Job Overview

The Office of General Counsel supports the dynamic educational environment of the University of Cincinnati by providing legal advice to support all areas of operation, instruction, research and administration at the University.

Attorneys in the Office of General Counsel provide, manage and coordinate legal services including legal counsel, representation, and advocacy to the University. As an assistant attorney general, these services are often performed in collaboration with the Ohio Attorney General’s Office.

Attorneys are expected to provide high-level legal advice, counsel and advocacy to the University in a variety of areas including, but not limited to, labor and employment, student-related matters, contract review and negotiation, public procurement, compliance, privacy, public records, constitutional law, real estate, transactional matters, gifts and development, administrative law, and research-related matters such as ethics, compliance and contracting. 

This position is for an Assistant General Counsel and will be part of a team within the Office of General Counsel responsible for providing accurate, timely, and detailed legal services to the University’s Office of Research and health campus colleges with a primary focus on clinical research contract review, negotiation, and human research protection program compliance. This is an outstanding professional opportunity to learn from and work with highly talented and committed colleagues and contribute to the continued growth of a Carnegie Classification Research Tier 1 institution.

This role will require providing timely and thorough review of clinical trial agreements and associated documents. The successful candidate must closely follow Office of General Counsel clinical research team’s standard operating procedures, advise University personnel on human research protections and privacy matters related to clinical research, and support federal-, state-, and industry-sponsored research legal support inquiries related to contracting, ethics, research misconduct investigations, animal research, human subjects research, institutional biosafety, radiation safety, export controls, classified research, foreign influence, and conflict of interest to ensure compliance with applicable laws and policies.

Essential Functions

• An Assistant General Counsel in the Office of General Counsel will work under the general supervision of the Vice President for Legal Affairs & General Counsel (or her designee). Provide and coordinate high-quality legal services including legal counsel, representation, and advocacy to the University on multiple unrelated matters rapidly, accurately, and effectively in a high-volume, fast-paced environment consistent with the expectations of the General Counsel or her designee, University stakeholders, and the Ohio Attorney General.
• Negotiate, draft, administer, and achieve legal compliance on a broad variety of commercial contracts, licensing agreements, leases, and other legal instruments memorializing the activities of a large, dynamic, public organization.
• Provide legal advice and counsel in clinical research contracting and compliance and other higher education legal practice areas including, but not limited to, labor and employment, student-related matters, public procurement, compliance, public records, constitutional law, real estate, transactional matters, gifts and development, and administrative law.
• Work closely and collaboratively with other members of the Office of General Counsel, administrators, faculty, and other stakeholders.
• Exceptional interpersonal skills with the ability to multi-task, prioritize, and collaborate on a team while advising various stakeholders in a high-volume, but positive and good-humored environment.
• Communicate effectively, work cooperatively, and interact comfortably with a varied community and multiple constituencies including administrators, staff, faculty, students, trustees, external professionals, research sponsors, and vendors. Excellent oral and written communication skills. Strong research and analytical skills.
• Ability to work effectively and efficiently in a high-pressure environment. Ability to respond quickly and appropriately to emergency situations and to meet deadlines. Work with outside counsel, interact with other governmental offices as directed, and collaborate with University-affiliated organizations in a manner that prioritizes the University’s interests. Ability to work with moderate supervision and to take initiative when appropriate.
• Maintain a physical presence on main campus, regional campuses, at governmental or quasi-governmental agencies and in court to serve as a representative of the Office of General Counsel and the University with the highest degree of integrity and ethics.
• Exercise excellent judgment and attention to detail, act with the highest degree of honesty and integrity, and demonstrate the utmost discretion. Comply with all legal and ethical rules applicable to an attorney licensed and practicing in the State of Ohio.
• Maintain responsibility for assignments and partner with attorneys and staff to manage significant legal matters and areas of responsibility.
• Perform other duties as assigned by the General Counsel or her designee and perform other related duties based on departmental need.
• Proven ability to operate industry-standard computer technology, including word processing software, spreadsheets, e-mail servers, printers, and databases.

Required Education

J.D. degree from an ABA accredited law school.

Required Trainings/Certifications

• Meet the qualifications for appointment as an Assistant Attorney General for the State of Ohio.
• Licensed to practice and in good standing in the State of Ohio.

Required Experience

• Three (3) years or more of relevant experience as a practicing attorney.
• Good interpersonal skills with the ability to multi-task, prioritize, and collaborate on a team while advising various stakeholders in a high-volume environment.
• Strong legal research, analytic, and oral/written communication skills.
• Sound judgment, high ethical standards, discretion and integrity.

Additional Qualifications Considered

• Higher education experience is ideal.
• Clinical trials contracting and clinical research compliance experience is ideal.

Physical Requirements/Work Environment