MARICOPA COMMUNITY COLLEGE
DISTRICT JOB
DESCRIPTION
TITLE: GENERAL COUNSEL
GRADE: 21
JOB CODE: 0155
FLSA: EXEMPT
Job Summary
Serves as Chief Legal
Officer of the
Maricopa Community Colleges; supports the district’s mission through
delivery
of timely, high quality, and practical legal advice, representation and
legal
oversight that supports the achievement of core academic and
administrative
objectives. Provides legal advice and
representation
to the District, Governing Board, Chancellor, District executives,
administrators,
faculty, organizations and employees.
Scope
This position works in the
area of the
Legal Services Department. Work contacts
include Governing Board members, Chancellor, District executives,
administrators,
faculty, organizations, employees, students, federal, state, municipal,
political, legal representatives or authorities and general public. Equipment used includes standard office
equipment.
Supervision Received
This position reports to
the Chancellor
and Governing Board members; receives general direction regarding
routine and
standard matters; specific instructions regarding non‑routine and
highly
sensitive matters.
Supervision Exercised
Supervises the positions of
Assistant
General Counsels, Manager Office of Public Stewardship, Assistant to
Governing
Board/Legal Offices, Risk Manager, District Director Equal Employment
Opportunity Compliance and Recruitment and other assigned staff.
Representative Duties
Conducts legal research and
counsels
Governing Board, Chancellor, District executives, administrators,
faculty and
employees on legal matters; advises on legal and District policy issues
regarding emerging programs, higher education law issues, projects and
legislation; performs legal duties and functions on behalf of the
District,
including preparation of court documents; negotiates with outside
parties;
conducts trials and hearings in state, federal and local courts and
agencies;
serves as advisor to District committees; represents the Chancellor and
the
Governing Board in employee appeal hearings; advises Governing Board,
Chancellor, District executives, administrators, faculty and employees
on the
practical aspects of applicable law and any risk to foster strategic
thinking
and decision making; prepares position papers on legal matters for
District
executives, administrators; faculty and employees; drafts
legal documents and papers, including
rules, regulations, resolutions and applications; selects and manages
outside
legal counsel; identifies and manages
legal risks within the district; including managing litigation; costs
and
coordinating litigation with the District excess insurers; supervises
the
drafting negotiations and review of all contracts and agreements;
assists in
the development and writing of Board policies and procedures;
supervises the
management of the District’s board governance process and ombuds
services and
affirmative action/equal employment opportunity and recruitment;
provides sound
leadership to and supervises assigned staff; serves as a District
representative locally and nationally; performs related duties as
assigned.
Knowledge
and Abilities
Knowledge of: legal
methods, practices and procedures;
federal, state and local government agencies and methods of operation;
educational, employment and criminal law; District policies and
procedures.
Ability to: conduct legal
research and prepare legal
opinions; prepare and present court cases; practice law in the State of
Training and Experience
Any combination of
education, training
and experience that provides the required knowledge and abilities. An example of this would be a J.D. or LL.B.
degree from an accredited U.S. Law School required with broad legal
experience
in a legal environment; previous experience in an educational
environment preferred;
must be admitted to practice law in Arizona, or be eligible for
admission and be
admitted within one year of employment (see Rule 38(h), Rules of
Arizona
Supreme Court, effective January 1, 2010).
Special Conditions of
Employment
This position requires
possession of a
J.D. or LL.B. degree and admission to the Arizona State Bar. Must be
admitted
to practice law in Arizona, or be eligible for admission and be
admitted within
one year of employment (see Rule 38(h), Rules of Arizona Supreme Court,
effective January 1, 2010). Incumbent must be available to attend
evening
Governing Board meetings. Some positions may require a Class D Driver’s
License.
Working Conditions
This class specification is
intended to
indicate the basic nature of positions allocated to the class and
examples of
typical duties that may be assigned. It does not imply that all
positions
within the class perform all of the duties listed, nor does it
necessarily list
all possible duties that may be assigned.