Legal Counsel

University System of Georgia; Atlanta (GA); On-site; USD 110,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

The University System of Georgia seeks a Legal Counsel to primarily handle transactional work, including reviewing, negotiating, and drafting contracts for the USG and its Foundation partners. The role also serves as the HIPAA privacy officer and may assist with Open Records Act responses.

You will report to an Assistant Vice Chancellor for Legal Affairs in the USO, working with attorneys and staff across the system on governance, policy, and compliance matters.

Qualifications

• J.D. from ABA-accredited law school and Georgia Bar admission, or eligibility within one year.
• Legal experience in government or higher education is preferred but not required.
• 3–7 years actively practicing law.

Responsibilities

• Handle transactional legal work, including contracts, with coordination from leadership.
• Review, negotiate, revise, and draft contracts and related documents.
• Identify legal risks and establish a framework for policies.
• Serve as HIPAA privacy officer for the USO.
• Consult with staff on legal interpretations and regulatory issues.
• Conduct legal research on state and federal laws and court decisions.
• Draft and approve policies, bylaws, and related documents.
• Educate staff on applicable laws and regulations.
• Provide legal counsel to system departments and divisions.
• Assist with Open Records Act responses.

Skills

Contract negotiation

Legal research

HIPAA privacy

Regulatory compliance

Open Records Act responses

Policy analysis

Team collaboration

Education

J.D. from ABA-accredited law school

Georgia Bar admission or eligible within 1 year

Job description

Job Title: Legal Counsel

Location: USO-TW Building ATL

Regular/Temporary: Regular

Full/Part Time: Full-Time

Job ID: 303963

About Us

The University System of Georgia (USG) is comprised of 25 higher education institutions as well as the University System Office (USO). Within the USO, our administrative operations are primarily housed in the Trinity Washington Building located in downtown Atlanta. Our Information Technology Services (ITS) division is located in Athens. The University System of Georgia Shared Services Center (SSC) is located in Sandersville. The Georgia Public Library Service is located in Atlanta. The Georgia Archives is located in Morrow. The State of Georgia Records Center is located in Austell.

Location

University System Office - 270 Washington Street, SW, Atlanta, GA 30334

Department Information

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 25 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. This Legal Counsel position will work as part of a collaborative team of attorneys and support staff at the USO.

Job Summary

The University System of Georgia (USG) is accepting applications for a Legal Counsel position. This position will primarily focus on transactional work such as reviewing, negotiating, and drafting contracts. Some of this transactional work will involve the USG Foundation, which is a 501(c)(3) cooperative partner of the USG and a philanthropic foundation that raises and manages donations to support need-based college scholarships. This position will also serve as the USO's HIPAA privacy officer and may assist at times with handling Open Records Act responses. The position will report to an Assistant Vice Chancellor for Legal Affairs in the USO.

Responsibilities

• Handles transactional legal work for the University System Office, including work involving the USG Foundation, in coordination with an Assistant Vice Chancellor for Legal Affairs.
• Reviews, negotiates, revises, and drafts contracts and other documents.

• Identifies and prioritizes the response to various areas of legal risk and establishes a clearly understood framework for legal policies.

• Serves as the University System Office's HIPAA privacy officer.
• Confers with system employees on matters involving legal interpretations and decisions related to institutional activities, policy questions and operating problems.
• Conducts research on state and federal legislation and administrative and court decisions; investigates legal problems and makes recommendations.
• Drafts, reviews and approves policies and procedures, bylaws, and other documents within legal specialty areas.
• Educates system employees on relevant state and federal laws, policies, procedures, and regulations.
• Provides legal counsel and support to system departments and divisions.
• Assists with Open Records Act responses
• Performs related duties as assigned
  

Required Qualifications

• 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
  

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in government and/or higher education is preferred but not required.
• 3 - 7 years of experience actively practicing law.
  

Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities

• 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 and functions

• 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 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
  

USG Core Values

The University System of Georgia is comprised of our 25 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.

Conditions of Employment

Offers of employment are subject to federal and state laws, as well as the statutes, rules and regulations of this organization, and the Bylaws and Policies of the Board of Regents (BOR) of the University System of Georgia (USG). These Bylaws and Policies are available for inspection upon request.

Equal Employment Opportunity

The University System Office is an equal employment, equal access, and equal opportunity employer. It is the policy of the University System Office to recruit, hire, train, and promote persons without regard to an individual's age, color, disability, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex, or veteran status as required by applicable state and federal laws.

For questions or more detailed information regarding this policy, please contact the University System Office Human Resources at 404.962.3242. Individuals requiring disability related accommodations for participation in any event or to obtain print materials in an alternative format, please contact Human Resources.

Background Check

Offers of employment are subject to a background investigation, including criminal records history, to determine eligibility for employment. Additionally, credentials and employment history stated in your application materials are also subject to verification.

For certain positions, a satisfactory credit check, MVR, or other relevant investigations may also be conducted. The University System Office holds the sole discretion in assessing eligibility for employment.