Associate General Counsel

University of Central Florida•Orlando, FL

20d•Onsite

About The Position

The University of Central Florida’s Office of the General Counsel is seeking an experienced attorney to join its legal team, primarily focusing on labor and employment matters. The Associate General Counsel serves as a trusted legal partner to university leaders and stakeholders, providing practical, strategic counsel on complex and sensitive workplace issues. The role advises on employment and labor matters, supports collective bargaining, manages employment-related litigation and administrative proceedings, and helps the University navigate evolving legal and regulatory requirements. The attorney is expected to exercise sound legal judgment, communicate effectively, collaborate across a large and complex organization, and translate legal requirements into actionable guidance. The Office of the General Counsel coordinates and manages legal matters affecting UCF, provides legal services across a range of issues, manages the University’s legal affairs, and protects its legal interests. Its work supports UCF as a public research institution through practical, timely, and strategic advice and services.

Requirements

Law degree.
At least four years of experience as an attorney.
Must be a member of the Florida Bar or become a member within twelve months of employment.
Must be authorized to work for any U.S. employer; visa sponsorship and H-1B transfers or employment-based visa processing for individuals sponsored by another employer are not available.
Must work on-site at UCF’s Main Campus in Orlando, Florida, as the primary work location.

Nice To Haves

Experience providing legal counsel within, or representing, a higher education, public-sector, government, or similarly complex organization.
Five or more years of progressively more responsible experience.
Knowledge of federal and state laws and regulatory requirements affecting higher education; Florida higher education experience is preferred.
Demonstrated experience advising clients on labor and employment matters, including employee relations, discipline, termination, discrimination, harassment, retaliation, accommodations, and other workplace matters.
Experience handling employment-related litigation and administrative matters, including matters before EEOC, FCHR, OCR, or comparable federal or state agencies.
Demonstrated ability to provide practical, clear, and responsive legal counsel to leaders and stakeholders on complex or sensitive matters.
Strong legal research, analysis, writing, and communication skills, including experience drafting legal memoranda, responses, policies, agreements, and other legal documents.

Responsibilities

Provide day-to-day employment law advice to University departments and direct support organizations, including central units and colleges.
Provide legal guidance to the Office of Nondiscrimination and Accommodations Compliance and/or Student Accessibility Services regarding civil rights laws covering discrimination, harassment, retaliation, and accommodations.
Train units on Human Resources-related matters.
Represent the University in administrative proceedings, including proceedings before OCR, EEOC, and FCHR.
Manage outside counsel assigned to litigation for the University and its direct support organizations, and/or serve as counsel of record for University litigation not covered by State Risk Management, as assigned.
Provide pre-litigation support and advice to University departments, including Risk Management.
Advise bargaining teams for campus unions, including attending bargaining sessions and pre-bargaining strategy sessions and providing status communications to University leadership.
Advise on labor matters, represent the University in labor proceedings, and provide day-to-day advice to University leadership on collective bargaining agreement interpretation.
Track state and federal legislative updates and case law developments in relevant subject-matter specialties, share updates with colleagues, and draft, review, and revise University regulations and policies as needed.
Review University contracts and other commercial activities, including drafting labor- and employment-related instruments.
Serve as counsel of record on garnishment matters involving University and direct support organization employees.
Perform other duties as assigned by the Vice President and General Counsel or designee.