General Counsel

Provide senior level legal expertise and advice on complex matters with significant impact. Represent the university on legal matters as assigned. Prepare supporting legal documents such as briefs, contracts, patent applications, and other filings. Provide counsel to senior level management on legal matters.

Department Specific Essential Job Functions
The duties listed in this job description are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work that may be performed. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related, or a logical assignment to the position.

Provides legal advice and other law-related services to the University, and coordinates legal affairs within the University.

Oversees University NCAA compliance and shares supervisory responsibility of the individuals performing this function.

Coordinates and reviews academic and administrative policy and procedure statements and documents.

Provides contract review of all contracts and other business transactions between the University and external parties and otherwise practices preventive law.

Attends on-campus hearings and advises hearing and appeal committee and boards as needed.

Coordinates litigation with Board of Regent's attorneys and/or outside counsel. May receive direction from attorneys at the Board Office.

Also assists said counsel in communication with UCO and aids in discovery as needed.

Provides administrators and other campus personnel seeking university business-related assistance with ready access to needed legal services for conducting university business in areas of business transactions, claim liability, advisability or prosecuting or defending lawsuits, or legal rights and obligations.

Monitors legislation, governmental rules and regulations and court decisions affecting the University and advises University leadership accordingly.

Performs specialized legal services relating to one or more of the following specific areas of the law, but continues to remain proficient in the general areas of the law.

The following specific areas of law are:

- Higher education law

- Contract law

- State governmental laws in Oklahoma

- General principles of civil law and their application

- Student Affairs/Student Conduct

- Employment law involving an at-will employer including discrimination law

- Intellectual property

- Real estate practice

- Title IX, Title VII, ADA, etc.

- NCAA Compliance

Advises and assists University personnel with compliance with federal laws and regulations regarding employees and students with disabilities, EEO/AA and sexual harassment and represents the University in related agency complaints. Performs other related duties as assigned.

Qualifications/Experience Required
Graduate of an accredited law school and licensed to practice law in the State of Oklahoma.
Requiring 7-10 years of experience in the practice of law, higher education law, contract law, state government law, litigation and employment law.
Knowledge/Skills/Abilities
Ability to deal effectively, without assistance, with the public, the RUSO Board attorneys and staff, State Attorney General and staff, university personnel, external attorneys, and other parties with tact and diplomacy.
Adept at reading, understanding, interpreting and communicating the impact of ordinances, laws, briefs, contracts and other written materials.
Adept at analyzing legal documents and instruments for clarity and legal sufficiency.
Must maintain strict confidentiality.
Ability to communicate clearly and effectively in writing and orally. Ability to work efficiently with persons at all levels.
Effectively supervise others.
Physical Demands
Repetitive movement of hands and fingers - typing and/or writing. Frequent standing, and/or sitting. Occasional walking, stooping, kneeling or crouching. Reach with hands and arms. Visually identify, observe and assess. Ability to communicate with supervisor/students/colleagues. Regular physical attendance required. The physical demands and work environment characteristics described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations (in accordance with ADA requirements) may be made, upon request, to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.