Description:

Job Summary:
The University System of Georgia (USG) is accepting applications for a Legal Counsel position. This position will primarily focus on transactional work such as reviewing, negotiating, and drafting contracts. Some of this transactional work will involve the USG Foundation, which is a 501(c)(3) cooperative partner of the USG and a philanthropic foundation that raises and manages donations to support need-based college scholarships. This position will also serve as the USO's HIPAA privacy officer and may assist at times with handling Open Records Act responses. The position will report to an Assistant Vice Chancellor for Legal Affairs in the USO.

Responsibilities:

Handles transactional legal work for the University System Office, including work involving the USG Foundation, in coordination with an Assistant Vice Chancellor for Legal Affairs.
Reviews, negotiates, revises, and drafts contracts and other documents.
Identifies and prioritizes the response to various areas of legal risk and establishes a clearly understood framework for legal policies.
Serves as the University System Office's HIPAA privacy officer.
Confers with system employees on matters involving legal interpretations and decisions related to institutional activities, policy questions and operating problems.
Conducts research on state and federal legislation and administrative and court decisions; investigates legal problems and makes recommendations.
Drafts, reviews and approves policies and procedures, bylaws, and other documents within legal specialty areas.
Educates system employees on relevant state and federal laws, policies, procedures, and regulations.
Provides legal counsel and support to system departments and divisions.
Assists with Open Records Act responses
Performs related duties as assigned

Required Qualifications:

J.D. from an ABA-accredited law school
Current member of the Georgia Bar, or another state's bar and able to become licensed in the State of Georgia within one year after date of hire

Preferred Qualifications:

Experience in government and/or higher education is preferred but not required.
3 - 7 years of experience actively practicing law.

Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities:

Ability to work with many varying constituents, including but not limited to the Board of Regents, the Chancellor, the Chancellor's senior staff, Presidents of institutions within the University System of Georgia and their administrators
Knowledge of board-level governance and functions
Knowledge of federal and state laws, rules and regulations impacting higher education
Knowledge of state ethics and government transparency regulations
Skill in written communication with executive and subject matter expert audiences and the news media
Skill in decision-making and problem-solving
Skill in interpersonal relations and in dealing with the public
Skills in oral and written communication
Ability to conduct investigations and articulate findings and results of investigations
Ability to respond diplomatically to sensitive and critical issues
Ability to effectively multi-task

USG Core Values
The University System of Georgia is comprised of our 25 institutions of higher education and learning as well as the System Office. Our USG Statement of Core Values are Integrity, Excellence, Accountability, and Respect. These values serve as the foundation for all that we do as an organization, and each USG community member is responsible for demonstrating and upholding these standards. More details on the USG Statement of Core Values and Code of Conduct are available in USG Board Policy 8.2.18.1.2 and can be found on-line at https://www.usg.edu/policymanual/section8/C224/#p8.2.18_personnel_conduct.

Additionally, USG supports Freedom of Expression as stated in Board Policy 6.5 Freedom of Expression and Academic Freedom found on-line at https://www.usg.edu/policymanual/section6/C2653.

Conditions of Employment:
Offers of employment are subject to federal and state laws, as well as the statutes, rules, and regulations of this organization, and the Bylaws and Policies of the Board of Regents (BOR) of the University System of Georgia (USG). These Bylaws and Policies are available for inspection upon request.