Senior Counsel

NU National University; California; Hybrid; USD 90,000 - 121,000; Full time

Job summary

National University seeks an experienced Senior Counsel to provide broad employment law guidance across the university. You will advise HR on employee relations, investigations, wage and hour matters, and policy interpretation, while handling pre-litigation and ongoing litigation matters with external counsel.

The role requires strong judgment, the ability to manage complex matters independently, and a proactive approach to adopting compliant legal technologies and innovative service delivery.

Qualifications

• Juris Doctorate from an accredited law school is required.
• Active bar membership with preference for California licensure.
• Five or more years of relevant in-house or higher education law experience.

Responsibilities

• Provide business-oriented legal advice to university leadership.
• Serve as primary legal advisor to Human Resources on employment matters.
• Manage the university's litigation portfolio and outside counsel.
• Coordinate discovery and document preservation efforts.
• Leverage legal technology to improve service delivery and efficiency.

Education

Juris Doctorate from an accredited Law School

Active bar membership

Job description

Compensation

Compensation Range: Annual Salary: $89,520.00 - $120,850.00

Position Summary

Under general supervision, the Senior Counsel provides legal advice and support across a broad range of university matters, with primary responsibility for employment law counseling, litigation and dispute management, and student-related legal issues and escalations. Serving as a trusted partner to university leadership and key stakeholders, the Senior Counsel delivers practical, risk-based guidance that advances institutional objectives while ensuring legal and regulatory compliance. The role requires strong judgment, initiative, and the ability to manage complex matters independently in a dynamic environment. The Senior Counsel also embraces innovation in legal service delivery, including the effective and responsible use of artificial intelligence and other emerging technologies to enhance efficiency, effectiveness, and client service.

Essential Functions

• Provides practical, business-oriented legal advice and counsel to university leadership and departments on a wide variety of legal, regulatory, and operational matters.
• Serves as the primary legal advisor to Human Resources on employment-related matters, including employee relations, workplace investigations, policy interpretation, performance management, accommodations, leaves of absence, wage and hour compliance, and employee separations.
• Manages the University’s litigation portfolio, including pre-litigation disputes, administrative agency matters, subpoenas, claims, threatened litigation, and active litigation.
• Coordinates litigation strategy, overseeing discovery and document preservation efforts.
• Manages and oversees outside counsel and other legal service providers to ensure high-quality representation, efficient matter management, and effective stewardship of university resources.
• Advises university leaders on student-related legal issues and high-level student escalations, including disputes, complaints, appeals, conduct issues, and other matters affecting student experience and institutional risk.
• Conducts legal research and analysis and provides timely guidance regarding federal, state, and local laws and regulations affecting higher education operations.
• Drafts, reviews, negotiates, and revises a variety of settlement documents, policies, correspondence, and other legal documents.
• Collaborates with university departments to identify, assess, and mitigate legal and operational risks while supporting strategic initiatives and organizational objectives.
• Leverages legal technology solutions, including artificial intelligence tools, document automation, and other emerging technologies, to improve the efficiency, quality, and delivery of legal services while ensuring responsible and compliant use.
• Champions innovation and continuous improvement within the legal function by evaluating and adopting new tools, processes, and technologies that enhance effectiveness, productivity, and client service.
• Partners in mentoring of legal support staff. This may include supervising junior Counsel, paralegal, and support staff as assigned.
• Ensures that all files and documents are maintained in accordance with office and university retention policies, protocols, and procedures, with accuracy, thoroughness, and timeliness.
• Participates in projects, other high-level initiatives, and general legal matters as assigned.
• Exhibits initiative, leadership potential, and consistent delivery on complex legal matters.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Supervisory Responsibilities

May supervise and mentor junior Counsel and legal support staff.

Requirements

Education & Experience: Juris Doctorate from an accredited Law School required. Active bar membership with preference for California license, or multi-state practice. Five (5) plus years of relevant legal experience with increasing complexity and scope required. Three (3) years of previous experience as in-house Counsel preferred. Experience in higher education preferred. Experience working in a technology-driven enterprise preferred. All skills, abilities, and education will be considered for minimum qualifications.

