Principal Campus Counsel

University of California - Los Angeles (UCLA); Los Angeles (CA); Hybrid; USD 180,000 - 230,000; Full time

Job summary

UCLA seeks an accomplished labor and employment attorney to serve as Principal Campus Counsel / Clinical Employment Attorney. You will provide strategic guidance to leaders across UCLA's clinical enterprise and address complex matters within a large academic health system.

The role requires a JD from an ABA-accredited school and CA Bar admission, with at least eight years of relevant experience. Hybrid schedule; liaison with HR, faculty, physicians and management.

Qualifications

• J.D. from ABA-accredited institution and CA Bar membership in good standing.
• Minimum eight years of employment or labor law experience.
• Knowledge of federal and California labor and employment law.
• Experience in education, health care or academic settings preferred.
• Ability to navigate complex institutional environments and disputes.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic legal advice on labor and employment matters across UCLA's clinical enterprise.
• Monitor legislation, regulations, and case law; draft analyses and opinions.
• Represent the university in proceedings; negotiate matters and coordinate with outside counsel.
• Train leaders and stakeholders; support conflict resolution and mediation.

Skills

Labor & employment law

Strategic thinking

Analytical reasoning

Communication skills

Conflict resolution

Education

J.D. from ABA-accredited school

Active California Bar admission

Job description

Hybrid work schedule; currently on-site work 2-3 days per week with remote work the remainder of the work week. However, the number of days on site may be increased and the specific days of on site work may change at the discretion of the department.

Department Summary

As members of the Office of the General Counsel of The Regents of the University of California (OGC), the UCLA attorneys who comprise the staff of the Office of Legal Affairs provide legal services to the UCLA campus and UCLA health sciences.

Position Summary

The University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) is seeking an accomplished, strategic and collaborative attorney with deep labor and employment law expertise to serve as Principal Campus Counsel / Clinical Employment Attorney (Principal Campus Counsel).

Reporting under the general direction of the Vice Chancellor, Legal Affairs and Chief Campus Counsel, the Principal Campus Counsel will serve as a trusted legal advisor to leaders across UCLA's clinical enterprise. This highly visible role offers the opportunity to address sophisticated legal matters within a complex academic health system while helping UCLA advance its clinical, operational and institutional priorities.

Position Overview

The Principal Campus Counsel will provide strategic legal advice on a broad range of complex labor and employment matters, including discrimination, harassment and retaliation; disability and workplace accommodations; wage and hour compliance; leaves of absence; discipline and termination; workplace violence; immigration; constitutional rights; privacy; conflicts of interest; and other matters affecting the workplace.

The role will support UCLA's extensive clinical enterprise, including its hospitals and ambulatory clinics throughout Southern California, and will work closely with senior leaders, human resources professionals, faculty, physicians and management.

Key Responsibilities

The Principal Campus Counsel will advise senior leaders and other stakeholders on the legal implications of employment practices, organizational decisions and proposed changes. The role will monitor developments in legislation, regulations and case law; prepare legal opinions and other legal analyses; and help ensure that UCLA's practices and procedures remain responsive to evolving legal requirements and University policies.

As appropriate, the Principal Campus Counsel may represent the University in administrative proceedings or litigation, negotiate matters on behalf of The Regents, participate in investigations and serve as a liaison with outside counsel. The position will also collaborate with colleagues across UCLA, the University of California Office of the President and other University of California Health Sciences locations on matters with broader institutional implications.

In addition, the Principal Campus Counsel will provide training and guidance to leaders and other stakeholders and will play an important role in conflict resolution and mediation. Across these responsibilities, the Principal Campus Counsel will be expected to exercise sophisticated legal judgment while balancing legal, operational and organizational considerations.

Candidate Profile

The ideal candidate will be a seasoned employment and labor attorney who combines sophisticated legal expertise and sound judgment with a pragmatic, solutions-oriented approach. Successful candidates will

demonstrate strategic thinking, exceptional analytical and problem-solving capabilities, and the ability to navigate complex and sensitive matters with discretion and confidence.

Exceptional written and oral communication skills are essential, as is the ability to translate complex legal issues into clear, actionable guidance for senior leaders and other stakeholders. The successful candidate will be an effective relationship builder who can establish credibility and trust with a diverse range of constituents and work collaboratively across organizational and professional boundaries.

A collegial and collaborative working style, strong interpersonal judgment, and demonstrated effectiveness in conflict resolution and mediation will be important to success in this role.

Qualifications

Candidates must hold a J.D. from an ABA-accredited institution and be an active member in good standing of the State Bar of California or be eligible for immediate membership.

A minimum of eight years of employment and/or labor law experience, or an equivalent combination of education and experience, is required, along with substantial knowledge of federal and California labor and employment law.

The successful candidate will bring experience applying employment and labor law within a complex institutional environment. Relevant experience may include matters involving medical accreditation and credentialing, risk management, traditional labor law, public or governmental entities and/or litigation.

Experience working in a health care environment is preferred.

• Minimum 8 years employment and/or labor law experience or equivalent combination of education and experience. (Required)
• Experience in an academic setting. (Preferred)
• Substantial knowledge of federal/state labor and employment laws including the Fair Employment and Housing Act, Americans With Disabilities Act, Age Discrimination in Employment Act, Family and Medical Leave Act, California Family Rights Act, and the Fair Labor Standards Act. (Required)
• Substantial knowledge of federal/state labor and employment laws including the Higher Education Employer-Employee Relations Act or the National Labor Relations Act, as well as privacy, First Amendment, and whistleblower issues. (Required)
• Experience in employment law as applied in the context of educational institutions, academic personnel, research compliance, accreditation, international agreements, risk management, public/governmental entities, and litigation. (Required)
• Demonstrated effectiveness in conflict resolution and mediation processes. (Required)
• Demonstrated effective oral and written communication skills. (Required)
• Demonstrated strategic thinking, analytical, organizational and problem-solving skills. (Required)
• Demonstrated ability to develop and maintain effective working relationships with senior leadership and a diverse range of constituents, including faculty, staff, and students. (Required)
• Workplace style that emphasizes collaboration, teamwork and facilitation. (Required)

Education, Licenses, Certifications & Personal Affiliations

• Juris Doctor (JD) Degree from an ABA accredited institution and active membership in good standing of the State Bar of California (or eligible for immediate membership). (Required)

Special Conditions for Employment

• Background Check: Continued employment is contingent upon the completion of a satisfactory background investigation.
• Live Scan Background Check: A Live Scan background check must be completed prior to the start of employment.
• Conflict of Interest: The position is subject to the University Conflict of Interest Code required by the Political Reform Act of 1974. The candidate(s) selected will be required to complete financial statements for public record.

Schedule

8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Union/Policy Covered

99-Policy Covered

Salary & Compensation

*UCLA provides a full pay range. Actual salary offers consider factors, including budget, prior experience, skills, knowledge, abilities, education, licensure and certifications, and other business considerations. Salary offers at the top of the range are not common. Visit UC Benefit package to discover benefits that start on day one, and UC Total Compensation Estimator to calculate the total compensation value with benefits.