Legal Counsel

at  Queens University

Legal Counsel
About Queen’s University
Queen’s University is the Canadian research intensive university with a transformative student learning experience. Here the employment experience is as diverse as it is interesting. We have opportunities in multiple areas of globally recognized research, faculty administration, engineering & construction, athletics & recreation, power generation, corporate shared services, and many more.
We are committed to employment equity and diversity in the workplace and welcome applications from individuals from equity seeking groups such as women, racialized/visible minorities, Indigenous/Aboriginal peoples, persons with a disability, persons who identify in the LGBTQ+ community and others who reflect the diversity of Canadian society.
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Job Summary
Reporting to General Counsel and taking direction from the Senior Legal Counsel, the Legal Counsel is an in-house position located in the Office of the University Secretariat and Legal Counsel. The Legal Counsel will support the work of the Office of Legal Counsel. This position will provide counsel, legal advice and guidance on a broad range of complex issues to many diverse stakeholders across the University, including: academic Faculties, Schools, Departments and Units; the Office of Advancement; Budgeting & Planning; Financial Services; Human Resources Services; Facilities; Research Services; Risk & Safety Services; and, other university clients and stakeholders, while protecting the legal interests of the University.
Legal Counsel will provide timely and effective advice to multiple university participants about compliance in key areas of university responsibility, with demonstrated expertise in administrative law and litigation matters, as this position has a particular emphasis on supporting university operations related to academic and non-academic issues such as student appeals, human rights, accommodations, student placement and affiliation agreements, academic integrity, student conduct, insurance matters and issues related to workplace law. This will include providing a full range of legal and policy advice to senior management, academic administrators, faculty and staff, and to academic and non- academic decision-makers.
The incumbent will work with senior administrators, faculty and staff to contribute in developing and updating a broad range of policies and procedures regarding operational issues pertaining to the University and its affiliated entities, and may include workplace issues, trademark and other IP protection and other matters within the scope of University Counsel’s service level commitments.
Job Description

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• A law degree (LLB or JD), from an accredited Canadian university, and member in good standing with the Law Society of Ontario.
• A minimum of 5 years of experience practicing law, including at least 3 years’ prior experience in administrative law, working with a variety of public and private sector clients, with some experience with the not-for-profit and charitable sector.
• Previous exposure to human rights, litigation, insurance, and labour and employment law would be an asset.
• A breadth of general legal knowledge across a variety of fields.
• Proven success in providing fair and impartial legal guidance regarding complex issues.
• Prior experience in developing policies and procedures/guidelines in a private or public sector organization.
• Experience in dispute resolution, mediation, arbitration, and enforcement of policies and procedures/guidelines.
• Prior legal experience in a post-secondary education setting would be an asset.
• An equivalent combination of education and experience may be considered for this role.

SPECIAL SKILLS:

• Ability to cultivate and maintain productive and collaborative relationships with the University Secretariat and Legal Counsel team, with a broad range of university clients including academics, students, staff, senior administrations, and with external legal consultants.
• Excellent facilitation and mediation skills, with the ability to use these skills to develop solutions that ethically, tactfully and diplomatically respond to the needs and expectations of diverse groups at all levels.
• Sound judgment and discretion when dealing with confidential and sensitive issues, and the ability to recognize when it is necessary to escalate issues.
• Ability to swiftly prioritize matters and to and manage multiple, competing short and long-term projects, and to shift quickly between substantive areas of law.
• Excellent communication skills: listening, written and verbal, and the ability to adjust communication style to specific audiences.
• Possess high standards of ethics and integrity as demonstrated by having the ability to make and communicate difficult decisions and the ability to deliver difficult messages in sensitive situations, while maintaining trust and strong working relationships with colleagues and clients.
• Exceptional ability to draft accurate, complete contracts and persuasive legal documents such as legal opinions and responses, position statements, legal briefs and correspondence.
• Proven record of commitment to advancing equity, diversity and inclusion.
• Strong administrative, organizational and time management skills.
• Ability to work with a variety of software tools including spreadsheets, databases, document management tools, and internet/legal search engines.

• Work closely with Counsel in the unit to provide sound strategic legal advice to the university community, based on subject- matter expertise in administrative, human rights, insurance, litigation and labour and employment law, as well as other areas affecting university operations.
• Monitor, review and provide practical and unbiased advice and representation on procedural and contractual arrangements.
• Ensure the provision of expert, timely, practical, effective and consistent legal advice to clients within the university community and ensure consistency in decision-making processes.
• Serve as a trusted partner with General Counsel and with senior management, Departmental leaders, and academic administrators.
• Engage in meaningful efforts to understand the diverse academic, research and operational needs of the University.
• Provide clear, accurate assessment of legal issues and risks while respecting business judgment and decision-making authority of university administrators.
• Represent the university’s interests on procedural and substantive matters.
• Provide strategic advice concerning dispute and conflict resolution.
• Conduct thorough and objective research, providing information and effective recommendations to Counsel and other university clients.
• Participate on committees and working groups as assigned, representing the Office of the University Secretariat and Legal Counsel in a professional manner that builds relationships, encourages inter-departmental collaboration and promotes the University’s strategic goals.
• Determine the need for, develop and deliver, training programs to university clients as appropriate.
• Liaise with external counsel, provide litigation support and management.
• As appropriate, represent the university’s interests before courts and administrative tribunals.
• Participate in professional development to maintain knowledge of changes to relevant laws and regulations, working with key stakeholders to understand the operational and procedural impacts such changes may have on the university.
• Perform other duties as assigned.