Senior Counsel – Employment Law for Higher Ed (Remote)

National University; United States; Remote; USD 90,000 - 121,000; Full time

Job summary

National University is seeking a Senior Counsel to provide legal guidance across employment law, student issues, and regulatory compliance. The role partners with university leadership to minimize risk and support institutional objectives while advancing legal and ethical standards.

Under supervision, the Senior Counsel oversees HR matters, manages litigation, coordinates outside counsel, and uses AI and other technologies to enhance efficiency and client service within a fast-paced legal

Qualifications

• JD required; active bar membership preferred (CA or multi-state).
• 5+ years of relevant legal experience with increasing complexity.
• 3 years in-house counsel preferred; higher education experience preferred.
• Strong drafting, research, and judgment under tight deadlines.

Responsibilities

• Provide practical, business-oriented legal advice to university leadership.
• Serve as primary advisor to HR on employment matters (wage/hour, leave, investigations).
• Manage the university’s litigation portfolio (pre-litigation, admin matters, subpoenas).
• Coordinate litigation strategy and oversee discovery/document preservation.
• Oversee outside counsel and ensure high-quality representation and efficiency.
• Advise on student-related legal issues, appeals, conduct, and risk management.
• Conduct legal research and keep current on federal/state/local laws affecting higher education.
• Draft and negotiate settlement documents and other legal instruments.
• Collaborate with departments to identify and mitigate legal and operational risks.
• Leverage legal tech, AI, and document automation to improve service delivery.

Skills

Legal research

Legal writing

Communication skills

Regulatory compliance

Negotiation

Policy interpretation

In-house counsel experience

Education

Juris Doctorate (JD)

Tools

Microsoft Office

Office 365

Adobe

Job description

National University is seeking a Senior Counsel to provide legal guidance across employment law, student issues, and regulatory compliance. The role partners with university leadership to minimize risk and support institutional objectives while advancing legal and ethical standards.

Under supervision, the Senior Counsel oversees HR matters, manages litigation, coordinates outside counsel, and uses AI and other technologies to enhance efficiency and client service within a fast-paced legal