Legal Career Center

Position Summary

The successful candidate will have the ability to analyze complex issues and react appropriately; exercise excellent judgment; handle multiple matters at the same time; offer advice and counsel to University officials, faculty and researchers; meet deadlines; use outside counsel in a cost effective manner; and work independently and with other lawyers in the office on a variety of matters.  The attorney will provide services for all University campuses, working independently and with other lawyers in the office.  Assistant/Associate title commensurate with level of experience

Responsibilities

• Provide advice and counsel to University leadership and other internal clients on a wide variety of issues;
• Review and draft contracts and agreements;
• Respond to inquiries on regulatory matters;
• Develop, draft and interpret University policies;
• Conduct and/or oversee and support internal investigations;
• Advise on compliance issues;
• Oversee outside counsel on complex litigation, investigations and audits;
• Support all University related legal efforts as needed.

Minimum Qualifications & Skills

• Education
  • A Juris Doctor degree from a nationally recognized law school with excellent academic credentials in law school and in undergraduate studies.

• Required:

  • Seven plus years of practice experience at law firm, government agency and/or in-house experience in advising and counseling clients;
  • Ability to analyze complex situations and react appropriately;
  • Ability to exercise sound judgment after researching and interpreting relevant facts;
  • Ability to prioritize and meet deadlines;
  • Ability to supervise outside counsel in a cost-effective manner;
  • Ability to work with minimal supervision and to handle multiple high priority tasks simultaneously.
  • Excellent drafting skills;
  • Confidence and judgment necessary to act pragmatically;
  • High level of intellectual curiosity;
  • Ability and desire to function collaboratively;
  • Openness to growth and learning in a team environment, consistent with the goals and principles that guide the General Counsel???s Office;
  • Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to communicate easily with colleagues and internal clients;
  • Must be admitted to the New York State Bar or admitted within one year of hire;
  • Higher Education and/or other in-house experience a plus.

Equal Opportunity Employer / Disability / Veteran

Columbia University is committed to the hiring of qualified local residents.

About Columbia University

Columbia University is one of the world's most important centers of research and at the same time a distinctive and distinguished learning environment for undergraduates and graduate students in many scholarly and professional fields. The University recognizes the importance of its location in New York City and seeks to link its research and teaching to the vast resources of a great metropolis. It seeks to attract a diverse and international faculty and student body, to support research and teaching on global issues, and to create academic relationships with many countries and regions. It expects all areas of the university to advance knowledge and learning at the highest level and to convey the products of its efforts to the world.

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