Employment Law - General Attorney in Northampton, MA

Academic

Northampton, MA

Employment Law - General Attorney in Northampton, MA

Attorney

Min 5 yrs required

No

Assistant General Counsel

Job Title:
Assistant General Counsel

Job Responsibilities:
The Assistant General Counsel (AGC) at a reputed firm is responsible for providing strategic legal support to the college's academic and administrative leadership. The AGC works directly with the Vice President & General Counsel to address a wide range of institutional matters. The role encompasses providing legal advice on emerging higher education laws and regulatory compliance, conducting legal research, drafting legal documents, and performing investigations into legal issues involving college community members. The AGC is also responsible for overseeing responses to legal requests, managing outside counsel, and effectively managing legal risks associated with the college.

Key responsibilities include:
- Providing strategic legal advice on higher education law and regulatory compliance.
- Monitoring and interpreting legal developments affecting college operations.
- Conducting legal research and drafting memoranda, briefs, opinions, reports, and correspondence.
- Performing investigations into legal issues related to discrimination, harassment, and sexual misconduct.
- Overseeing legal requests and demands, including responses to state and federal agency complaints.
- Assisting in ensuring compliance with federal and state laws such as ADA, Section 504, FERPA, Title VI, Title VII, Title IX, Clery Act, and False Claims Act.
- Providing training to campus constituencies to support compliance needs.
- Delivering legal support for labor relations and employment matters.
- Reviewing, negotiating, and managing a wide range of contracts.
- Representing the Office of the General Counsel (OGC) on committees and at meetings.
- Acting in the absence of the General Counsel.
- Attending professional development conferences to stay informed on legal issues affecting higher education.
- Collaborating with external legal counsel, government agencies, and higher education consortia.

Education and Experience Information:
Minimum Required Qualifications:
- Juris Doctor (.) from an accredited law school.
- Active membership in the Massachusetts bar or the ability to obtain admission within a reasonable time.
- A minimum of 5 years of legal practice experience, ideally in a higher education institution.
- Broad experience as a legal generalist with the ability to analyze and apply laws relevant to higher education institutions.
- Exceptional written and verbal communication skills.
- Ability to navigate nuanced issues with sound professional judgment and integrity.
- Collaborative and collegial approach with the ability to work effectively across diverse teams and communities.
- Experience managing legal risk in a complex organization.
- Strategic thinker with excellent judgment and adaptability.
- Willingness to work flexible hours and serve as a trusted advisor to senior leadership.

Preferred Qualifications:
- At least 10 years of experience in litigation, compliance, or corporate governance.
- Experience advising academic institutions or nonprofit organizations.
- Experience with legal compliance in higher education or similarly regulated environments.
- Experience managing labor relations.

Salary Information:
The text does not provide specific salary information for the Assistant General Counsel position.

Candidates are required to submit both a current resume and a cover letter to be considered for the position. The review of applications will begin on July 21, 2025.