Associate or Senior Associate General Counsel

The University of Minnesota is seeking a skilled, client-focused lawyer with excellent academic credentials to advise and represent academic departments and business units in business transactions.  The title under which the successful candidate will initially serve will depend on years of relevant experience.  You will join a team of attorneys with a focus on improving the legal review process of a high volume of the university’s business transactions, and will be responsible for reviewing, drafting, and negotiating a wide range of contracts to ensure compliance with legal requirements and protect the University's interests.  You will collaborate closely with the other attorneys in the office, internal stakeholders, and external parties to assist with the facilitation of effective contract management and provide expert advice.  The ideal candidate will have a strong background in contract law, exceptional communication skills, and a proven ability to analyze complex legal issues.

The position will perform a review of contracts for legal sufficiency: contracts for purchases of goods and services, sponsorship agreements, agreements with government entities, leases and purchases, along with memoranda of understanding, affiliation type agreements, confidentiality agreements and similar documents.  In addition, the candidate will review, analyze, and revise independent contractor, licensing agreements, and purchasing templates.

Qualifications 

Required:

• A Juris Doctorate granted by an ABA accredited law school.
• Admission to and good standing in the State Bar of Minnesota or eligibility for prompt admission
• Minimum 4 years of experience as a lawyer advising on commercial transactions, preferably within an in-house corporate legal department (experience in higher education a plus).
• Highest level of integrity and professionalism.
• An ability to independently prioritize work and manage multiple projects simultaneously in a fast-paced environment.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
  

Desirable:

• Exceptional attention to detail and strong analytical skills to identify legal risks and propose effective solutions.
• Knowledge and expertise in a broad array of practice areas including significant experience drafting and negotiating business agreements.
• Experience in higher education or advising institutions of higher education.
• Experience in a law firm as well as in-house.
• Strong analytical and interpersonal skills and cross-cultural competencies.
• Having worked collegially and professionally in a diverse environment with peers, subordinates, and clients.
• Knowledge in a specific area related to university purchases, such as technology agreements, privacy and security, or import regulations.
  

Please see the University of Minnesota Employment website at https://humanresources.umn.edu/jobs and search for job ID 360780.