Legal Counsel

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About the Department

The Office of General Counsel and University Secretariat manages and supports the bicameral governance system in accordance with legal requirements and obligations, the Post-secondary Learning Act, the bylaws of the Board of Governors and General Faculties Council, and accepted governance best practices. While maintaining a neutral role within the governance system, the governance members of the Office of General Counsel and University Secretariat actively support effective oversight, decision making and accountability. This is accomplished through providing support and guidance to the governing bodies, their committees and to the Executive Team on all governance, policy, and operational issues that might affect the institution. The Office of General Counsel and University Secretariat serves as the repository for information on all matters relating to these governing bodies, and their respective committees. In addition, the Office of General Counsel and University Secretariat provides leadership and expertise in the areas of governance; privacy, information and records management; legal services; legislative compliance; safe disclosure; and risk management.

About the Role

The Legal Counsel acts in the capacity of a senior lawyer and provides tactful, practical and carefully considered legal advice to senior and executive leadership at Mount Royal University. Legal matters that the incumbent may be called upon to assist with or take the lead on include, but are not limited to:
review and interpretation of applicable legislation, agreements (drafting, review, assessment of risk, negotiation), academic research, procurement, leases, exposure to liability in tort or contract, enforcement of legal rights (including contractual rights), privacy, construction/procurement, and intellectual property management (licensing, assignment and copyright concerns) and immigration advice. The incumbent will also provide legal advice with respect to privacy legislation, including advice with respect to access to information requests, privacy management programs and privacy breach response. This role is also responsible for the University’s annual legislative compliance report for the Board of Governors. The incumbent may also be asked to provide advice in employment and labour matters including, grievances, investigations and advice related to conduct, termination of employment, senior leader employment contracts), student conduct, human rights and duty to accommodate (advising on MRU's obligations to students, employees, public) and advice with respect to the University policies.

This highly complex role requires a professional, technically proficient lawyer with deep institutional knowledge to deliver strategic, practical guidance to senior and executive university leaders. Managing a diverse portfolio of legal areas, the incumbent must accurately assess risk exposure to safeguard the university from severe financial, safety, and reputational consequences. The position demands handling highly sensitive, proprietary information with strict confidentiality while maintaining full compliance with the Legal Profession Act, Rules of the Law Society, and the Code of Professional Conduct.

This is a full-time, replacement-term position, for approximately 18 months.

Responsibilities

Working closely in collaboration with other members of the team and as directed by the Associate General Counsel, the incumbent will provide responsive assistance, legal advice, and opinions on a broad range of legal matters impacting the University by communicating risks and expected outcomes to internal clients, and making recommendations to mitigate risks to the University with a focus on problem solving to facilitate the business and operational needs. This includes:

• Consultation with other internal subject matter experts to formulate advice, opinions, and recommendations
• Represent MRU's legal position to external parties as required.
• Lead or participate in drafting, review, assessment of risk, and negotiation of agreements, academic research, procurement, leases, management of uninsured litigation, exposure to liability in tort or contract, enforcement of legal rights (including contractual rights), intellectual property management (licensing, assignment).
• Provide legal advice to departments in the establishment of processes which efficiently, effectively and pragmatically supports senior leaders to weigh, mitigate and balance legal risks on behalf of the University.
• Possess a strong understanding of University processes and operational activities and provide legal advice with respect to the operational activities of the University, including procurement (including capital projects), research, software and other technology, aviation and academic programming agreements.
• Collaborate with external counsel, as needed, where matters require specific specialization.
• Provide legal advice with respect to the University’s obligations under the Protection of Privacy Act and Access to Information Act of Alberta. This includes providing advice with respect to access requests, privacy breaches, privacy impact assessments, privacy management program and the University’s use of personally identifiable information throughout its operations.
• Identify relevant legislation impacting MRU, including changes to legislation and work closely with all units to report on compliance.
• Lead the organizational framework to monitor and report compliance with legislation annually to the Board. 
• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• University Master Degree or Post Graduate Studies. The incumbent must possess an LLB or JD with experience in the focus areas of the position.
• Active membership in the Law Society of Alberta is required.
• Four or more years of experience in providing a broad base of legal advice and recommendations.
• Functioning and managing workload with a high level of independence and diplomacy.
• Requires practical experience to competently deal with complex issues and communicate with experienced and knowledgeable personnel at the most senior levels of leadership.
• Requires knowledge and practice in broad practice areas of law and a demonstrated ability to adapt and learn new areas of law.
• Demonstrated experience analyzing varying types of complex legal agreements including interpretation of complex legal language and assessment of risk and suggested mitigation strategies, and drafting complex legal language.
• Demonstrated ability to deal with sensitive and confidential information.
• Tact, diplomacy and persuasiveness.
• Strong customer services orientation and the ability to build positive, productive business relationships within and external to MRU.
• Exceptional attention to detail combined with keen analytical, communication and negotiation skills.
• Self-motivated, with strong organizational skills and the ability to meet tight deadlines.

Salary Range: $114,988 - $158,680

Closing Date: Open unital a suitable candidate is found.

A cover letter and resume should be submitted in one .pdf document. Please title your .pdf document as follows: [Last Name], [Requisition Number], [Document Title].pdf (ex. Smith, 999999, CV.pdf).