General Counsel

Position Summary :

Reporting to both the Superintendent and the Board of Education, the General Counsel supports the district’s mission of providing equitable learning opportunities to all students by overseeing all legal matters that occur within the Oklahoma City Public School District.

This is accomplished through the prevention and / or resolution of legal issues by providing counsel and guidance to the Board, Superintendent, Cabinet and other personnel and working with outside counsel as needed.

Functioning as a member of the Superintendent’s cabinet, the General Counsel also endeavors to promotes the overall effectiveness of the district by demonstrating exemplary leadership. Essential Duties :

• Renders legal advice and counsel to the Board, the Superintendent, to his / her Executive Staff and to other District Administrators;
• Represents Board of Education in administrative proceedings and before courts;
• Is, or becomes, thoroughly knowledgeable in matters related to or in regard to Oklahoma School Law, Federal Laws and District Policies and Regulations, as they relate to and affect the existing and proposed policies, procedures and activities within the jurisdiction and responsibility of the Board and its Executive Officer;
• Attends all regularly scheduled meetings and special meetings of the Board for the purpose of providing legal counsel, service assistance, reviews and provides recommendations as requested by the Superintendent;
• Provides legal counsel and advice and to represent them in administrative hearings before the Board and administrative agencies where appropriate and necessary;
• Reviews all contracts submitted to the District for approval and upon request, prepares contracts needed by the District, also provides legal opinions and recommendations with regard to proposed contracts;
• Leads the District’s negotiating teams in preparing for and participating in negotiations with the labor union teams with which the District bargains
• Reviews the existing and proposed policies, regulations, procedures programs and activities within the jurisdiction and responsibility of the District as they related to relevant laws, authorities, appropriate opinions and recommendations;
• Coordinates all aspects of developing, updating, distributing, explanation, interpreting, and implementing Board Policies and Administrative Regulations;
• Reports regularly to the Superintendent on any legal developments within the District and Legislative matters which require the Superintendent’s attention or action;
• Assists the Superintendent in his / her work with members of the Board on updates of current happenings;
• Informs the Board and / or Board President directly, with or without the knowledge of the Superintendent, of any serious legal exposure or risk to the Board or District which has not been previously communicated to the Board or Board President;
• Coordinates with outside counsel who handle legal matters for the District;
• Directs the planning, budgeting and expenditures of the Legal office;
• Supervises Legal and Board Services staff, including all aspects of the Board meeting preparation process;
• Promotes the overall effectiveness of the organization by performing tasks and sharing responsibilities of other members of the department / division during peak periods;
• Performs other tasks as assigned by the Superintendent.

Job Specifications : To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily.

The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill and / or ability required. Minimum Qualifications (Knowledge, Skills and / or Abilities Required) :

• Juris Doctorate;
• Licensed to practice law in the state of Oklahoma or another state and eligible to be admitted to the Oklahoma bar within 6 months of employment;
• A minimum of 10 years’ experience practicing law in a relevant field;
• Willingness to become thoroughly knowledgeable in matters relating to Oklahoma School Law, Federal Law, State Law, District Policies and Regulations;
• Ability to work well with others and to build positive trusting interpersonal relationships;
• Ability to communicate effectively, to listen, write clearly and directly and to speak articulately;

Preferred Qualifications :

• Experience practicing Oklahoma school law, or serving as counsel to a relevant governmental agency
• Knowledge of labor relations and experience in labor union negotiations
• A minimum of 5 years’ experience managing staff

Working Conditions and Physical Requirements : The working conditions and physical requirements described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.

Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

• Able to sit and stand for extended periods of time.
• Exhibit manual dexterity to enter data into a computer.
• Able to see and read a computer screen and printed material with or without vision aids.
• Hear and understand speech at normal levels, outdoors and on the telephone.
• Speak in audible tones so that others may understand clearly.
• Physical agility to bend, stoop, climb stairs, walk, reach and lift up to 25 pounds.
• Duties are normally performed in an office environment.
• The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

Reports To : Superintendent and Board of Education FSLA Status : Exempt Compensation : 800 Salary Schedule (Salary determined by experience) Work Days : 242 FTE : 100