General Counsel

OVERVIEW: Gallaudet University, federally chartered in 1864, is a bilingual, diverse, and multicultural institution of higher education dedicated to the intellectual and professional advancement of Deaf and hard of hearing individuals through American Sign Language and English. Gallaudet maintains a proud tradition of research and scholarly activity and prepares graduates for career opportunities in a highly competitive, technological, and rapidly changing world. As part of the university, the Laurent Clerc National Deaf Education Center is a federally funded center that operates exemplary elementary and secondary education programs for deaf and hard of hearing students as well as national outreach programs which develop and disseminate innovative curricula, instructional techniques, and products nationwide, and provide information, training, and technical assistance to parents and professionals serving children from birth through age 21.

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Legal Advice and Counsel

• Advises the President, Board of Trustees, Executive Team, and other University leadership on legal matters, institutional governance, policies, and strategic decisions.
• Interprets applicable federal, state, and local laws and regulations, including those affecting higher education, civil rights, employment, privacy, research, contracts, and intellectual property.
• Prepares and reviews legal reports, correspondence, presentations, and materials for the Executive Team and the Board of Trustees.
• Coordinates legal matters across the University and provides practical guidance on complex, controversial, and high-profile issues.

Litigation, Contracts, and Risk Management

• Directs the University's legal representation in litigation, administrative proceedings, investigations, claims, and disputes.
• Reviews University contracts and agreements involving employment, procurement, real estate, technology, sponsored research, external sales, and other institutional activities.
• Assesses legal risks and develops strategies to protect the University's interests, prevent disputes, and ensure compliance with applicable laws, regulations, and policies.
• Establishes and maintains appropriate legal safeguards and internal controls while promoting consistent application of University policies and procedures.
• Supports a culture of compliance, restorative justice, and conflict resolution when violations occur, whether actual or perceived.

Leadership and Resource Management

• Provides supervision to staff; provides ongoing feedback to all employees, including student workers; completes the annual performance evaluations for each regular status and extended temporary staff; sets goals and expectations for each staff; resolves workplace conflicts in a timely manner and seeks support from Human Resources or the Office of Equal Opportunity Program, if needed; promotes a safe and healthy work environment; and ensures professional development opportunities are provided to each regular status and extended temporary staff.
• Ensures the delivery of high-quality, timely, and cost-effective legal services through effective management of internal resources and outside counsel.
• Manages outside counsel selection, engagement, contracts, and budgets.
• Develops and oversees the legal budget and provides reports to the President and, as appropriate, the Board of Trustees.
• Promotes legal awareness across campus through training, clear guidance, and collaboration with university leaders and administrators.

Institutional and Professional Engagement

• Builds collaborative relationships with faculty, staff, students, trustees, alumni, donors, government agencies, community leaders, and external partners.
• Monitors national legal developments affecting higher education and consults with relevant professional associations and legal organizations.
• Maintains membership in the National Association of College and University Attorneys and other organizations as requested.

Additional Responsibilities

• Establishes and maintains a positive and supportive working relationship with co-workers and supervisors.
• Demonstrates a genuine commitment to belonging in the workplace and participates in activities and workshops to foster continuous learning.
• Serves as a mandatory reporter under Title IX; and commits to completing Title IX training and other compliance requirements on an annual basis.
• Prioritizes safety in the workplace as a collective responsibility for the well-being of employees and fosters a culture of safety that is integral to our success, including strict adherence to safety procedures and protocols, as well as promptly reporting any safety hazards or incidents. 
• Performs related and other duties as needed.

Required Qualifications:

• Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree.
• A minimum of six years of professional experience with legal administration, policy development, or a related field. 
• Ability to communicate in American Sign Language.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Supervisory experience.
• Experience working in a higher education setting.

Knowledge, Skills, And Abilities:

• Strong ability to analyze complex issues, exercise sound judgment, and communicate effectively through written and presentation skills while maintaining high ethical standards.
• Demonstrated knowledge of federal, state, and local civil rights laws and regulations, including the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
• Demonstrated experience leading legal professionals and providing strategic legal counsel to leadership on complex, controversial, and high-profile matters.

• Demonstrated experience with or knowledge of higher education, including faculty and staff relations, academic policies, and institutional governance.

• Demonstrated ability to work with and across University departments, outside constituents, and groups.

Additional Position Details:

• The successful candidate must be able to obtain or possess a law license in the District of Columbia within one year of employment.

Other Important Information:

• The successful candidate will undergo a background check that must be cleared prior to working at Gallaudet University.

Current Employees (Regular Status and Extended Temporary)
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Gallaudet University is an equal opportunity employer/educational institution and does not discriminate on the basis of race, sex, national origin, religion, age, hearing status, disability, genetic information, covered veteran status, marital status, personal appearance, sexual orientation, family responsibilities, matriculation, political affiliation, source of income, place of business or residence, pregnancy, childbirth, or any other unlawful basis. This policy is in compliance with Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Rehabilitation Act, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, the District of Columbia Human Rights Act, and other applicable laws and applies to all procedures affecting applicants and employees including, but not necessarily limited to: recruitment, hiring, placement, promotion, transfer, reassignment, reappointment, tenure, demotion, selection for training, layoff, furlough, and termination, compensation, and all other conditions or privileges of employment.