General Counsel Position Description

Posted September 1, 2008

The Colorado State University System invites applications for the position of General Counsel.

The Colorado State University System (“System”) is a state-supported system of higher education in Colorado, governed by the Board of Governors of the Colorado State University System (“Board”) and enrolling more than 30,000 students between its constituent universities, Colorado State University (“CSU”) and Colorado State University – Pueblo (“CSU-Pueblo”) and online program, Colorado State University – Global Campus (“CSU-Global Campus”). This position will be located in the Denver office of the Colorado State University System.

The General Counsel serves as the chief legal officer for the System and its constituent institutions. The General Counsel reports to the Board and the Chancellor and operates under supervision of the Chancellor. The General Counsel supervises a staff of attorneys responsible for providing legal advice and counsel to the Chancellor, the Board, and to the administrators, faculty and staff. When appropriate, the General Counsel secures and manages outside legal services for the System.

The General Counsel analyses laws, regulation and proposed legislation for their possible impact on the System, which includes keeping the campus communities informed about legal risks and their management. The General Counsel provides guidance on legal matters including university governance, student affairs, policy formation, employment issues and grievances, health care, intellectual property, real property transactions, commercial transactions and bond offerings undertaken by the System. The General Counsel is responsible for supervising and managing all areas of litigation and serves as a liaison to the Attorney General’s Office and other entities outside the System. Each lawyer in the Office of General Counsel holds a Special Assistant Attorney General designation.

Minimum Qualifications

Candidates for the position must possess the following minimum qualifications:

  • Law degree from an accredited law school, with strong academic credentials;
  • Ten years of legal experience, including both litigation and transactional experience;
  • Licensed to practice law in Colorado and be in good standing, or eligible to obtain such admission within six months of hire

Preferred Qualifications

  • Knowledge of and experience in higher education
  • Knowledge of and experience with the legislative process
  • Knowledge of and experience with governing boards and/or boards of directors of large companies
  • Knowledge of and expertise in contracts, labor and employment law, real estate development and land use.

Applications will be considered until the position is filled; however, applicants should submit applications by September 30 for full consideration. To receive full consideration, an application must consist of:

A letter of application, a current resume, and the names and contact information of three references (to be contacted only with subsequent permission of the applicant). Applicants should also provide written responses to each of the following:

  1. Describe how you meet each of the minimum and preferred qualifications outlined above.
  2. List all courts (including state bar admissions) and administrative bodies having special admission requirements in which you are presently admitted to practice, giving the dates of admission in each case.
  3. Describe the general nature of your current practice including any legal specialties; also summarize previous practice, if substantially different than current practice.
  4. Since being admitted to the Bar, have you ever engaged in any occupation, business, or profession other than the practice of law? If yes, please provide summary, including dates.
  5. Describe your experience with matters involving public entities.

Electronic submission of these materials is preferred and strongly encouraged.

Salary range is competitive, depending on qualifications and experience. Benefits include annual leave, retirement contributions, and medical and disability coverage as available to System staff.

The Colorado State University System does not unlawfully discriminate on the basis of race, age, color, religion, national origin, gender, disability, sexual orientation, veteran status, or disability. The System seeks to comply with all Federal and Colorado State laws, regulations and executive orders regarding discrimination and affirmative action. In order to assist the System in meeting its affirmative action responsibilities, ethnic minorities, women and other protected class members are encouraged to apply and to so identify themselves.

Electronic applications should be sent to:
OGC_search@mail.colostate.edu

Hardcopy applications should be sent to:
Colorado State University System
Attention: Frank Pierz
410 17th Street, Suite 2440
Denver, CO 80202

303-534-6290
303-534-6298 fax