Department​
 President University Leadership

About the Department

​

Founded in 1890 by John D. Rockefeller, the University of Chicago is one of the world’s leading universities and widely known for its research eminence, its excellent faculty, graduate programs that rank at or near the top of their respective fields, a consistently strong and increasingly diverse student body, and impressive, constantly improved fundraising and endowment growth. The University is located primarily in the Hyde Park neighborhood of Chicago. It comprises an undergraduate college, graduate programs and interdisciplinary committees organized into four divisions (Physical, Biological and Social Sciences, and Humanities), six professional schools (Business, Divinity, Law, Medicine, Public Policy, and Social Work Policy and Practice, Molecular Engineering), the nursery-12 Laboratory Schools, three campuses of the University of Chicago charter school, a school of continuing education, and a medical center. With facilities in downtown Chicago, Bangladesh, Beijing, Hong Kong, London, Luxor, New Delhi, and Paris, and academic partnerships in all corners of the globe, the University of Chicago is an institution of considerable reach.

The Office of Legal Counsel (OLC) is responsible for providing advice and services to University officials on a very broad set of legal issues associated with the University’s activities, including transactional and intellectual property matters, policy formulation and compliance, employment and student issues, and dispute resolution. The Office of Legal Counsel negotiates and resolves unique and complex issues to promote compliance with relevant laws, regulations and University policies. It represents the University’s interests in administrative and judicial proceedings, and advises University officials in establishing and maintaining relationships with regulatory and other governmental entities and establishing and maintaining related compliance policies and protocols. OLC supports serves the University’s interests in its role as contract operator to the Department of Energy for the management and operation of the Argonne National Laboratory and Fermilab National Accelerator Laboratory.
Job Information​
 

Job Summary:

Reporting directly to the President and serving as a strategic partner to and member of the President’s executive team, the General Counsel (GC) assists in supporting the highest ambitions of the University’s teaching and learning, research, and engagement goals and has overall responsibility for the vision, leadership and execution of the university’s legal strategy. Overseeing all of the University’s legal affairs, the General Counsel directs its Office of Legal Counsel comprised of eleven attorneys. The General Counsel brings expertise and strategy to matters of great importance to the President, Trustees, and University leadership. The University has a wide array of legal issues that require creative and proactive legal guidance. As a key strategic adviser to the President, the GC understands and advances innovative and entrepreneurial ideas, serving as a partner in creativity with the University’s principles and values at the core of decision-making. Enabling partnerships of all kinds is an essential goal of the President and the General Counsel will lead relevant parties on campus to enable policies and practices that position the University as a partner of choice. In an increasingly complicated legal landscape in higher education, the General Counsel keeps abreast of trends and decisions so that the University may serve the highest ambitions of our faculty and students into the future. The General Counsel advises about risks and trade-offs to support policies and decision-making.

Responsibilities:

Advise the President, University Trustees, and other senior administrators and academic leaders on legal issues.

Responsible for an array of in-house legal services, including but not limited to judicial and administrative litigation, corporate partnerships, federally funded research, conflicts of interest, government investigations, regulatory and compliance, and intellectual property issues.

Generate plans to achieve University goals in ways that simplify processes and creates sustainable solutions.

Manage contract and legal matters involving the University’s contract operations for two Department of Energy laboratories, Argonne National Laboratory and Fermilab.

Advise the University’s international affiliates on global legal affairs.

Coordinate and inform the development of University policies with key business leaders.

Maintain relationships and manage all outside counsel.

Oversee the finances and budget for legal matters.

Working closely with the Office of the Secretary, directly support pertinent Board of Trustee committees and related governance matters.

Identify potential legal issues and developing risk mitigation strategies.

Competencies: 

Ability to build strong relationships internally and externally, communicate effectively to non lawyers, and demonstrate a consultative demeanor to build rapport and establish credibility.

Ability to inspire trust and confidence, serving as a key resource to the University’s trustees, leadership team, faculty, staff, students, and external partners.

Superb analytical and communication skills, bringing the ability to examine challenges creatively and propose innovative and effective solutions.

Ability to adapt to changing circumstances and an evolving role.

Brings and inspires an innovative mindset.

Ability to operate at a high level of institutional goals while embracing the level of detail and nuance inherently a part of complex legal matters.

Ability to be resilient and strategic in the context of constantly changing external circumstances and evolving opportunities. 

Creative and collaborative team member who is motivated by shared success.

Appreciation for UChicago’s distinct culture, core values, and commitment to fostering an environment that champions free and open discourse, diversity and inclusion, and supporting our community in Chicago and beyond.

Additional Requirements​​
 

Education, Experience, or Certifications:

Education:

J.D. or other advanced degree required.

Experience:

Extensive legal expertise and senior leadership experience required.

Significant experience leading legal matters and functions within a large, complex, research-based enterprise required.

A demonstrated understanding and familiarity with government contracts and government relations required.

Record of accomplishment and demonstrated success in legal outcomes required.

Proven track-record of success in serving as a strategic advisor and thought partner to executive and senior leadership, ideally including to the President/CEO and a governing board preferred.

Proven track-record of managing complex budgets, projects and achieving financial goals preferred.

Experience working with a range of stakeholders across academia, business, government, and education preferred.

Experience attracting, developing, motivating, and retaining top legal talent at all levels required.

Licenses and Certifications:

Must be licensed to practice law in Illinois or in at least one United States jurisdiction, and will be required to seek admission to the Illinois Bar and maintain good standing.

Required Documents:

Resume/CV

Cover Letter

Three Professional References

When applying, the document(s) MUST be uploaded via the My Experience page, in the section titled Application Documents of the application.

Benefit Eligibility​
 Yes

Requires Compliance with University Covid-19 Vaccination Requirement
 

No
Pay Frequency​
 Monthly
Pay Range
 Depends on Qualifications
Scheduled Weekly Hours​
 37.5
Union​
 Non-Union
Job is Exempt
 Yes
Drug Test Required
 No
Motor Vehicle Record Inquiry Required
 No
Health Screen RequiredNo
Posting Date​
 2024-11-04
Remove from Posting On or Before​
 2025-05-04
Posting Statement:​​
 

The University of Chicago is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity/Disabled/Veterans and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, national or ethnic origin, age, status as an individual with a disability, military or veteran status, genetic information, or other protected classes under the law. For additional information please see the University's Notice of Nondiscrimination.

 

Staff Job seekers in need of a reasonable accommodation to complete the application process should call 773-702-5800 or submit a request via Applicant Inquiry Form.

 

We seek a diverse pool of applicants who wish to join an academic community that places the highest value on rigorous inquiry and encourages a diversity of perspectives, experiences, groups of individuals, and ideas to inform and stimulate intellectual challenge, engagement, and exchange.

 

All offers of employment are contingent upon a background check that includes a review of conviction history.  A conviction does not automatically preclude University employment.  Rather, the University considers conviction information on a case-by-case basis and assesses the nature of the offense, the circumstances surrounding it, the proximity in time of the conviction, and its relevance to the position.

 

The University of Chicago's Annual Security & Fire Safety Report (Report) provides information about University offices and programs that provide safety support, crime and fire statistics, emergency response and communications plans, and other policies and information. The Report can be accessed online at: http://securityreport.uchicago.edu. Paper copies of the Report are available, upon request, from the University of Chicago Police Department, 850 E. 61st Street, Chicago, IL 60637.