Associate Counsel - Office of General Counsel

University at Albany•Albany, NY

18h•Onsite

About The Position

The Associate Counsel is a member of the SUNY Office of General Counsel assigned to represent the University at Albany and is located on the UAlbany campus. The position is responsible for matters affecting the legal interests of the campus and reports directly to the Chief Campus Counsel for legal matters. The Associate Counsel advises on legal issues concerning University business, affiliated entities, and administrators, faculty, and staff. The role provides timely, research-based legal advice on student leaves, discipline, dismissal, appeals, compliance with state and federal laws, faculty matters, audits, and Freedom of Information Law (FOIL) issues. It also reviews, drafts, and negotiates contracts under New York State finance and procurement guidelines. The position assists with UAlbany litigation, which is primarily handled in court by the New York State Attorney General as trial counsel, and represents UAlbany and its employees in state and federal administrative agency proceedings. The Associate Counsel also supports campus policy development, enterprise risk management, training on compliance issues, and other reasonable duties as assigned.

Requirements

J.D. degree from an ABA-accredited law school.
Admission in good standing to the New York State Bar, or eligibility for immediate admission.
At least five years of legal experience.
Ability to create clear, concise, enforceable, and persuasive legal drafts and writing supported by competent legal authority.
Ability to communicate effectively and maintain good relationships with clients.
Adherence to the highest professional and ethical standards.
Ability to develop inclusive and equitable relationships within a diverse campus community and support diversity, equity, access, inclusion, and belonging.

Nice To Haves

Experience in higher education law.
Experience in employment and discrimination law, including arbitrations and interrogations.
Litigation experience on behalf of SUNY or another New York State agency.
Experience with policy development.
Experience with student affairs issues, including small claims.
Experience researching contractual issues.
Experience with procurement contracts.

Responsibilities

Provide timely, well-researched legal advice on University business and matters involving affiliated entities, administrators, faculty, and staff.
Advise on student leaves of absence, discipline, dismissal, and appeals.
Advise on compliance with state and federal laws and regulations, including Title IX, Title VI, Title VII, FERPA, and New York Education Law Article 129-b.
Advise on faculty hiring, promotion, tenure, investigations, discipline, termination, and discrimination matters.
Review legal ramifications of external audits and advise on FOIL handling and interpretation.
Review, draft, and negotiate contracts in accordance with New York State finance and procurement guidelines, including academic agreements with other colleges and universities.
Provide legal support to the Office of Enterprise Risk Management and advice and recommendations regarding campus-based policies.
Assist with UAlbany litigation and represent UAlbany and its employees in state and federal administrative agency proceedings and, on occasion, in state and federal courts.
Represent UAlbany in employee and student discipline matters, discrimination cases, internal investigations, and labor and employment issues.
Develop and deliver training to campus constituencies on compliance topics, including First Amendment issues, attorney-client privilege, record retention and e-discovery, email, FOIL, media responses, and New York State ethics.
Maintain effective client relationships and communication, keep clients informed of changes in law affecting the University's legal interests, and adhere to professional and ethical standards.
Perform other reasonable duties as assigned.