[C21-072] University Counsel

[C21-072]

University Counsel 

Office of University Counsel

Central Connecticut State University (CCSU) seeks a dynamic, distinguished executive to serve as its next University Counsel to oversee a comprehensive and collaborative array of legal services, providing advice and counsel to the University President, executive officers and other administrators, faculty, and staff in their official capacities on all legal matters affecting the University.  This is a unique opportunity for an accomplished practitioner to guide the University through transformative change fostering a culture of equity and inclusion while enriching our vibrant learning-centered community, dedicated to teaching, scholarship, and student success.

The University Counsel serves as a strategic partner in advancing the University’s mission of education, research, and service by providing, managing and coordinating quality legal services while minimizing legal risks and costs, reducing litigation, and ensuring legal compliance.  Reporting to President Zulma R. Toro, the first woman and the first Hispanic to the hold the position of University President, the University Counsel plays a critical role as a key officer for the institution and member of the President’s executive committee.

CCSU is a public university in New Britain, Connecticut.  Founded in 1849 as the State Normal School, a teaching facility, CCSU is Connecticut’s oldest publicly funded university.  CCSU’s remains deeply committed to providing quality, affordable, and accessible education.   CCSU’s mission is to foster a community of learners dedicated to teaching and scholarship that emphasizes development and application of knowledge and ideas through research and outreach activities, and prepares students to be thoughtful, responsible, and successful citizens. 

CCSU is governed by the Board of Regents for Higher Education that oversees the Connecticut State Colleges and Universities (CSCU).  The University Counsel serves as the University’s principal legal liaison to the CSCU system office and assists the Connecticut Office of the Attorney General in the defense of the University and its agents in administrative and judicial forums.

The University Counsel is expected to add value to the University by:

• Overseeing a comprehensive and collaborative array of legal services including managing the Office of the University Counsel, its budget and assigned personnel;
• Serving as a trusted and strategic legal advisor to the University President and as a partner to her executive team and other institutional leaders, faculty and staff;
• Providing expertise and support to faculty and staff with respect to new, emerging and existing campus and academic initiatives;
• Creating an inclusive, comprehensive and forward-thinking approach to policy development and administration, legal and ethics compliance;
• Implementing strategies and best practices to realize the University’s goals of developing, maintaining and supporting culturally diverse faculty, staff and student communities;
• Developing innovative and collaborative legal education and resources for the campus community to create, update, and further policies to meet the needs of the University and to enrich faculty, staff and students;
• Staying abreast of state and federal laws, judicial decisions and legal trends to ensure that University practices and policies are compliant and cutting-edge while best positioning CCSU for continued success;
• Representing the University in a thoughtful, judicious manner to institutional peers, the Office of the Attorney General, administrative and judicial practitioners including the Judiciary.

Candidate Qualities and Qualifications

The ideal candidate will be a collaborative and strategic problem-solver with demonstrated success as a practitioner in a variety of legal disciplines geared towards higher education success.  Expertise and experience in the following fields of law are preferred: administrative, business, civil rights, constitutional, contract, disability, education, employment, environmental, ethics and compliance, governmental regulatory, immigration, information technology, intellectual property, labor, land use and real property, and research.

Candidates minimally should possess at least eight years of experience in the practice of law, preferably in Connecticut.  Priority will be given to candidates with demonstrated experience in the practice of education law.  Candidates must have earned a Juris Doctor from an ABA accredited law school and possess a license or have the ability to obtain a license in Connecticut to practice law within two months from appointment or as proscribed by the Connecticut Bar Examining Committee.  All candidates must be in and maintain good standing in all practice jurisdictions, including courts located in and outside of Connecticut.

Candidates are expected to have:

• Considerable knowledge of legal principles, process and practice including rules of evidence, civil procedure, and principles of statutory construction;
• Demonstrated litigation and legal counseling skills and practice;
• Demonstrated experience researching and analyzing legal issues, drafting legal documents including briefs, arguments as well as legal correspondence;
• Demonstrated experience managing high volume of legal cases, outside legal counsel and services, including budgetary and other legal cost administration;
• Demonstrated managerial and supervisory personnel experience including budgetary allocations;
• Considerable knowledge of law including Education Amendments Act including Title IX, Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act; Civil Rights Act of 1964 its precursors and progeny; Connecticut Fair Employment Practices Act; Uniform Administrative Procedures Act.
• Demonstrated commitment to diversity and inclusion – in all its forms – to align with University values and the President’s vision for the future.

Successful candidate will additionally: 

• Demonstrate commitment to the development of sound, pro-active legal education, advice, counseling and best practices, including risk management;
• Demonstrate commitment to continuous professional and organizational improvement;
• Demonstrate ability to lead transformative change, collaboratively enriching faculty, staff and student experiences and success.

Application and Appointment 

For full consideration, applications must be received by August 8, 2021.  Deadline has been extended to August 22, 2021 with priority review given as applications are received.

To begin the application process please visit the CCSU HR Job Opportunities at https://www.ccsu.edu/hr/faculty-management-admin.html. Select the job advertisement for [C21-072] University Counsel and click on the Apply button and submit the following documents:

• Letter of Interest addressing the qualifications for this position
• Current Résumé
• Law Review or other legal publications, if any.
• Certificate(s) of Good Standing
• Names of three current professional references, noting title, email address and telephone number.

University Counsel position is compensated at the Executive 1 salary level.  In accordance with the CSCU Human Resources Policies for Management and Confidential Professional Personnel, candidate salary will be commensurate with education and experience, not to exceed midpoint of the salary range.

The State of Connecticut and Central Connecticut State University is proud to offer its employees competitive wages and a wide range of fringe benefits including voluntary and supplemental benefits. Fringe benefits include, subject to eligibility rules, personal, vacation and sick leave accruals, paid holidays, employer medical, dental, and prescription plans as well as group life insurance, a choice of retirement plans, retirement health care, and tuition waiver for employee and eligible dependents at any of the Connecticut State Universities (Central, Eastern, Southern or Western).  Voluntary and supplemental benefits include Deferred Retirement Compensation plans, Dependent Care Assistance and Medical Flexible spending accounts, long term and short term disability plans.

For more detailed information, please visit CCSU Human Resources

Incomplete or late applications will not be considered.  Emailed or mailed applications will also not be accepted.  Important Note: Please redact any personally identifiable information such as Date of Birth, Social Security number, marital status, country of origin, personal photograph from any documents submitted. 

For more information, please contact Daniel Moreland, J.D., Director of Employee and Labor Relations and Search Committee Chair, by email at daniel.moreland@ccsu.edu.

 As an affirmative action employer, Central Connecticut State University actively seeks and encourages applications from women, minorities, persons with disabilities, and individuals with protected veteran status. The University provides reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities upon request.