Legal Counsel (Higher Education)

Job Description: Job Title: Legal Counsel Department: Office of Legal Affairs About the Opportunity At The Community Solution Education System, the Office of Legal Affairs serves as a trusted advisor to leadership across The Community Solution, providing strategic legal counsel on a broad range of matters affecting our System Office and partner institutions. We are seeking an experienced Legal Counsel with a background in higher education law to join our Office of Legal Affairs. Reporting to the Managing Counsel & Associate Vice President for Legal Affairs, this attorney will work alongside a collaborative team of in-house counsel, providing practical, thoughtful legal guidance on matters related to student affairs, academic affairs, and institutional governance. As Legal Counsel, you will advise leaders across the system on legal and regulatory issues that impact the student experience and academic environment, while helping ensure compliance, mitigate risk, and support sound decision-making across a mission-driven higher education organization. You'll be part of a fully remote workforce, collaborating with colleagues across multiple time zones. You'll thrive in a dynamic environment where priorities and deadlines can shift quickly, and you'll have the flexibility to occasionally work outside of standard business hours to support organizational needs. What You'll Focus On Providing legal counsel and risk assessment on day-to-day operational, administrative, and strategic matters supporting higher education system and institutional operations. Advising on student affairs and academic matters, including Title IX, student conduct, faculty issues, accessibility accommodations, and related institutional processes. Supporting compliance with federal and state higher education regulations, including FERPA, Title IV, campus safety requirements, immigration-related matters, and other applicable regulatory frameworks. Advising on institutional governance matters, including contracts, policies, and intellectual property issues impacting academic and administrative operations. Conducting or supporting investigations and advising on appropriate resolution strategies, including coordination with institutional leaders and external partners as needed. Supporting negotiation and settlement efforts and partnering with internal stakeholders to resolve disputes efficiently and effectively. Qualifications Required Qualifications Minimum of 7 years of experience in employment law and higher education law. Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree from an ABA-accredited law school. Experience providing legal counsel and risk assessment in higher education environments. Experience supporting institutional governance, policy development, or academic leadership decision-making. Strong knowledge of higher education regulatory frameworks, including student affairs, academic affairs, and institutional compliance matters (e.g., Title IX, student conduct, FERPA, Title IV, campus safety, accessibility accommodations). Ability and willingness to obtain and maintain licensure in Illinois within an appropriate timeframe upon hire. Preferred Qualifications Experience with litigation, administrative proceedings, or dispute resolution in higher education matters. Experience with California higher education law and regulatory requirements. Experience working in or closely with student affairs, Title IX, or academic affairs offices and familiarity with Title IV, Title VI, Title IX, Clery Act, Section 504, the Americans with Disabilities Act and anti-discrimination law. Why Join Us Comprehensive health and welfare benefits, including medical, dental, and vision coverage, voluntary benefit options, employer-paid life and disability insurance, retirement plan contributions, and an employee assistance program. Strong work-life balance with 20 PTO days and 11 paid holidays annually. Distributed workforce model with remote work flexibility and a biweekly remote work stipend. Tuition reimbursement for eligible external degree programs, along with tuition waivers at participating colleges within the System. Opportunity to contribute to a mission-driven higher education system focused on student success, institutional excellence, and advancing equitable access to education. Learn more about The Community Solution Education System and our mission, visit our website: https://www.tcsedsystem.edu/ . The Community Solution offers a generous compensation and benefits package, as well as the opportunity to work for a leader in the field of education. To learn more about our competitive benefits and additional rewards, including generous paid time-off, medical and dental insurance coverage, life and disability insurance, retirement plan with employer contribution, multiple flexible spending accounts, tuition reimbursement, click the link below. https://www.tcsedsystem.edu/careers/ The Community Solution is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Application Process Please note the screening, recruitment, and selection process is managed by recruiting staff and hiring managers with the aid of artificial intelligence to evaluate candidates against job requirements. The artificial intelligence tool is a resource only and all employment decisions are made by staff members. When you apply, it is recommended you utilize the option to parse your resume into the application. To ensure your experience is accurately reflected, please review and complete all application fields—even if you auto-fill from your resume. For the best results, tailor your resume to the job description, highlight key qualifications and skills, and use clear, consistent formatting. This helps our AI tools read and assess your application more effectively. We are committed to regularly monitoring the process for fairness and remove personally identifiable information during evaluation.