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Associate Legal Counsel

GENERAL DUTIES

Provides professional in-house legal advice, representation, and performs legal duties at a CUNY college.

• Provides legal counsel to senior campus administrators.
• Provides guidance on the implementation of and compliance with CUNY Board of Trustees Bylaws, CUNY and college policies, college governance plans, laws, regulations and other procedures and rules affecting the college.
• Prepares legal documents and contracts.
• Works with CUNY's Office of General Counsel in managing and supporting litigation and administrative cases involving students, faculty and staff.
• May serve as college Ethics Officer and/or Records Access Officer.
• Reviews and maintains up-to-date knowledge of State and Federal laws and maintains college/unit policies and procedures so that they are current and consistent with those laws.
• Performs related duties as assigned.

CONTRACT TITLE

Higher Education Officer

FLSA

Exempt

CAMPUS SPECIFIC INFORMATION

Brooklyn College of the City University of New York (CUNY) invites applications for the position of Associate Legal Counsel. The Associate Legal Counsel will provide professional in-house legal advice, representation, analysis, and support across the full range of legal matters affecting the College.

Working under the direction of the Executive Counsel and Labor Designee, the Associate Legal Counsel will independently manage an assigned portfolio of matters requiring substantial legal judgment and will work collaboratively with College leadership, faculty and administrators, CUNY's Office of the General Counsel and Office of Labor Relations, the Research Foundation, governmental entities, and external partners.

Initial areas of emphasis are expected to include transactional, research and programmatic legal matters and Freedom of Information Law/public-records compliance. The Associate Legal Counsel must, however, be prepared to provide legal advice and representation across the College's legal function as institutional needs arise.

Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Provide legal advice and representation across matters affecting the College, including contracts and transactions, research and sponsored programs, public records, labor and employment, investigations, litigation support, governance, student affairs, regulatory compliance, ethics, policy, and other areas of higher education law.
• Counsel faculty, administrators, academic departments, and College leadership regarding academic programs, partnerships, grants, sponsored initiatives, research activities, space use and rental arrangements, external collaborations, and other institutional projects.
• Advise College stakeholders during the development of new initiatives to identify appropriate legal and operational structures; assess applicable laws, regulations and CUNY requirements; determine financial and implementation responsibilities; identify conflicts and institutional risks; and develop legally and operationally workable solutions.
• Draft, review, negotiate, and revise memoranda of understanding, affiliation and partnership agreements, space-use and rental agreements, Research Foundation and sponsored-project agreements, grant-related agreements, licenses, data-use and information-sharing agreements, procurement-related documents, and other contracts and institutional agreements.
• Provide legal analysis relating to public procurement, commercial transactions, technology and information agreements, privacy and FERPA, intellectual property, copyright and fair use, licensing, conflicts of interest, research compliance, and other matters affecting College operations.
• Manage assigned Freedom of Information Law matters, including analysis of requests; coordination of records searches; review of potentially responsive records; responsiveness and exemption determinations; redaction; communications with requesters and record custodians; preparation of productions; and support relating to appeals and Article 78 proceedings.
• Interpret and advise regarding federal, state, and local laws and regulations, New York State Education Law, CUNY bylaws, policies and procedures, collective bargaining agreements as applicable, contractual obligations, and other authorities affecting College operations.
• Conduct legal research and prepare legal analyses, memoranda, correspondence, policies, procedures, guidance, agreements, and other legal documents.
• Provide legal support relating to employee and labor matters, including grievances, disciplinary matters, investigations, hearings, arbitration preparation, performance-management issues, and related counseling, as assigned.
• Support litigation and other contested matters through factual development, document review and discovery, witness preparation, legal research, litigation holds, subpoena responses, and coordination with OGC, the New York State Attorney General, the New York City Law Department, and outside counsel as appropriate.
• Advise on governance, student affairs, civil-rights and regulatory matters, public safety and related compliance issues, ethics, foundations and auxiliaries, advancement, gifts, and other areas within the core competencies expected of CUNY campus counsel.
• Develop templates, procedures, guidance, training, and preventive legal resources designed to strengthen compliance, reduce institutional risk, and improve the effective delivery of legal services.
• Participate in College and University meetings and collaborate across Academic Affairs, Student Affairs, Human Resources, Finance, Procurement, Research, Public Safety, Advancement, and other College functions.
• Maintain effective communication and collaboration with CUNY OGC, OLR, and other campus counsel, and relevant University Offices.
• Represent the College at internal and external meetings, negotiations, proceedings, and other activities as assigned.
• Perform other related legal duties as assigned by the Executive Counsel.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Bachelor’s degree and eight years’ related experience required. J.D. and five years' related experience required. Membership in New York State Bar required.

OTHER QUALIFICATIONS

Additional Required Qualifications

• J.D. degree from an accredited law school.
• Current New York State Bar membership in good standing, or eligibility for admission consistent with applicable University requirements.
• At least five years of relevant experience as a practicing attorney.
• Demonstrated ability to provide sophisticated legal analysis and practical client counseling in a complex organizational or regulatory environment.
• Excellent legal research, analytical, writing, drafting, negotiation, and oral communication skills.
• Demonstrated ability to independently manage substantial and varied legal matters involving competing priorities and deadlines.
• Sound judgment and demonstrated ability to identify, evaluate, and appropriately address legal and institutional risk.
• Strong interpersonal skills and demonstrated ability to work collaboratively with senior leadership, administrators, faculty, staff, attorneys, governmental entities, and external partners.
• Demonstrated professionalism, discretion, diplomacy, integrity, and ability to manage confidential and sensitive matters.

Preferred Qualifications

Experience in higher education, government, nonprofit, or another public-sector legal environment is strongly preferred. Relevant experience may include:

• transactional and commercial matters and contract negotiation;
• grants, sponsored programs, Research Foundation, or research-related matters;
• public procurement;
• academic, governmental, nonprofit, or public-private partnerships;
• FOIL or other public-records law;
• privacy, FERPA, intellectual property, copyright, licensing, and technology matters;
• research compliance and conflicts of interest;
• labor and employment law;
• investigations;
• litigation support;
• regulatory compliance and policy development; and
• other areas of higher education law.

Experience within CUNY or another institution of higher education is preferred.

COMPENSATION

$136,040 - $160,827; Salary commensurate with education and experience.

BENEFITS

CUNY offers a comprehensive benefits package to employees and eligible dependents based on job title and classification. Employees are also offered pension and Tax-Deferred Savings Plans. Part-time employees must meet a weekly or semester work hour criteria to be eligible for health benefits. Health benefits are also extended to retirees who meet the eligibility criteria.

HOW TO APPLY

From our job posting system, select "Apply Now", create or log in to a user account, and provide the requested information. If you are viewing this posting from outside our system, please visit https://cuny.jobs/campus/brooklyn-college/jobs/.

Applicants should provide a cover letter and resume in .docx or .pdf format.

CLOSING DATE

January 9, 2027

JOB SEARCH CATEGORY

CUNY Job Posting: Managerial/Professional

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY

CUNY encourages people with disabilities, minorities, veterans and women to apply. At CUNY, Italian Americans are also included among our protected groups. Applicants and employees will not be discriminated against on the basis of any legally protected category, including sexual orientation or gender identity. EEO/AA/Vet/Disability Employer.

Job ID: 33136

Location: Brooklyn College

Job Type: Full-Time