associate General Counsel

Drexel University; Pennsylvania; Hybrid; USD 143,000 - 215,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work arrangement

Job summary

Drexel University’s Office of the General Counsel seeks an experienced Associate General Counsel to manage real estate, transactional, and policy matters. You will provide high‑level legal guidance to university leadership and coordinate with outside counsel as needed.

The role requires a J.D. from an ABA‑accredited school, at least 7 years in complex real estate and higher education law, and active PA Bar status or eligibility.

Qualifications

• J.D. from ABA‑accredited law school with strong academic record.
• Minimum 7 years as a practicing attorney with expertise in complex real estate transactions and higher education.
• Experience reviewing, negotiating and drafting commercial contracts and documents.
• Active member of the Pennsylvania Bar, or eligible for immediate membership.
• Strong analytical, written and verbal communication skills; ability to work in a fast-paced environment.

Responsibilities

• Oversee all real estate transactions for the university.
• Negotiate, draft and review commercial contracts on behalf of the university.
• Assist with drafting and revision of university policies and procedures.
• Prepare training materials for internal education and workshops.
• Provide independent advice to stakeholders on a multi‑million-dollar enterprise within higher education.
• Coordinate with outside counsel and supervise external legal support.
• Draft policies and counsel clients on contracting, risk management and procurement.

Skills

Real estate transactions

Higher education law

Contract negotiation

Legal research

Written & verbal communication

Relationship building

Evenings & weekend work

Education

J.D. from ABA‑accredited law school

Active PA Bar or eligible

Job description

Job Summary

This position reports to the Senior Vice President and General Counsel. The Office of the General Counsel (OGC) handles a full range of legal issues for the University, including serving as counsel to the institution's Board of Trustees, providing counsel and advice to the President, Provost, Senior Administrative Officers, Vice Presidents, Deans and other officers and senior administrators. The Associate General Counsel, like all attorneys in the OGC, performs a wide range of legal assignments under the supervision of the Senior Vice President and General Counsel, including but not limited to: corporate law and governance; privacy, academic, commercial, software and real estate transactional matters; policy drafting; compliance and risk management; and advising on the application and interpretation of pertinent federal, state and local laws. The OGC engages and supervises outside counsel for assistance on complex matters and court litigation.

The OGC is a dynamic, fast-paced environment. All University attorneys are expected to work at the highest professional level with integrity, excellent judgment, attention to detail, and discretion, and to demonstrate the highest personal and leadership characteristics of teamwork, inclusiveness, calmness, and adaptability to a broad range of issues, people, and situations.

Specific areas of practice will include: complex contracting and transactional work, tax and non-profit law, real estate transactions, which includes 1) advising university leadership on campus acquisitions, dispositions, leases, easements, facility use agreements, development agreements, public-private partnerships, and facilities-related matters, 2) supporting academic, research, housing, and commercial real estate projects by negotiating agreements and ensuring compliance with institutional policies and regulatory requirements, and 3) coordinating legal review of construction, architecture, engineering, and facilities contracts for campus development projects.

This is a hybrid position, working in person throughout the week as needed.

Essential Functions

• Manage and oversee all real estate transactions for the university.
• Negotiation, drafting and review of commercial contracts and transactions on behalf of the university.
• Assist with the drafting and revision of university policies and procedures.
• Assist with the preparation of training materials for the OGC to educate the university community at workshops, seminars, departmental meetings or other venues.
• Work closely with the Senior Vice President and General Counsel to support the University’s business and academic operations.
• Provide independent advice, counsel and assistance on a wide variety of issues to multiple stakeholders that arise in a multi-million-dollar enterprise and/or a large research institution of higher education.
• Give accurate and timely counsel and advice to clients in a variety of legal topics.
• Collaborate with clients to devise effective defense strategies for partnerships, transactions and initiatives.
• Draft policies and procedures, and counsel clients to resolve legal, procedural and administrative issues and ensure compliance with all applicable legal requirements.
• Counsel clients on contracting, business, risk management and procurement issues.
• Negotiate, draft and interpret contracts of varying complexities and provide high-quality legal and strategic advice regarding the full spectrum of transactional issues.
• Act as the Office's liaison with other areas as assigned by the Senior Vice President and General Counsel.
• Conduct legal research and analysis and monitor developments in relevant areas of the law and regulations by keeping current on legal literature, networking with other attorneys, and attending conferences and seminars.
• Support effective and efficient use, coordination and management of outside counsel.
• Provide training to the University on legal topics.
• Other duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications

• Minimum of a Law Degreefrom an ABA-accredited law school with a strong academic record.
• Minimum of 7 years of experience as a practicing attorney, including a combination of experience in complex real estate transactions and higher education.
• Substantial experience in other commercial contracts and transactions, including the review, negotiation and drafting of relevant agreements and documents.
• Active member of the Pennsylvania Bar, or eligible for immediate membership.
• Strong analytical skillswith sound legal and practical judgment.
• Effective communication (written and verbal), interpersonal and presentation skills.
• Effective legal research and writing skills.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment, and on multiple projects with multiple clients.
• Knowledge of the principles and procedures of legal research, with ability to conduct legal research.
• Enthusiasm for university life, and the confidence necessary to engage with high-level administrative and academic officials in a fast-paced setting.
• Ability to create, compose and edit legal opinions and other written materials.
• Ability to investigate and analyze information and draw conclusions.
• Ability to operate smoothly and effectively in a group setting.
• Ability to build and maintain relationships.
• Ability to work evenings and weekends as needed.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience providing legal representation to colleges or universities, either as an in-house attorney or as an outside attorney.

Location

• Hybrid/Flexible Work Arrangement

Additional Information

This position is classified as Exempt, grade P. Compensation for this grade ranges from$143,200 - $214,800 per year. Please note that the offered rate for thisposition will vary based on thesuccessful candidate’s qualifications and experience, department budget, and an internal equity review.

Applicants are encouraged to explore the Professional Staff salary structure and Compensation Guidelines & Policies for more details on Drexel’s compensation framework. For information about benefits, please review Drexel’s Benefits Brochure.

A review of applicants will begin once a suitable candidate pool is identified.