Competencies/Technical/Functional Skills

Demonstrated ability to produce high quality work product within tight deadlines. Excellent research, writing, and communication skills are required. Ability to learn and apply new legal principles, manage a sizeable volume of work and deadlines, and respond to the needs of various client representatives are key. Diligent, hard-working, and a thinker who thrives in and can contribute to the office’s fast-paced, collegial team environment. Demonstrated ability to edit and review legal documents and identify inaccuracies and omissions. Proficiency with the formatting of legal pleadings/documents in accordance with state and federal rules, with a working knowledge of the preparation and processing requirements of the same. Ability to make independent decisions and solve problems, with a particular emphasis on interpreting and applying specialized and complex University policies and procedures. Strong customer service skill set with a very high level of diplomacy and professionalism. Ability to play close attention to accuracy and detail. Ability to work in a very fast-paced environment with numerous interruptions and frequently changing deadlines. Ability to effectively communicate information in a clear and understandable manner, both verbally and in writing. Highly proficient written communication skills with the ability to compose and edit complex correspondence and documents, demonstrating a thorough knowledge of English grammar, spelling, and punctuation. Ability to work both independently and in a specific direction. Strong strategic and analytic skills with the ability to research, analyze, and report on various issues, policies, and procedures, and to recommend enhancements as necessary. Excellent organizational and time management skills with demonstrated skill in planning and organizing own work, setting own priorities, and coordinating multiple assignments with fluctuating and time-sensitive deadlines with accountability for results. Working knowledge of/or ability to quickly learn University infrastructure, policies, and procedures. Ability to interpret, communicate, and apply policies and procedures. Excellent computer skills and proficiency with a variety of computer/technology platforms and applications including word-processing, spreadsheets, databases, on-line systems, Internet as well as online calendar and email, including Microsoft Office, Office 365, and Adobe. Ability to initiate, establish, and foster communication and teamwork by maintaining a positive, cooperative, and productive work atmosphere within and outside the University with the ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships within a diverse population and with those from various cultural backgrounds, utilizing a customer-oriented and service-centered attitude. Ability to use tact and diplomacy to effectively handle a broad range of complex legal operations and sensitive interpersonal situations with diverse personalities, and to respond appropriately to conflicts and problems as they arise. Demonstrated ability to maintain the highest level of confidentiality about materials and sensitive issues such as personnel actions, grievances, contract negotiations, management strategy related to collective bargaining, and projects and lawsuits. Ability to analyze unique problems by using sound reasoning and the highest level of judgment and discretion in handling the day-to-day activities of the Legal Department.

Location

Remote, USA Travel: Travel seldom required #LI-Remote Candidate receiving offers will be offered a salary/pay rate commensurate with experience that vary based on a candidate’s qualifications, skills, and competencies. Absent exceptional circumstances, candidates will be offered a salary within this range for this position. The minimum salary will be offered based on the minimum exemption threshold based on state of residency. Base pay is one component of National University’s total rewards package, as we are dedicated to supporting the needs of the “whole you” with our holistic approach to employee benefits by offering comprehensive well-being benefits for you and your family. For full details about our benefit plan offerings, please visit benefits.nu.edu. National University is committed to maintaining a high-quality workforce representative of the populations we serve. National University employs more than 4,500 faculty and staff and serves over 45,000 students. We are united in our mission to meet the global education demands of the 21st Century and are dedicated to creating a supportive academic and work environment that allows students, faculty and staff to develop their interests and talents while experiencing a sense of community. With programs available both online and at our many campus locations, National University is a leader in creating innovative solutions to education and meeting the needs of our student population, including adult learners and working professionals.

Equal Opportunity

National University (NU) is proud to be an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate against any employee or applicant per applicable federal, state and local laws. All qualified applicants will receive equal consideration for employment, education, and admission at National University. National University is breaking barriers in education – and in the workplace. We’re united in our mission to build a better future for our more than 4,500 employees and our 45,000+ students. National University prioritizes our employee’s well-being and growth by offering competitive pay and benefits packages, development and advancement opportunities, remote‑first work perks, and more. We value and reward the hard work of our faculty and staff.