General Counsel

OVERVIEW: Gallaudet University, federally chartered in 1864, is a bilingual, diverse, and multicultural institution of higher education dedicated to the intellectual and professional advancement of Deaf and hard of hearing individuals through American Sign Language and English. Gallaudet maintains a proud tradition of research and scholarly activity and prepares graduates for career opportunities in a highly competitive, technological, and rapidly changing world. As part of the university, the Laurent Clerc National Deaf Education Center is a federally funded center that operates exemplary elementary and secondary education programs for deaf and hard of hearing students as well as national outreach programs which develop and disseminate innovative curricula, instructional techniques, and products nationwide, and provide information, training, and technical assistance to parents and professionals serving children from birth through age 21.

Pay Type:

Exempt Status:

Compensation Grade (Track/Level):

Hiring Range (Commensurate with experience and qualifications):

Salary Ranges:

All Compensation Grades

Supervisory Organization (Department):

Summary:

Job Description:

• Provides strategic legal advice to the President, Board of Trustees, Executive Team, and other leadership on institutional governance, executive and policy decisions, University operations, applicable laws and regulations, and institutional policies and procedures
• Advises the Executive Team on complex, controversial, and high-profile legal and institutional matters, applying sound legal judgment, practical problem-solving, and an understanding of the broader implications of decisions across the University.
• Prepares and reviews legal reports, correspondence, presentations, Board materials, and Executive Team briefings to support institutional decision-making and ensure leadership has timely, accurate legal guidance.
• Serves as the central point of contact for University legal matters, coordinating communication and collaboration across departments and ensuring consistent, effective handling of legal issues.
• Oversees the University’s legal representation in litigation, claims, investigations, and administrative proceedings in which the University is a party, witness, or otherwise involved; and develops strategies to resolve disputes and ensures effective, cost-conscious legal representation.
• Provides supervision and ongoing feedback to employees, including staff and student workers; completes the annual performance evaluations for each regular status and extended temporary staff; set goals and expectations for each staff; resolves workplace conflicts in a timely manner and seeks support from Human Resources or the Office of Equal Opportunity Program, if needed; promotes a safe and healthy work environment; and ensures professional development opportunities are provided to each regular status and extended temporary staff.
• Provides legal counsel on a broad range of matters, including higher education, labor and employment, civil rights, administrative and constitutional law, contracts, privacy, academic and research regulations, construction, real estate, intellectual property, and other areas affecting University operations.
• Interprets existing and emerging federal, state, and local laws and regulations, including those applicable to institutions of higher education, and advises leadership on legal obligations, potential exposure, litigation prevention, and strategies to avoid, minimize, or manage risk.
• Develops and maintains appropriate legal safeguards and internal controls to evaluate and protect the University’s legal interests, reduce legal risks, and promote compliance and consistent application of University policies and procedures.
• Reviews and advises on University contracts and agreements involving employment, purchasing, real estate, patents and technology marketing, sponsored research, external sales, and other institutional activities.
• Promotes a culture of compliance, ethical conduct, and accountability while supporting constructive approaches to conflict resolution, restorative justice, and community trust when actual or perceived violations of laws, regulations, policies, or procedures occur.
• Oversees the selection, retention, supervision, and performance of outside counsel and other internal and external legal experts; and manages legal service contracts and budgets to ensure high-quality, timely, and cost-effective legal services.
• Develops and manages the Office of General Counsel’s budget and prepares reports for the President and, in consultation with the President and Board Chair as appropriate, the Board of Trustees.
• Provides legal training, practical guidance, and consultation to the University departments to strengthen campus-wide legal awareness and help identify and address legal issues.
• Recruits, mentors, and develops attorneys, legal staff, investigators, and emerging legal and executive professionals; and provides developing professionals with opportunities to contribute to complex legal matters, executive briefings, and Board materials.
• Supports Gallaudet students pursuing legal and related professional careers through mentorship and appropriate internship and employment opportunities for qualified undergraduate students.
• Maintains professional relationships with higher education associations, government agencies, university organizations, and legal consortia to monitor national legal trends and developments and address legal matters affecting the University.
• Maintains membership in the National Association of College and University Attorneys and other professional organizations as requested, and maintains an active license to practice law in the District of Columbia in good standing.
• Establishes and maintains a positive and supportive working relationship with co-workers and supervisors.
• Demonstrates a genuine commitment to belonging in the workplace and participates in activities and workshops to foster continuous learning.
• Serves as a mandatory reporter under Title IX; and commits to completing Title IX training and other compliance requirements on an annual basis.
• Prioritizes safety in the workplace as a collective responsibility for the well-being of employees and fosters a culture of safety that is integral to our success, including strict adherence to safety procedures and protocols, as well as promptly reporting any safety hazards or incidents.
• Performs related and other duties as needed.
  

Required Qualifications:

• Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree from an accredited law school.
• A minimum of six years of professional experience with legal administration, policy development, or a related field. 
• Ability to communicate in American Sign Language.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Supervisory experience.
• Experience working in a higher education setting.

Knowledge, Skills, And Abilities:

• Strong analytical, communication, interpersonal, and public presentation skills.
• Strong ability to advance the University's mission through strategic and inclusive leadership.
• Strong knowledge of federal, state, and local civil rights laws and regulations, including the Americans with Disabilities Act.

• Strong understanding of Gallaudet University's historic role as a congressionally chartered institution serving Deaf and hard of hearing students.
• Strong skills in providing strategic legal guidance, exercising sound judgment, and supporting collaborative decision-making in complex organizations.

• Demonstrated experience in or strong knowledge of higher education, including faculty and staff relations and higher education policies.
• Demonstrated ability to work with and across University departments, outside constituents, and groups.

Additional Position Details:

• The successful candidate must be able to obtain or possess a law license in the District of Columbia within one year of employment.

Other Important Information:

• The successful candidate will undergo a background check that must be cleared prior to working at Gallaudet University.

Current Employees (Regular Status and Extended Temporary)
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Gallaudet University is an equal opportunity employer/educational institution and does not discriminate on the basis of race, sex, national origin, religion, age, hearing status, disability, genetic information, covered veteran status, marital status, personal appearance, sexual orientation, family responsibilities, matriculation, political affiliation, source of income, place of business or residence, pregnancy, childbirth, or any other unlawful basis. This policy is in compliance with Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Rehabilitation Act, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, the District of Columbia Human Rights Act, and other applicable laws and applies to all procedures affecting applicants and employees including, but not necessarily limited to: recruitment, hiring, placement, promotion, transfer, reassignment, reappointment, tenure, demotion, selection for training, layoff, furlough, and termination, compensation, and all other conditions or privileges of employment.