General counsel h1.location_city

Definition

Serves as the chief legal officer and advisor to the Board of Trustees, Chancellor, Personnel Commission, and senior management; provides executive leadership over all District strategic and tactical legal initiatives, programs, and services; and manages the work of the District’s internal legal team and contracted external counsels including bond construction counsel.

Typical Duties

Serves as the District’s chief legal officer and advisor on all transactions and issues arising from programs and activities in the areas of governance, academic affairs, student affairs, financial management, facilities management, business management, information technology, and human resources.

Assumes responsibility for ensuring that the programs and activities of the District are legally conducted in compliance with applicable laws, statutes, codes, and regulations.

Assesses the merits of court cases, regulatory inquiries, and other legal actions filed against or on behalf of the District; works with the appropriate executives to define strategic positions, legal remedies, and/or defenses; recommends and approves settlements of disputes where warranted.

Participates and advises in the development of District policies, procedures, and related business documents.

Advises the Board of Trustees, Chancellor, and executive staff on legal matters related to governance and the policies, programs, and projects of the District.

Negotiates the most complex and sensitive contracts, agreements, and settlements on behalf of the District which are consistent with District interests, law, and relevant rules of professional responsibility.

Identifies, anticipates, analyzes, and responds appropriately to risks which have legal implications that may adversely affect realization of the District’s educational and business objectives; advises executives and managers regarding the legal aspects of their exposure and liability to identified risks.

Assures adequate and appropriate systems and processes are in place to identify compliance violations; advises executives and managers regarding the legal aspects of their compliance systems, exposure, and decisions.

Identifies need and develops educational and training programs and activities for the purpose of keeping executives and managers informed of the latest changes in the law and policy and to prevent errors in their interpretation and application.

Develops a clearly understood framework for legal policies and practices within the Office of General Counsel; directs, manages, and evaluates the work and staff of the Office of General Counsel.

Regularly attends meetings of the Board of Trustees and Board committees to provide legal analysis and advice on legal and procedural matters.

Oversees the selection, retention, management and evaluation of all outside counsel; establishes, manages, and ensures compliance with the budget for outside legal services.

Functions as an integral partner within the chancellor's senior leadership team.

Identifies financial needs and manages the budget of the Office of General Counsel.

Performs related duties as assigned.

Distinguishing Characteristics

A General Counsel is the executive responsible for providing a vision and strategic plan for the legal services of the District; providing legal advice and support to the Board of Trustees, Personnel Commission, Chancellor, and District leadership (presidents, campus/district administrators, chancellor's cabinet) on business, legal, and public policy issues; and directing and coordinating the legal services provided by internal and external counsel throughout the District.

An Associate General Counsel researches and provides legal advice and counsel to the Board of Trustees, Personnel Commission, Chancellor, and administrative staff as directed by the General Counsel. Employees in this class address difficult legal or factual questions which are complex because of the absence of clearly applicable precedents or are more highly arguable because of the complexity of the facts or the different possible constructions which may be placed on either the facts or the laws and precedents involved.

An Assistant General Counsel researches and provides legal advice and counsel to the Board of Trustees, Personnel Commission, and Chancellor and administrative staff as directed by the General Counsel. Employees in this class address legal questions or factual situations that can be relatively easily resolved in the light of the well-established or easily determinable facts with clearly applicable precedents involved.

Supervision

General direction is received from the Chancellor. General supervision is exercised over professional, technical, and clerical staff assigned to the Office of General Counsel. Functional supervision is exercised over outside legal counsel employed by the District.

Class Qualifications

Knowledge of:

Legal principles, practices, and procedures related to civil, constitutional, contract, employment, administrative, and business law

Methods, procedures, and practices used in the conduct of civil litigation

Judicial procedures and rules of evidence

Methods of legal research

Fact-finding methods and procedures

Methods and techniques for evaluating legal risks and liabilities and the business and practical consequences of related legal strategies

Methods and techniques used to effectively manage and contain legal expenses and costs

Business practices and legal aspects of corporate governance, academic affairs, student affairs, financial management, facilities management, business management, information technology, and human resources

Capabilities of computer systems and applications applicable to assigned areas of responsibility

Provisions of federal, state, and local legislation, statutes, codes, procedures and court decisions related to community college education and operations

Mission, goals, organization, and key personnel of the District

District Board Rules and administrative policies

Principles of business and public administration

Leadership and management skills

Principles of public and community relations

Principles of training, team building, and managing a legal team

Ability to:

Formulate a clear organizational vision, strategic plan, and appropriate operational goals, objectives, and outcomes for the legal services of the District

Administer legal services of the District in a manner that is data and principle driven, manages risk and exposure, insures compliance, attains cost management goals, and achieves organizational effectiveness

Successfully navigate and thrive in a multi‐campus institution context through persuasion, influencing others, consensus, and effective communication

Establish and implement a comprehensive program of reporting and communication

Develop and implement the operating policies and procedures to insure organizational effectiveness and compliance with performance standards and goals

Anticipate conditions, plan ahead, and establish priorities; act independently and promptly to situations and events

Recognize the critical elements of problems, develop and evaluate data, and determine solutions

Read an audience or situation and be attuned to the needs and concerns of clients and stakeholders

Evaluate program operations and personnel

Prepare and present effective oral and written communications, presentations, and reports

Effectively communicate highly technical information concisely and in understandable terms

Establish and maintain effective working relationships with industry representatives, officials of public and private organizations, internal stakeholders, and the public

Work effectively with individuals from diverse communities and cultures; possess cross cultural communications skills and multicultural competency

Support business needs and innovation through the use of information technology systems

Project executive presence including gravitas, integrity, confidence, political acumen, and poise under pressure; maintain moral and ethical standards that reflect trust, honesty, integrity, credibility, and reliability

Travel to offsite meetings and events

Entrance Qualifications

Education and Licensure

• A Juris Doctor degree from an accredited American Bar Association school of law; and

• License to practice law in the State of California; and

• Membership in good standing with the California Bar Association.

Experience:

Five years of full-time, paid experience in the practice of law which included:

• Responsibility for managing a legal team of attorneys and related support staff

• Experience working on matters related to corporate governance and a broad range of business functions

• Experience in working directly with governing board members

• Experience in educational and/or public sector law

• Experience in the legal aspects of facilities management and/or supervising lead construction counsel

Special:

• Must maintain active bar membership in good standing throughout employment with the Los Angeles Community College District.

• Possession of a valid Class C California driver's license must be obtained within 10 days of establishing residency in the State of California.

• Travel to locations throughout the District is required.

Benefits

• Medical and dental insurance and vision care plans are provided for employees and their dependents.
• A $50,000 life insurance policy is provided free of charge for each employee.
• New employees receive 12 full-pay days and 88 half-pay days of illness leave.
• 19 paid holidays per year.
• 24 Vacation days annually. May accrue up to 400 hours.
• Other paid time off includes: bereavement leave, personal necessity leave, court subpoena, and jury duty.
• Employees become members of the Public Employees Retirement System. Employees are also covered by Social Security.
• Employee Assistance Program

Selection Process

The examination process may consist of one or more parts which may include a training and experience evaluation, written test, performance test and/or oral interview.