Mission Statement

The specific responsibilities of the Office are:

  1. To represent effectively the University and its employees, acting in their official capacities, in legal actions filed in all judicial, administrative and arbitration forums, either with office attorneys or working with outside counsel, on a wide range of litigation matters.
  2. To coordinate its efforts with the work of other offices on campus to address the legal components of issues such as faculty and staff relations, student discipline, intellectual property, real estate development, public safety, affirmative action, environmental issues, governance, development and government relations.
  3. To coordinate and centralize the legal component of services provided by employees who are attorneys within various offices of the University.
  4. To provide legal services to University departments in the negotiation, drafting, review and processing of all contracts and agreements to which the University is a party.
  5. To provide accurate and timely legal advice and guidance on any legal issue which relates to the operation of the University.
  6. To communicate effectively with and to educate members of the University community through a variety of communication channels, which may include newsletters, forums, departmental presentations, e-mail, individual consultations, internal media and other available means, with regard to legal issues that affect the performance of their duties.
  7. To utilize its legal expertise as an active participant and advisor in major policy discussions that may have a significant impact on the direction of the University and to draft or provide legal review of such policies.
  8. To select, monitor and assess the effectiveness of outside counsel.
  9. To become engaged actively with senior departmental managers in the handling of problems that have legal consequences, such as employee discipline (including termination), drug and alcohol abuse, sexual harassment, affirmative action, and student discipline and, where necessary, to take a leadership role in this effort.
  10. To serve as a mediator with regard to individual employee or student disputes for which an internal forum for resolution does not exist and to help coordinate a response to complaints or disputes when alternative or conflicting forums exist.
  11. At the request of the President or other senior administrators, to conduct investigations on sensitive or confidential matters that relate to the operation of the University.
  12. To work with students in an educational capacity as a cooperative legal education employer and as a resource to the various colleges and the School of Law.
  13. To serve as a member or legal advisor to various University committees in which the Office of the University Counsel's legal expertise or knowledge of the University may be required or requested.
  14. To participate on behalf of the University in professional organizations and conferences related to the law and to higher education.