Associate General Counsel

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How to Apply

To apply, please prepare, in .pdf format, a resume and a cover letter addressed to the Vice President and General Counsel that describes both your interest in the position and a personal experience that demonstrates how you have one of the skills, experiences, or attributes described above. Cover letters should be single-spaced, not exceed 500 words, and be in 12-point Times New Roman font. Submit your resume and cover letter along with your completed application via the University's online hiring portal at https://careers.umich.edu.

Job Summary

The University of Michigan (University) Office of the Vice President and General Counsel (OGC) seeks an outstanding attorney with expertise in labor and employment law to add to its excellent team.

Reporting to the Deputy General Counsel for the University of Michigan, this role will serve as a key legal advisor to university leadership, Human Resources, and management on a broad range of labor and employment matters. This role combines strategic counseling, litigation, litigation oversight, and labor relations expertise to support a complex academic, academic medical center and athletics environments. The attorney will handle sensitive matters, mitigate risk, and help advance a fair, compliant, and effective workplace.

Founded in 1817, the University of Michigan is one of the world's premier academic institutions consisting of campuses in Ann Arbor, Dearborn and Flint and boasts a top tier health system, inclusive of a world-renowned academic medical center and a network of hospitals and clinics spanning the state of Michigan. OGC represents and advises the entire University community on all three campuses, including the Board of Regents, the President, the Executive Officers, Michigan Medicine, the schools, colleges, and operations departments, and the University's regional medical centers. We are in the service business. We help our clients fulfill their educational, research, clinical, and entrepreneurial missions in accord with the myriad legal and policy requirements applicable to public research universities and to health delivery systems. We are subject matter experts-both within the University and with our peers across the country-and problem solvers committed to helping our clients achieve their goals in a creative, practical, and timely manner. We are often on the cutting-edge of legal issues across the higher education and healthcare sectors.
 

Responsibilities*

1.    Employment Counseling:  

  • Provide timely, practical legal advice to university leadership, Human Resources, and managers on employee relations and workplace issues.
  • Advise on compliance with federal and state laws, including wage and hour, FMLA, ADA, Title VII, and other civil rights laws.

  • Partner with HR and leadership to proactively identify and mitigate legal risks.

 2. Represent the University in employment-related litigation and administrative proceedings (e.g., MERC, EEOC, OCR, MDCR, and similar agencies).

  • Represent the University in assigned litigation and administrative matters, including serving as lead counsel or supervising outside counsel.
  • Oversee outside counsel, including strategy, budgets, and performance.
  • Manage matters involving related constitutional and civil rights issues (e.g., First Amendment, Due Process, and Equal Protection claims).

3. Labor Relations

  • Represent the University in labor arbitration and administrative proceedings.
  • Advise on collective bargaining strategy and contract interpretation.
  • Advise on compliance with the Michigan Public Employment Relations Act.
  • Provide day-to-day guidance on union-related issues.


4. Investigations & Compliance

  • Advise on and oversee internal investigations involving employee complaints, including discrimination, harassment, and retaliation.
  • Support development of training and compliance initiatives to promote a respectful and legally compliant workplace.    


5. Employment Agreements

  • Draft, review, and negotiate executive employment agreements and coaching contracts.


6. Policy Development

  • Draft, review, and update employment-related policies and procedures to ensure legal compliance and alignment with institutional goals.
     

Required Qualifications*

  1. A minimum of seven (7) years' experience as a labor and employment lawyer at a law firm or in-house legal department.
  2. Experience in all aspects of complex employment litigation filed in state and federal courts and with administrative agencies (e.g., MERC, EEOC, OCR, MDCR, etc.) 
  3. Experience representing clients in labor arbitration.
  4. Experience with labor relations, including collective bargaining negotiations, contract interpretation, and union grievances.
  5. Experience drafting employment contracts. 
  6. Law degree from an accredited law school.
  7. Admission to the State Bar of Michigan or eligibility for immediate admission.
     

Skills You Have

In addition to the above, qualified applicants will be evaluated for the following skills, experiences, and attributes:

  1. Strong organizational skills with meticulous attention to detail.
  2. Excellent written and verbal communication abilities.
  3. Demonstrated ability to manage multiple, complex, time-sensitive assignments simultaneously with a high degree of organization and effectiveness.
  4. High degree of professionalism, discretion, and integrity.
  5. Good judgment and creative, practical problem-solving skills with the ability to work independently and as part of a team.
  6. Strong interpersonal skills, collegiality, and a willingness to go the extra mile to support colleagues.
     

Desired Qualifications*

  1. Prior in-house experience, particularly in a university, public sector, or hospital setting. 
  2. Trial or appellate experience or both
  3. Experience engaging and supervising outside counsel.
  4. Experience in a university, hospital, or public sector setting.
  5. Experience managing outside counsel, including litigation strategy and budgets.

  6. Familiarity with laws and regulations affecting higher education institutions.

Modes of Work

The work requirements allow both onsite and offsite work and an employee has an expected recurring onsite presence. On occasion, the employee may be required and must be available to work onsite more frequently if necessitated by unit leadership or their designee and/or the job requirements.

Additional Information

Salary and Benefits

Salary is commensurate with experience and is competitive with other similarly situated institutions of higher education. The incumbent will be eligible for the University's generous benefits package, including health, dental, vision, and 2:1 retirement contribution matching, among others.

OGC members work in a hybrid manner, with at least three in-office days per week. In-office work typically takes place in Ann Arbor, Michigan, widely considered to be one of the best places to live in America. Ann Arbor's entertainment and dining options are on par with a much larger city's, as is its public transit and bike-friendly infrastructure; the public and private schools are award-winning; there is a robust tech sector, fueled in part by the University's research apparatus; and it is also located under 30 minutes by car to a large international airport, 45 minutes to historic Detroit, and four hours to Chicago, Toronto, or to the Mackinac Bridge, the gateway to the Upper Peninsula's picturesque lakes and forests.
 

U-M EEO Statement

The University of Michigan is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to providing an environment of mutual respect where equal employment opportunities are available to all applicants, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.