Job Posting Title:

Associate Vice President for Legal Affairs

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Hiring Department:

Office of the Vice President for Legal Affairs

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Position Open To:

All Applicants

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Weekly Scheduled Hours:

40

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FLSA Status:

Exempt

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Earliest Start Date:

Sep 01, 2025

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Position Duration:

Expected to Continue

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Location:

AUSTIN, TX

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Job Details:

General Notes

The Office of the Vice President for Legal Affairs provides high quality service and leadership in proactively managing and coordinating University legal affairs; to support and enhance the University's educational, research, public service mission, core purpose, and core values; and to advance the overall mission of the University. For more information about the Office of the Vice President for Legal Affairs, please visit: https://legal.utexas.edu/.

The Associate Vice Presidents for Legal Affairs report to the Deputy Vice President for Legal Affairs and office on the main campus of The University of Texas at Austin. Evening and weekend work may be required.

Your skills will make a difference.

You’ll be working for a university that is internationally recognized for our academic programs and research. Your work will contribute to operational excellence and enhance the student experience. If you’re the type of person that wants to know your work has meaning and impact, you’ll like working in our department and for UT Austin. UT Austin provides an outstanding benefits package including but not limited to:

Competitive health benefits (employee premiums covered at 100%, family premiums at 50%)
Voluntary Vision, Dental, Life, and Disability insurance options
Generous paid vacation, sick time, and holidays
Teachers Retirement System of Texas, a defined benefit retirement plan, with employer matching funds
Additional Voluntary Retirement Programs: Tax Sheltered Annuity 403(b) and a Deferred Compensation program 457(b)
Flexible spending account options for medical and childcare expenses
Robust free training access through LinkedIn Learning plus professional conference opportunities
Tuition assistance
Expansive employee discount program including athletic tickets
Free access to UT Austin's libraries and museums with staff ID card
Free rides on all UT Shuttle and Austin CapMetro buses with staff ID card
For more details, please see: https://hr.utexas.edu/prospective/benefits and https://hr.utexas.edu/current/services/my-total-rewards .

Purpose

The Associate Vice Presidents for Legal Affairs report to the Deputy Vice President for Legal Affairs and office on the main campus of The University of Texas at Austin. Evening and weekend work may be required. Associate Vice Presidents are expected to process their considerable workloads in an excellent and timely manner which often requires efforts outside of a 40 hour work week.

Responsibilities

The Associate Vice President assists VPLA leadership in the delivery of legal services to the University in all legal matters, including interpreting laws, regulations and rules, and in conducting investigations, directing litigation, and negotiating business deals.
Perform research and advise on a broad range of laws affecting a public research institution, with emphasis in the areas of employment, business, faculty and student affairs, constitutional law (particularly 1st Amendment), and civil rights law; Prepare legal memoranda, contracts, and other documents; draft and prepare correspondence; review, draft, and interpret policies; conduct investigations and prepare reports. Conduct legal presentations and training; assist with litigation including managing discovery, developing strategy, and assist in creating compelling legal filings; and other related duties.
As assigned, act as University liaison with UT System Office of General Counsel and the Texas Office of the Attorney General in the defense of claims. Manage discovery on all assigned litigation matters. Consult and collaborate with counsel at other universities and counsel for other state agencies to provide consistency in the interpretation, development, and application of policy.
Must effectively read, comprehend, analyze, and prepare written materials, communicate with various constituents, and work effectively without close supervision. Use computers and engage in performing computer-based research.
Maintain a current knowledge of legal issues of importance to the University through participation in continuing legal education and membership in appropriate bar and professional associations and higher education associations.
Additional duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications

Law degree from an accredited law school; member of the State Bar of Texas (may be through reciprocal licensing); continuous experience of at least 10 years in the practice of law with some experience advising and representing institutions of higher education on academic, research, and/or business matters, including employment, faculty and student affairs, constitutional law, and civil rights; Strong work ethic, professional integrity, and commitment to the University's values and mission; Ability to translate complex legal issues for a lay audience. Demonstrated research, writing, and oratory skills; Demonstrated ability to manage complex projects and to establish and maintain good working relationships. Energetic and creative with excellent organizational, communication, analytical, and problem-solving skills, as well as exceptional attention to detail and follow-through; Ability to exercise sound independent judgment, discretion, tact, and political acumen in interactions; Ability to manage multiple demands, respond effectively within tight deadlines, and adapt to changing priorities and needs; Strong commitment to customer service and teamwork.

