Deputy/Associate General Counsel

The Position

Title: Deputy/Associate General Counsel

Position Type: Full time

Requisition No: 24021

Category: Administration

Supervisor: General Counsel

Last Updated: December 2023

Job Purpose: Providing legal services and advice on a range of legal matters

Location: Remote, various locations throughout California

Salary Range: The beginning salary range for this position is Range -Ex2,

(Steps 1-3) $147,295.97 - $162,421.33.

The first review of applications will occur on January 2, 2024

Position Overview

Under the supervision and direction of the General Counsel, the Deputy General Counsel will provide legal services and advice on a range of legal matters pertaining to the operation of Calbright College, including drafting and reviewing contracts, researching and analyzing statutes, regulations, and relevant case law, advising departments and/or divisions within the College, and developing and implementing policies and procedures to support the operations of the General Counsel’s office and the rest of the College. Supports the work of the General Counsel and is responsible for completing complex and sensitive assignments that have a College-wide impact.

Essential Job Duties and Responsibilities

The duties below are representative of the role and are not intended to cover all of the duties performed within the scope of work.

• Supports the General Counsel with responding to legal issues or needs of departments,the Executive Team, and the College Board of Trustees.
• Assist the General Counsel with the administration of the College's legal affairs, including the handling of civil litigation, administrative hearings, contract review and drafting, and completion of assignments.
• Provides legal counsel to College officials, including employees and the Executive Team to prevent and minimize legal exposure to the College in the areas of labor/employment, public contracting and procurement, student and data privacy, public sector ethics, open meeting laws and public records, or higher education as it relates to contracts, policy decisions, and practices.
• Receives, reviews, logs, processes, and monitors discovery documents issued to the College, including subpoenas, requests for production of documents, requests for admissions, California Public Records Act (CPRA) requests, and deposition notices.

• Represents the College in mediation, arbitration, administrative hearings, and judicial proceedings, as needed.
• Prepares, drafts, and reviews a variety of complex legal documents, including contracts, agreements, Board Policies, Administrative Procedures, and resolutions.
• Presents items to the Board of Trustees for approval or other action such as contracts, Board Policies, or other items.
• Assists with risk management, including managing the investigation, evaluation, and resolution of complex legal disputes including, regulatory, governmental, and highly sensitive matters, both litigated and non-litigated.
• Assists with property acquisition (purchase or lease) and facilities planning and development, including managing the investigation, evaluation, and resolution of complex legal disputes related to construction claims and activity, both litigated and non-litigated.
• Assists with the drafting and distribution of all appropriate legal communication for Calbright College.
• In coordination with the General Counsel and Human Resources Department, provides guidance and assistance in the areas of diversity, Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA), Equal Opportunity Employment, sexual harassment, gender and sexual orientation sensitivity, discrimination, retaliation, and other human resources compliance issues.
• Assists the Human Resources Department with regard to personnel investigations and other employee relations matters, and recruitment and screening processes for all new hires and employee promotional opportunities, to maintain compliance with the District's diversity, equity, and compliance programs.
• Attends and/or coordinates attendance of required parties at administrative hearings, settlement conferences, depositions, trials, arbitrations, and mediations in connection with open claims and litigations.
• Monitors industrial and non-industrial interactive process outcomes with Human Resources and the General Counsel.
• Partners with the General Counsel to conduct in-service training programs and workshops regarding legal issues, legislation, court decisions, and trends as needed.
• Works on special projects in response to needs as assigned by the General Counsel.

• Perform other related duties as assigned that support the objective of the position.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Legal record or file management practices and requirements;
• Litigation and litigation best practices to protect and advance the interests of Calbright College;
• Professional and tactful negotiation and persuasion skills to achieve objectives within legal and non-legal audiences;
• Communication methods to articulate points and information to diverse stakeholders with backgrounds and experience with California’s Community College System;
• Problem-solving techniques and analytical principles for situational analysis and the ability to offer counsel and advice on legal and policy-related matters;
• Modern office equipment, practices, and software;
• Demonstrated understanding of, sensitivity to, and respect for the diverse academic, socio-economic, ethnic, religious, and cultural backgrounds, disability, and sexual orientation of community college students, staff, and faculty.
• Maintain an understanding of current ideas, research, and practices pertaining to the areas of responsibility for this position, through continued study and participation in professional organizations.
• Maintain confidentiality of communications, records, or reports;
• Perform a variety of duties in support of the College's General Counsel’s Office;
• Learn and adapt to operations, policies, and objectives of the College;
• Meet schedules, timelines, and deadlines;
• Communicate highly complex and difficult legal issues and matters effectively, both orally and in writing, and establish and maintain cooperative and effective working relationships with others;
• Compile, analyze, and interpret highly complex legal information to facilitate decision-making;
• Work cooperatively with Calbright College's departments and the public;
• Investigate and assess litigation and legal issues and offer sound advice;
• Provide input relative to the performance of outside counsel.

Minimum Qualifications

• Equivalent to a Juris Doctorate from an accredited school of law.
• At least five (5) years of increasingly responsible professional legal experience, at least two (2) of which must have been in California in an area of law applicable to the operations or business of a public agency or higher education institution.
• Must be in good standing with the State Bar of California and currently licensed to practice law in the State of California.
• Experience working with California Community College Districts is highly desired.

Working Conditions and Travel

• Calbright College is a statewide online college where all instruction and support are done remotely via various online technologies. Calbright College has administrative offices in Sacramento available for use, and may require employees to travel to attend in-person meetings, trainings, or conferences as necessary. When working remotely, employees should be able and willing to use digital communication tools as used by the College and have the ability to work on a computer for extended periods of time. For travel within a certain distance from an employee’s remote (primary) work location, an employee is responsible for having access to or possessing a vehicle to travel by automobile subject to reimbursement for mileage and other expenses per Calbright’s policies.
• Regular attendance is considered an essential job function; the inability to meet attendance requirements may preclude the employee from retaining employment.
• The person holding this position is considered a mandated reporter under the California Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act and is required to comply with the requirements set forth in Calbright College policies, procedures, and Title IX.
• Calbright College celebrates all forms of diversity and is deeply committed to fostering an inclusive environment within which students, staff, administrators, and faculty thrive. Individuals interested in advancing Calbright College’s strategic diversity goals are strongly encouraged to apply. Reasonable accommodations will be provided for qualified applicants with disabilities who self-disclose.
• Requires the ability to function in a remote online instructional environment performing work of primarily a sedentary nature. Requires the ability to use hearing and speech to make presentations to groups and carry on conversations over the phone and in person. Requires speaking skills to communicate with staff and students in one-on-one and small group settings, on the phone, and to distinguish sound prompts from various types of equipment. Requires near visual acuity to read printed materials and computer screens. Requires sufficient hand/arm/finger dexterity to retrieve work materials, operate a personal computer keyboard, and operate standard office equipment. Requires the ability to lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.
• Work is performed indoors where minimal safety considerations exist.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Calbright College provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, age, veteran status, disability or genetics. In addition to federal law requirements, Calbright College complies with applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment.

Who We Are

Calbright College is one of California’s newest community colleges – the first statewide, online campus designed to bridge the gap between employers with unfilled positions and students who don’t have either the time or money to attend a traditional school. Our mission is to increase economic mobility and close equity gaps for working adults who lack easy access to traditional forms of higher education by offering online, flexible, affordable skills-based programs that provide tangible economic value for both working adults and hiring managers.