[Hiring] Senior Counsel @National University

Role Description

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, including 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

• 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.
• Ability to make independent decisions and solve problems, with 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 pay 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.
• 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.
• Excellent organizational and time management skills with demonstrated skill in planning and organizing own work, setting own priorities, and coordinating multiple assignments.
• 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.
• Ability to initiate, establish, and foster communication and teamwork by maintaining a positive, cooperative, and productive work atmosphere.
• Ability to use tact and diplomacy to effectively handle a broad range of complex legal operations and sensitive interpersonal situations.
• Demonstrated ability to maintain the highest level of confidentiality about materials and sensitive issues.
• Ability to analyze unique problems by using sound reasoning and the highest level of judgment and discretion.

Location

Remote, USA

Travel

Travel seldom required

Compensation

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

Company Description

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.