Equivalent combination of relevant education and experience may be substituted as appropriate.

Preferred Qualifications

Experience advising clients regarding business, health, real estate, and/or employment law. Significant experience in higher education or in Texas governmental setting. Litigation experience in state and federal courts in areas related to higher education, especially concerning employment, constitutional, civil rights, tort, and real estate law. Knowledge of the policies and procedures of the University. Experience working with The University of Texas System or one of its campuses. Demonstrated ability to establish and maintain good working relationships with university administrators, faculty, staff, students, UT System, the Office of the Attorney General, and outside counsel. 5 or more years of continuous experience advising higher education systems, campuses, and/or government clients.

Salary Range

$150,000 + depending on qualifications

Working Conditions

This position is in-person
Typical office environment
Repetitive use of a keyboard at a workstation
Use of manual dexterity
May require climbing of stairs, lifting, and moving
Some travel
Security sensitive
Expected to process their considerable workloads in an excellent and timely manner which often requires efforts outside of a 40 hour work week.

Required Materials

Resume/CV
3 work references with their contact information; at least one reference should be from a supervisor
Letter of interest

Important for applicants who are NOT current university employees or contingent workers: You will be prompted to submit your resume the first time you apply, then you will be provided an option to upload a new Resume for subsequent applications. Any additional Required Materials (letter of interest, references, etc.) will be uploaded in the Application Questions section; you will be able to multi-select additional files. Before submitting your online job application, ensure that ALL Required Materials have been uploaded. Once your job application has been submitted, you cannot make changes.

Important for Current university employees and contingent workers: As a current university employee or contingent worker, you MUST apply within Workday by searching for Find UT Jobs. If you are a current University employee, log-in to Workday, navigate to your Worker Profile, click the Career link in the left hand navigation menu and then update the sections in your Professional Profile before you apply. This information will be pulled in to your application. The application is one page and you will be prompted to upload your resume. In addition, you must respond to the application questions presented to upload any additional Required Materials (letter of interest, references, etc.) that were noted above.

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Employment Eligibility:

Regular staff who have been employed in their current position for the last six continuous months are eligible for openings being recruited for through University-Wide or Open Recruiting, to include both promotional opportunities and lateral transfers. Staff who are promotion/transfer eligible may apply for positions without supervisor approval.

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Retirement Plan Eligibility:

The retirement plan for this position is Teacher Retirement System of Texas (TRS), subject to the position being at least 20 hours per week and at least 135 days in length. This position has the option to elect the Optional Retirement Program (ORP) instead of TRS, subject to the position being 40 hours per week and at least 135 days in length.

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Background Checks:

A criminal history background check will be required for finalist(s) under consideration for this position.

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Equal Opportunity Employer:

The University of Texas at Austin, as an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer, complies with all applicable federal and state laws regarding nondiscrimination and affirmative action. The University is committed to a policy of equal opportunity for all persons and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, marital status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, disability, religion, or veteran status in employment, educational programs and activities, and admissions.

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Pay Transparency:

The University of Texas at Austin will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor’s legal duty to furnish information.

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Employment Eligibility Verification:

If hired, you will be required to complete the federal Employment Eligibility Verification I-9 form. You will be required to present acceptable and original documents to prove your identity and authorization to work in the United States. Documents need to be presented no later than the third day of employment. Failure to do so will result in loss of employment at the university.

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E-Verify:

The University of Texas at Austin use E-Verify to check the work authorization of all new hires effective May 2015. The university’s company ID number for purposes of E-Verify is 854197. For more information about E-Verify, please see the following:

E-Verify Poster (English and Spanish) [PDF]
Right to Work Poster (English) [PDF]
Right to Work Poster (Spanish) [PDF]

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Compliance:

Employees may be required to report violations of law under Title IX and the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Crime Statistics Act (Clery Act). If this position is identified a Campus Security Authority (Clery Act), you will be notified and provided resources for reporting. Responsible employees under Title IX are defined and outlined in HOP-3031.

The Clery Act requires all prospective employees be notified of the availability of the Annual Security and Fire Safety report. You may access the most recent report here or obtain a copy at University Compliance Services, 1616 Guadalupe Street, UTA 2.206, Austin, Texas 78701.

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