Harper College · 1 week ago
In-House Legal Counsel
1200 W Algonquin Road, Palatine, IL, 60067, US
Full-time
Onsite
Mid, Senior Level
$130K/yr - $195K/yr
5+ years expHarper College is one of the nation’s premier community colleges, serving approximately 29,000 students annually. This role serves as the college’s in-house attorney, providing expert legal guidance and risk management across all areas of institutional operations, including compliance with regulations and managing a wide range of legal matters.
Higher Education
Responsibilities
Provides timely and practical legal advice to senior leadership, administrators, and departments on employment, student, and institutional matters
Identifies potential legal risks and recommends proactive strategies to mitigate exposure
Coordinates with outside counsel on litigation, specialized legal matters, or high-risk cases
Monitors, interprets, and communicates changes in federal, state, and local laws and regulations
Manages Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and public records requests, advising departments, ensuring compliance with timelines, and mitigating legal risk
Assists in the development, review, and revision of Harper College policies, handbooks, and procedures to ensure legal compliance and alignment with institutional goals
Reviews departmental materials for legal sufficiency and regulatory adherence
Drafts, reviews, and negotiates contracts, agreements, memoranda, and other legal documents
Ensures internal documentation reflects best legal practices and minimizes institutional risk
Maintains comprehensive records of legal matters, advice, and documentation
Provides regular updates to senior leadership on legal issues, trends, and compliance requirements
Qualification
Required
Juris Doctorate from an ABA-accredited law school
Licensed to practice law in Illinois and in good standing with the Illinois Bar
Minimum 5 years of legal experience in civil, government, or higher education law, with increasing responsibility
Demonstrated knowledge of federal and state laws and regulations applicable to higher education, including Title IX, Title VI, FERPA, ADA, employment law, collective bargaining, and commercial contracts
Strong legal research, writing, and analytical skills
Excellent oral and written communication skills with the ability to advise administrators across the institution
Ability to manage confidential matters with discretion
Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively in a diverse and inclusive environment
Preferred
Seven or more years of legal experience, preferably including higher education, civil, or governmental practice
Experience managing FOIA/public records requests
Demonstrated composure and professionalism in high-pressure or sensitive situations
Company
Harper College
Harper College is a school in Palatine.
1001-5000 employees
Funding
Current Stage
Late StageLeadership Team
Tamara A. Johnson
Vice President of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
Recent News
2025-04-30
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