Description

About Us

Georgia Southwestern State University is a state university serving a diverse population of students, offering a range of strong undergraduate and graduate programs in a vibrant learning environment. The University is a collegial community that values collaboration and community engagement with an emphasis on faculty, staff, and student interactions. An active student body and state-of-the-art amenities enhance the learning experience on a visually appealing campus located in historic Americus, Georgia.

Georgia Southwestern State University aspires to be an engaged, progressive, and inclusive university that serves as a vibrant center of learning, culture, and economic development for Southwest Georgia and beyond.

Department Information

Department: Office of the President 

Reports to: President

Job Summary

The Chief Legal Affairs Officer (CLAO) is responsible for overseeing all legal and risk management functions at Georgia Southwestern State University. This position provides strategic leadership in managing the University's legal affairs, ensuring compliance with federal, state, and local laws, and advising senior leadership on a broad range of legal, risk, and policy matters. The CLAO will provide expertise in matters of university policy, risk management, litigation, intellectual property, contract review, governance, and compliance. The role will also oversee the creation and maintenance of the University's policy repository and lead efforts in the identification and management of legal risks. The CLAO also serves as a member of the President's Cabinet and on assigned committees and task forces.

Responsibilities

Major Duties

1. General Legal Counsel 

• Serve as the University's primary legal advisor for the University through the President and senior leadership.
• Provide counsel on a variety of legal issues including but not limited to academic and student affairs, labor and employment law, contracts, intellectual property, governance, and compliance.
• Review, draft, and negotiate contracts, agreements, and other legal documents on behalf of the University.
• Ensure legal compliance in all University activities and coordinate with the University System of Georgia Office of Legal Affairs, as needed.

2. Risk Management 

• Oversee and develop risk management programs to protect the University's assets, employees, students, and reputation.
• Advise on risk mitigation strategies, including, insurance coverage, claims management, and crisis response plans.
• Identify, assess, and help manage emerging legal and institutional risks.
• Ensure institutional compliance with the University System of Georgia's Minors on Campus Policy and work with program sponsors to mitigate risks associated with minors participating in campus activities.
• Provide guidance to departments hosting youth or outreach programs to ensure adherence to legal and policy requirements.

3. University Policy Leadership & Legal Repository 

• Lead the creation, maintenance, and periodic review of university policies to ensure compliance with legal, regulatory, and USG requirements.
• Serve as the institutional leader in policy interpretation and dissemination.
• Establish and maintain a centralized, accessible legal and policy repository for use by university administration, faculty, staff, and students (where applicable).

4. Leadership and Collaboration 

• Serve as the University's Open Records Coordinator in accordance with the Georgia Open Records Act (O.C.G.A. § 50-18-70 et seq.).
• Collaborate with various University departments, including but not limited to academic affairs, student affairs, HR, athletics, IT, and business and finance, to advise on legal matters.
• Provide training on higher education legal issues to faculty, staff, and students.
• Represent the University in meetings, external forums, and professional organizations related to higher education law and policy.

5. Other Duties as Assigned 

Required Qualifications 

Minimum Qualifications

• Juris Doctor (JD) from an accredited school of law.
• At least five (5) years of experience practicing law.
• Must be admitted in good standing in Georgia or other state bar; admission to Georgia bar required within one (1) year of appointment.
• Strong understanding of higher education law and regulatory compliance. Proven ability to communicate complex legal issues to diverse audiences.

Preferred Qualifications

• At least five (5) years of experience in higher education law, governmental law, or complex nonprofit organizations.
• LLM or advanced degree in Higher Education Law, Risk Management, or a related field.

Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities

Knowledge and Skills Required

• Legal Expertise: Understanding of legal principles related to higher education, including contracts, employment law, student rights, intellectual property, Title IX, and state and federal regulations impacting universities.
• Risk Management: Knowledge of risk management best practices and legal strategies for mitigating risk in higher education settings.
• Policy Development: Proven experience in developing and maintaining complex institutional policies and procedures.
• Leadership: Ability to provide legal and strategic leadership, as well as to collaborate across diverse institutional departments.
• Communication: Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to simplify complex legal language for non-legal audiences.
• Problem Solving: Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to work under pressure and manage multiple priorities simultaneously.
• Ethical Judgment: High level of ethical standards and ability to balance legal and organizational needs.

Contact Information

For more information or questions about a job posting, please contact the Department of Human Resources by phone at 229-931-2000 or by email at hr@gsw.edu.

For technical support, please call the USG Service Desk at 877-251-2644 or support@usg.edu.

USG Core Values

The University System of Georgia is comprised of our 26 institutions of higher education and learning as well as the System Office. Our USG Statement of Core Values are Integrity, Excellence, Accountability, and Respect. These values serve as the foundation for all that we do as an organization, and each USG community member is responsible for demonstrating and upholding these standards. More details on the USG Statement of Core Values and Code of Conduct are available in USG Board Policy 8.2.18.1.2 and can be found on-line at https://www.usg.edu/policymanual/section8/C224/#p8.2.18_personnel_conduct.

Additionally, USG supports Freedom of Expression as stated in Board Policy 6.5 Freedom of Expression and Academic Freedom found on-line at https://www.usg.edu/policymanual/section6/C2653.

Conditions of Employment

Offers of employment are contingent upon completion of a background investigation including a criminal background check demonstrating eligibility for employment with Georgia Southwestern State University, as determined by Georgia Southwestern State University in its sole discretion, confirmation of the credentials and employment history reflected in application materials and, if applicable, a satisfactory credit check and drug screen.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Georgia Southwestern State University is an equal opportunity employer. As such, the University takes affirmative action to preclude discrimination in recruiting, transferring, training and terminating of employees because of race, color, creed, age, sex, national origin, veterans' status, disability or any other reason in accordance with applicable state and federal statutes, executive orders and other regulations which prohibit discriminatory employment practices.

Guidelines to Follow

• Federal, state, and local laws and regulations affecting universities (e.g., Title IX, FERPA, ADA, FMLA, etc.)
• University policies and strategic priorities
• Professional ethics and legal standards governing higher education legal counsel
• Industry best practices in risk management and legal operations  

Physical Demands/Work Environment

• Primarily office-based with occasional travel for external meetings or conferences.
• No unusual physical demands.
• Typical office setting requiring prolonged desk work and focus on detailed legal and regulatory issues.