Legal Fellow

Job Title: LEGAL FELLOW

Occupational Summary

The Legal Fellow is a full-time position for  either a recent law school graduate or a licensed attorney with three (3) years or less of experience practicing law. This position is intended for an individual interested in pursuing a career in higher education law; a demonstrated interest in the laws and legal issues pertinent to colleges and universities is required.  Reporting to an Associate General Counsel, the Legal Fellow will be exposed to many aspects of the Office of Counsel’s work, including but not limited to: employment, student affairs, athletics, research, health care, transactions, litigation, and international collaborations.  The Legal Fellow is a one-year position with the possibility of an extension of up to one additional year. 

Work To Be Performed

• Provide proactive legal assistance, research, and advice on various legal issues including contracts, dispute resolution, government funding agreements, medical staff issues, graduate medical training program matters, regulatory compliance, research misconduct, employment-related issues and proceedings, data security and privacy (including HIPAA), trademark, intellectual property, tax-exempt financing, mergers and acquisitions, corporate governance, and litigation-related matters.
• Assist university counsel in responding to federal administrative charges, including, but not limited to, complaints before the Office for Civil Rights and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.
• Conduct internal investigations under the direction and supervision of university counsel.
• Draft contracts, agreements and other legal documents.
• Advise on employment disputes and proceedings and assisting on a broad range of student affairs matters.
• Assist with ongoing litigation matters, as needed and assigned.
• Conduct training on federal and state laws and University policies.
• Perform other related duties incidental to the work described herein.
  

The above statements describe the general nature and level of work to be assigned. This is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities and duties required of the legal fellow.

Departmental Preferences:

• Personable, proactive and collaborative, with the ability to function effectively in a high volume, team-oriented office.
• Brings creative and unique perspective to problem-solving based on background and personal experiences.
• Organized and able to manage multiple projects with timely, complete and accurate results.
• A demonstrated interest in the laws and legal issues pertinent to colleges and universities is required, and prior experience in such areas is a plus. 
  

Minimum Qualifications

Education:  JD or LLB degree and a license to practice law or will take July 2024 bar exam with results pending.

Experience: 3 years or less of experience practicing law

Work location: Durham, NC

Team members are provided the opportunity to work remotely up to two days a week, with one day designated for all members of the team to be on site. Excellent pay and benefits. Durham, North Carolina and the surrounding communities are lively, progressive, growing cities with a good quality of life, including for families.

The Office of Counsel encourages applications from individuals who will contribute to and help advance the University’s broad-based interests in fostering a diverse and inclusive academic, research, and health care environment. 

Duke is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer committed to providing employment opportunity without regard to an individual's age, color, disability, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, or veteran status.

Duke aspires to create a community built on collaboration, innovation, creativity, and belonging. Our collective success depends on the robust exchange of ideas—an exchange that is best when the rich diversity of our perspectives, backgrounds, and experiences flourishes. To achieve this exchange, it is essential that all members of the community feel secure and welcome, that the contributions of all individuals are respected, and that all voices are heard. All members of our community have a responsibility to uphold these values.

Essential Physical Job Functions: Certain jobs at Duke University and Duke University Health System may include essential job functions that require specific physical and/or mental abilities. Additional information and provision for requests for reasonable accommodation will be provided by each hiring department.

Duke University offers an excellent benefits package and competitive compensation. For more information about this position and to apply, please go to https://careers.duke.edu/job-invite/241610/

Duke University is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer.