University Counsel

University Counsel for Student Life and Academic Affairs

USC Office of the General Counsel

The University Counsel for Student Life and Academic Affairs in the USC Office of the General Counsel (OGC) will report to the leader of OGC’s Student Life and Academic Affairs practice group. The University Counsel provides advice and counsel to clients across the university on a broad range of issues across two domains: student life, including student conduct proceedings, academic integrity, sexual misconduct, athletics, disability accommodations, threats to self and others, free speech and campus protests, privacy, residential life, housing, campus safety, Greek life, campus activities, and student health; and academic affairs, including research compliance, export control, cybersecurity, foreign influence, enrollment management, admissions, financial aid, student immigration issues, accreditation, and state authorization.

The University Counsel is expected to:

• Provide thought leadership on complex and novel issues.

• Coordinate with outside counsel on complex advice and pre-litigation matters.

• Assist clients in finding creative solutions to difficult problems.

• Establish a rapport and working relationship with employees at all levels of the university in order to act as a trusted advisor and encourage the proactive use of in-house legal counsel as a preventative measure.

• Manage complex internal political situations with diplomacy, poise, and discretion.

• Serve as legal advisor to various university committees, including Title IX, student conduct, health leaves, threat assessment, and student concerns.

• Manage select student litigation matters and outside investigations (such as OCR, BPPE, and DOJ), including selection and supervision of outside defense counsel. Draft, review, and negotiate settlement agreements and other litigation-related agreements. Participate in OGC Litigation department meetings.

• Collaborate with clients and Risk Management on strategies to reduce potential claims.

• Provide training on various topics.

• Contribute to the development and revision of university policies, including the Student Handbook, University Catalogue, Title IX policy, youth protection policy, mandated reporters policy, school handbooks, and others. 

• Advise on new and proposed legislation impacting student and academic affairs.

• Provide guidance and direction to other OGC attorneys on student and academic advice matters.

• Assist with the university’s response to subpoenas for documents and testimony, and requests for documents and information from law enforcement agencies.

• Performs other special projects or related duties as assigned or requested. The university reserves the right to add or change duties at any time.

Preferred Requirements:

• J.D. and Member of the California Bar (or eligible to register with the State Bar as registered in-house counsel).

• 10 years of experience representing institutions of higher education as counsel.

• Deep knowledge of the laws applicable to research universities, including but not limited to Title IX, Title VI, ADA/504, Unruh Act, FERPA, Title IV, California administrative mandamus law, California Education Code, mandated reporting laws, Clery Act, export control laws and regulations, FCPA, NSPM-33.

• Familiarity with the organizational structures and vernacular used in higher education.

• The ability to manage a high volume of complex matters, including critical incident response, with limited supervision.

• Willingness to tackle difficult projects that require learning new substantive areas of law and policy.

• High level of emotional intelligence. Skill at navigating complex political situations diplomatically. Ability to build strong relationships of trust with key stakeholders across the university.

• Demonstrated strong written and oral communication, project management, and analytical skills.

• Dependability, trustworthiness, and discretion.

Minimum Requirements:

• Juris Doctor (JD)

• 7 years of experience

This position's annual base salary range is $202,000-$235,000. When extending an offer of employment, the University of Southern California considers factors such as (but not limited to) the scope and responsibilities of the position, the candidate’s work experience, education/training, essential skills, internal peer equity, federal, state, and local laws, contractual stipulations, grant funding, as well as external market and organizational considerations.

#LI-Hybrid

Salary : $202,000 - $235,000