General Counsel

This position is full-time, benefits eligible, and may work remote up to 1 day per week.

California Western School of Law (CWSL), San Diego seeks applicants for General Counsel. The General Counsel is responsible for oversight of institutional legal matters and board relations. Under the general direction of the President and Dean and the Board of Trustees, the General Counsel provides legal services to the law school on a wide variety of topics and issues, including compliance, risk management, employment, internal investigations, contracts, policies, and litigation on behalf of, or in defense of, the school. The General Counsel works closely with the board of trustees and ensures accurate corporate records, including bylaws, minutes, and filings. The General Counsel will review, manage and prepare budgets on behalf of the President and Dean.

The primary responsibilities (include but are not limited to):

• Legal affairs oversight:
• Responsible for oversight of all institutional legal matters.
• Proactively advise Dean and President of potential legal issues and project status.
• Oversee compliance with, and maintain a high degree of familiarity with relevant court decisions, industry trends, and best practices in areas such as Title VII and IX, FERPA, HEOA, ADA, ADEA, FMLA and all relevant areas of law, including but not limited to, higher education, employment, civil rights.
• Develop, plan and implement strategies that respond to legislative changes, new regulations and judicial decisions in order to minimize risks to the school.
• Draft, review, and approve policies, procedures, rules, regulations, bylaws, and other legal documents (e.g., contracts, leases, licenses, and other agreements), and ensure compliance with state and federal laws, and school policies and internal procedures.
• Confer with school employees as necessary on matters involving legal interpretation and decisions related to school activities, policy questions, and operating problems.
• Coordinate risk management.
• Serve as a member of ACT group to investigate and resolve student and/or employee issues.
• Manage claims, lawsuits, and other legal-based administrative matters.
• Triage legal services.

Board relations:

Manage the relationship with Board of Trustees.

Keep accurate records of corporate bylaws, corporate filings, board meeting minutes, board records and materials, and board member terms and contact information.

Prepare, with the board chair, board meeting agendas.

Take and distribute board meeting minutes according to Robert’s Rules of Order.

Other duties:

Participate in appropriate meetings, committees, groups and task forces, as appropriate.

Report as needed, verbally or in writing, to the Board of Trustees, and the Dean and President.

Manage the budget of the General Counsel and Dean’s Office and review the budgets of the Dean’s direct reports.

Specific Duties (include but not limited to): (continued)

Supervise, coordinate, and direct outside counsel;

Perform other duties assigned by the Dean and President.

Qualifications:

• Juris Doctor from an ABA-accredited law school with at least 5 years of relevant experience.
• Must be a member of the California Bar, in good standing.
• Familiarity with higher education, nonprofit, and employment law preferred.
• Prior service on non-profit board preferred
• Team player who can handle multiple tasks, develop relationships with constituencies across the institution, work under pressure, and preserve confidentiality.
• Excellent analytical, research, writing and communication skills, integrity, judgment, and ability to work independently required.
• Litigation experience a plus.

Computer Skills:

• Must be highly proficient with legal research databases such as Westlaw, Lexis/Nexis, and familiar with other legal and government resources.
• Must be familiar with Internet search engines and email.
• Must possess high level of computer skills using MS Word, PowerPoint, Excel and Outlook.
• Experience using Microsoft Teams is a plus.
• Aptitude for learning new technology will be beneficial.

CWSL COVID-19 Vaccine Policy

In accordance with the California Western School of Law policy, students, faculty, and staff must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 or provide a valid medical or religious exemption in order to access campus. Individuals are considered fully vaccinated for five months after their final dose of a two-dose COVID-19 vaccine or for two months after receiving the only dose of a single-dose vaccine. Afterward a COVID-19 booster is required to continue to be considered fully vaccinated. The individual hired into this role will be required to submit their completed vaccination documentation. Individuals with an approved medical or religious exemption on file with the school will be required to participate in CWSL’s COVID-19 testing program. Further information can be found on our website at https://www.cwsl.edu/Covid-Updates target= _blank >https://www.cwsl.edu/Covid-Updates

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https://workforcenow.adp.com/jobs/apply/posting.html?client=35y2n&ccId=19000101_000001&type=MP&lang=en_US target= _blank >Click here to complete an application through the CWSL Career Center website or visit our website at https://cwsl.edu/ id= isPasted target= _blank >CWSL.edu and search Current Job Openings.

Resume and Cover Letter required.

Application review will begin immediately.

About us:

Established in 1924, CWSL is an ABA accredited and AALS member, non-profit law school located in downtown San Diego, California. CWSL has the distinction of being San Diego’s oldest law school. CWSL is the recipient of numerous community service awards, including the State Bar of California President’s Pro Bono Service Award, and the federal government’s President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll. The law school is also home to numerous outstanding programs, including the California Innocence Project, Community Law Project, and New Media Rights Program. The faculty are dedicated to teaching, research, and service to the community. Detailed information is available at https://www.cwsl.edu/ target= _blank >https://www.cwsl.edu/

The law school offers competitive benefits for eligible employees, including, but not limited to:

• Generous employer contribution for Medical, Dental and Vision Insurance (depending on which plan/level the employee elects).
• 403 (b) Employer Retirement contribution of 8% (up to 8k per year) Fully and immediately vested.
• Company Paid Life and AD&D Insurance.
• Paid Long-Term Disability Insurance.
• Flexible Spending Plan.
• Reduced Summer Work Schedule (paid).
• Paid Winter Break (week of x-mas through new year)
• Additional 10+ Paid Holidays
• Accrued Paid Time Off
• Wellness Programs

Perks:

• Little Italy/Downtown location for convenient access to great restaurants and after hour activities.
• On-Campus parking facilities provided.
• Employee engagement events held both virtual and on-campus.
• On-Campus Convenience Store.
• Bottomless Specialty Coffee.
• Use of on-campus Law Library facilities.

California Western School of Law is committed to using the law to prevent and solve human and societal problems. In conjunction with our mission - to train ethical, competent, and compassionate lawyers, representative of our diverse society and equipped to use the law effectively and creatively on behalf of all members of society - we value a rich diversity among our students, alumni, faculty, and staff, as well as in the larger communities of which we are a part.

The law school is an Equal Opportunity Employer dedicated to affirmative action and to excellence through diversity. The law school provides reasonable accommodations to qualified applicants with disabilities upon request.

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