Description
The Office of University Counsel (OUC) is responsible for managing the legal affairs of the university, including advising the schools and divisions on a variety of legal issues. OUC coordinates the delivery of all legal services for Tufts University. OUC provides advice and support to Tufts’ administrative and academic personnel on a broad range of matters, including research and intellectual property matters, employee relations, immigration, student affairs, real estate transactions, contracts, litigation and other disputes, policy development and other compliance related issues, among many other legal areas impacting the University. OUC also coordinates the selection and supervision of outside law firms.
What You'll Do
All applicants must submit a cover letter along with their resume. The cover letter should highlight the applicant’s interest in working for Tufts University and include their experience working in fast-paced legal environments including a description of the applicant’s work and professional ethics in advising busy clients on real estate matters.
The Associate General Counsel will report to and work closely with the Deputy General Counsel for Business Affairs in the Office of University Counsel (OUC) to support the University's diverse transactional legal needs as may be required, with an emphasis on real estate matters, including, without limitation, complex real estate development matters, strategic real estate projects, acquisition and disposition of land and buildings and leasing of academic, research, student housing and retail space.
Any experience in dealing with other transactional or intellectual property matters a plus.
- Contracts:
Draft and review university contracts and agreements.
Work with outside counsel in reviewing and editing contracts.
Advise on workflow improvements on transactional contract review matters. - Legal Management:
Oversee the work of outside counsel.
Prepare memoranda on legal issues involved in real estate and transactional matters.
Advise on new issues that may pose commercial and legal risks to Tufts. - Legal Research and Writing:
Perform legal and factual research on a variety of issues.
Write legal memoranda on applicable laws.
Assess impact of new legal issues on university management. - Policies and Bylaws:
Draft and review university policies and bylaws for completeness, clarity and compliance with new laws, regulations and best practice.
Develop memoranda of law and questions/answers to explain policies and procedures. - Information Delivery / Training Sessions:
Provide guidance to clients on a variety of higher education legal issues (e.g., research and intellectual property, compliance, sponsored research, development and charitable giving, employment, student affairs, privacy).
Coordinate with the Compliance Office on policies and other compliance matters.
Prepare training programs for university departments. - Legal Office Knowledge Management:
Contribute to the enhancement of the office’s information resources and systems, including website, internal tools, files, etc., in an evolving collaborative content management environment.
What We're Looking For
Basic Requirements:
Knowledge and experience typically acquired by:
- JD Juris Doctor from an accredited law school
- 10 plus Experience with managing real estate transactions in a fast paced environment
- Knowledge and skills typically acquired through experience in relevant practice areas.
- Ability to work independently, within the parameters of specific and general assignments, and to bring intellect and legal training to bear in analyzing and discussing complex legal issues while at the same time, knowing when to seek support and additional information from legal colleagues and/or client contacts.
- Excellent writing skills in preparing memoranda of law or other documents.
- Ability to work with many different internal clients, providing different legal guidance as needed, sometimes with short turnaround times.
- Computer proficiency in preparing agreements and other documents, including Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
- Excellent interpersonal and communication skills; excellent professional and ethical judgment and discretion; ability to work as part of a team.
- Possess a self-assertive attitude with the knowledge and initiative to take appropriate action.
- Willingness to take on projects outside of their essential functions, to be trained in new areas, and take on new responsibilities as they arise.
- Ability to analyze complex legal issues and assess non-legal implications astutely in university setting
- Ability to manage a dynamic workload requiring regular assessment of and ability to address changing and competing priorities
- Must be licensed to practice law in Massachusetts or is eligible for admission to the Massachusetts Bar.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Experience with other types of transactional matters
- Experience in higher education law
- Experience with counseling clients in a variety of legal matters
Pay Range
Minimum $206,400.00, Midpoint $258,000.00, Maximum $309,600.00
Salary is based on related experience, expertise, and internal equity; generally, new hires can expect pay between the minimum and midpoint of the range.
An employee in this position must complete all appropriate background checks at the time of hire, promotion, or transfer.
Tufts University is an equal opportunity employer.
