General Counsel

Description:

About Baltimore City Community College
Based on the annual unduplicated credit and non-credit headcount for FY 2023.

Description/Job Summary
The General Counsel is the chief legal officer of the College, reports directly to the College President and is a member of the President's Cabinet. In conjunction with the Office of Attorney General (OAG), the General Counsel is responsible for managing the College's legal affairs, provides legal advice and services to the College, and works with the President, Board of Trustees, faculty and staff. The General Counsel may exercise oversight of College departments with functional responsibility for compliance with or interpretation of laws and regulations. The General Counsel is responsible for identifying legal concerns, working directly with the President and enlisting assistance from the OAG as appropriate.

Responsibilities/Duties:

• Works directly with and communicates to the College President regularly on all matters that require substantive review and/or legal action.
• Receive and handle inquiries from College administrators, employees and student organizations including, but not limited to, such matters as employment Issues, student affairs, insurance, risk management, use of federal and state funding, contracts and College policies.
• Provide timely, accessible and sound legal advice on legal issues arising in the context of higher education and Maryland state agency operations.
• Perform legal research and analysis regarding a wide range of legal, legislative, policy, administrative and institutional matters.
• Review and advise administrators and faculty on Col!ege policies, procedures, and handbooks, including drafts of new policies, procedures and handbooks
• Oversee all legal matters involving the College, including litigation, real estate and labor issues.
• Review and provide counsel to administrators and faculty regarding proposed or existing College contracts.
• Advise College administrators on matters of compliance with state and federal laws and regulations and assist with corrective measures as needed.
• Work with the Office of Attorney General and coordinate the referral of matters to them.
• Facilitate direct communications between the College president and administrators and the Office of Attorney General.
• Manage communications with outside lawyers, including on matters that pose risk of liability.
• Draft legal communications on behalf of the College.
• Recommend operational and policy changes necessitated by legislative mandates.
• Develop policies and procedures to enable the College to accomplish its objectives.
• Receive, evaluate and respond to Freedom of Information Act/Maryland Public Information Act requests as appropriate and as required bv law.
• Direct and participate in the research of state and federal legislation, and administrative and court decisions that are relevant to the College.
• Investigate legal problems and recommend action to appropriate administrators.
• Provide training and training materials on legal issues to appropriate constituencies when education is helpful to maintain or further College objectives.
• Advise the Assistant Vice VP of Human Resources with respect to personnel matters (Including but not limited to disciplinary actions and preparing, negotiating and executing separation agreements).
• Provide legal advice and interpretation regarding matters related to employment law.
• Assist in the investigation of claims against the College, including employment claims brought before administrative agencies.
• Interpret and advise the College regarding implementation of collective bargained agreements between the College and employee unions.
• Participate in overseeing, identifying, evaluating, and analyzing risks in the operations of the College.
• Participate in formulating, implementing, administering and evaluating risk management strategies to efficiently and cost-effectively manage those risks.
• Manage and oversee the Office of the General Counsel.
• Perform other related duties incident to work described above.

Required Qualifications:

• Have a law degree from an accredited law school;
• Possess a minimum of ten years' experience as a practicing attorney;
• Be admitted to practice law in Maryland.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience representing community colleges, universities, or other educational institutions;
• A diverse and broad legal background
• Thorough knowledge of the legal and regulatory landscape impacting colleges in Maryland and the United States (e.g., Title IX, ADA, FMLA, FERPA, state labor laws)

BCCC is committed to providing a workplace free from discrimination or harassment. We expect every member of the BCCC community to do their part to cultivate and maintain an environment where everyone has the opportunity to feel included and is afforded the respect and dignity they deserve.

Decisions related to hiring, compensating, training, evaluating performance, or terminating are made fairly. We examine our unconscious biases and take responsibility for always striving to create an inclusive environment that makes every employee and candidate feel welcome

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