General Counsel
Douglas County School District
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Benefits offered by this job
Job summary
Douglas County School District in Wilcox, Colorado seeks a General Counsel to serve as the principal legal advisor for the Board of Education, Superintendent and senior staff. The role includes managing contracts, intergovernmental agreements, policy compliance, and legal training for district staff.
The position requires at least ten years in law, a J.D., and a license to practice in Colorado, with in-depth experience in education law and litigation. Travel within the district is expected.
Qualifications
- At least ten years professional experience in the practice of law.
- Experience representing education entities regarding general school law issues.
- Experience representing corporate or public entities regarding constitutional, employment, or public sector law issues.
- Experience conducting litigation before administrative agencies and courts.
Responsibilities
- Manage and support the legal review of contracts and intergovernmental agreements entered into on behalf of the School District.
- Maintain knowledge of the operations of the school district.
- Manage the maintenance of files and retrieval systems of legal information consistent with school district policy and procedures as appropriate.
- Support the development and implementation of legal training to School District staff and administration on various legal topics concerning practical application of the law and policy obligations to job responsibilities of administrators, teachers and staff.
- Perform Other Duties As Assigned Or Requested.
- Ensure Superintendent’s School District-wide climate and culture principles are embedded in Legal Department employee practices and, where appropriate, in advice given to administrative staff.
- Manage the competence and professionalism of the legal staff providing legal services to the District in the various areas of school law applicable to the business of the District.
Skills
Education
Job description
General Counsel
The District’s General Counsel is the principal legal advisor on legal matters impacting the Douglas County School District RE-1 (the “District”) providing full time, direct professional legal counsel and representation for the Board of Education, Superintendent, Cabinet and senior staff.
- Criminal background check and fingerprinting required for hire
- Mostly clean and comfortable
- Occasional lifting five (5) to ten (10) pounds
- Frequent sitting
- Occasional bending, squatting, or standing
Requires travel around 900 square mile district using personal vehicle
Lead attorneys and staff in the Legal Department as to competency and professionalism through day-to-day supervision and regular evaluation.
- Manage and support the legal review of contracts and intergovernmental agreements entered into on behalf of the School District.
- Maintain knowledge of the operations of the school district.
- Manage the maintenance of files and retrieval systems of legal information consistent with school district policy and procedures as appropriate.
- Support the development and implementation of legal training to School District staff and administration on various legal topics concerning practical application of the law and policy obligations to job responsibilities of administrators, teachers and staff.
- Perform Other Duties As Assigned Or Requested.
- Ensure Superintendent’s School District-wide climate and culture principles are embedded in Legal Department employee practices and, where appropriate, in advice given to administrative staff.
- Manage the competence and professionalism of the legal staff providing legal services to the District in the various areas of school law applicable to the business of the District. Assure that competent legal counsel is available to provide legal advice and counsel on the following areas of law, among others: federal and state labor and employment laws such as Title VII, FMLA, ADA, FLSA; the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA); Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act; Family Education Rights to Privacy Act (FERPA); Colorado’s Sunshine and Public Records Law; federal and state laws applicable to student rights, responsibilities and discipline; student and employee speech (First Amendment), educational accountability and the education programs of the District; facilities use; construction law; general litigation; and the Colorado Charter Schools Act.
- Manage, direct and support the attorneys assigned to represent the School District in litigation, suits or actions instituted by or against the School District, the Board of Education, school administrators, and/or employees, including suits filed in state or federal court or administrative agencies.
- Assign, review, and approve work of outside counsel in the provision of legal services to the District.
- Manage and/or direct the investigation and research of existing and/or emerging issues with legal and/or policy implications for the School District and cause the Superintendent to be advised accordingly.
- Assure that sufficient and appropriate resources are available to the Department’s attorneys and staff to effectively support the needs of the School District.
- Advise the Board and Superintendent of the legality of contemplated actions and current policies and practices of the School District.
- Manage the review and revision of Board and Superintendent File District policies and procedures to assure compliance with state and federal laws.
- Manage, direct, and/or provide oral and/or written legal opinions to afford the School Board, Superintendent and other departmental and school site administrators are provided legal counseling and advice on legal questions pertaining to the business of the School District, including legal issues involving students, staff and the community.
At least ten (10) years professional experience in the practice of law which includes experience representing education entities regarding general school law issues and/or experience representing corporate or public entities with respect to constitutional, employment, or public sector law issues, and/or other comparable legal experience.| Required Experience and skill in conducting litigation before administrative agencies and courts.| Required Experience representing clients in litigation, negotiation, mediation, and administrative hearings.| Required Significant experience advising education sector clients on general school law issues.| Required
Licensed Active Attorney - Colorado Supreme Court
Bachelor's Degree (Required), Juris Doctorate Degree (Required)
Highly effective ability to: analyze the multitude of legal issues impacting a large public school district and communicate effectively orally and in writing, including communicating legal opinions in oral and written form
Regular
Wilcox
No
40
1.00
- (260 days indicates a year-round position. Time off [or Off-Track Days] are then granted based on the position. Any exceptions to the normal off-track time will be noted in the Additional Position Details section above, as scheduled work days.)
$150,265.77 USD Annual
- All salary amounts listed above are based on a full-time (1.0) FTE. If applicable, part-time salaries will be prorated according to the assigned FTE.
$193,167.79 USD Annual
- All salary amounts listed above are based on a full-time (1.0) FTE. If applicable, part-time salaries will be prorated according to the assigned FTE.
$150,265.77 USD - $236,069.82 USD Annual
- All salary amounts listed above are based on a full-time (1.0) FTE. If applicable, part-time salaries will be prorated according to the assigned FTE.
- health, vision, dental, health savings account (HSA), flexible spending accounts (FSA), District paid and voluntary additional (supplemental) life and accidental death and dismemberment insurance, short and long-term disability, critical illness and accident voluntary insurance, employee assistance program (EAP), voluntary 401(k), 403(b) and 457 retirement plan options.
- There is also a voluntary 403(b) savings plan with up to 4% District match for up to 5 years from date of hire.
Paid time off.
This position will be open until filled, but will not be open past: August 28, 2026
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