Swarthmore College is a highly selective liberal arts college located in the suburbs of Philadelphia, whose mission combines academic rigor with social responsibility. Swarthmore has a strong institutional commitment to inclusive excellence and nondiscrimination in its educational program and employment practices and encourages candidates who will further advance the goal of fostering a diverse and inclusive community. As one of the nation’s finest institutions of higher learning, Swarthmore College is global in outlook and draws students from around the nation and world. The 425‐acre campus is a designated arboretum, complete with gardens, rolling lawns, a creek, wooded hills, and hiking trails in the Crum Woods.

Who We Are:

The Office of General Counsel (OGC) manages the general legal affairs of the College in alignment with the College’s mission and values, and is committed to providing competent legal counsel with the highest degree of ethics and integrity. The OGC also oversees the College’s institutional risk management review process.

The opportunity:

Reporting to the General Counsel, the Assistant General Counsel (AGC) supports a wide breadth of legal issues affecting the College’s business and activities as assigned. The AGC will provide professional legal advice and expertise to the College community, while maintaining a willingness to learn and investigate emerging legal topics. Some of the AGC’s key responsibilities include:

• Advising on internal resolution processes and investigations involving civil rights, equitable access, compliance and other policy issues. The AGC will assist the General Counsel and other community partners (e.g. Human Resources, The Provost’s office, Campus Safety, Title IX Coordinator, Student Conduct) by securing external investigators.
• Reviewing and developing risk management and compliance programs through collaboration with key campus partners in the development and review of College policies.
• Monitoring of relevant legal and regulatory developments and will provide guidance to campus stakeholders on the application to the College’s operations.
• Creating and delivering educational programs for key constituencies on various legal topics including Mandated Reporters Working with Minors Training.

Essential Responsibilities

• Conducts legal research and prepares related memorandum, legal correspondence, and legal documents. Also, may oversee research performed by the Office’s Paralegal and others, including outside counsel.
• Drafts, negotiates, and reviews, legal commitments involving College resources, contracts, affiliation agreements, and settlements of claims.
• Creates educational and informational materials and programs on various legal and risk management topics.
• As directed by the General Counsel, reviews anticipated and pending legal claims and conducts document reviews and interviews as necessary to assist the General Counsel in forming the College’s legal position. With College gatekeepers, coordinates response to subpoenas and records requests.
• Supports the General Counsel with all compliance and institutional risk management reporting to the board’s audit and risk management committee and other committees as needed.
• Assists key College partners in development of the College’s compliance program.
• Performs other duties and responsibilities as required or assigned.

Who you are:

• Ability to develop expanding expertise in an array of legal issues affecting higher education institutions (i.e., higher education, litigation, compliance, employment, intellectual property, property and construction, torts, etc.).
• Excellent problem-solving, facilitative, and dispute resolution skills.
• Experience as a trained and skilled investigator in Title IX, IV, and related civil rights harassment and discrimination matters.
• Experience developing and implementing training development and presentations, as well as experience analyzing data-driven reports.
• Superb interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills.
• Ability to build and cultivate positive, effective relationships with diverse College community members. At all times, maintains professionalism and civility as a team leader and member within several diverse groups. Solicits input from community members as appropriate.
• Sound judgment, reasoning, and analytical skills.
• Exhibits maturity, reliability, calming composure, and stability under pressure in order to address intense and fast-paced challenges successfully.
• Must be able to work independently and set and meet priorities with minimal supervision. Excellent project management skills are a must.

What you bring:

Required Qualifications

• Minimum of five (5) years of legal generalist experience that includes relevant experience (preferably at least three (3) years) in several of the following areas of practice within higher education: nonprofit corporation governance, employment law (staff and faculty), enterprise risk management, compliance, student life/conduct, civil rights (Title IX, VI, ADA, etc), harassment/discrimination, government relations, policy management, and relevant criminal law.
• The right candidate will possess a record of professional competence demonstrating progressive responsibilities, expertise with a diverse array of legal topics, aptitude as a generalist, and a track record of working effectively with clients from various constituencies.
• Bar Admission: Law degree from an accredited U.S. law school and license to practice law with good standing in Pennsylvania.
• Fosters and abides by a high standard of professional ethics in order to uphold the integrity of the OGC and the College. Must at all times maintain the strict confidentiality of the office.

 Preferred Qualifications

• Trained and skilled in alternative dispute resolution, such as negotiation, mediation, and arbitration.

 Working Conditions

• Must be able to perform work in-person at a College workspace. Hybrid work from home must be approved by the supervisor and scheduled in advance in accordance with College policy. Hybrid work may not exceed two (2) days per week, unless approved by the supervisor in accordance with College policy. Some travel will be required. On occasion, when necessary and as determined by the General Counsel, AGC must be available for consultation during nights and weekends, in order to fully support the College’s emerging legal needs.

 What You Will Get:

You’ll work at one of the world's most renowned liberal arts Colleges, with incredible benefits, a stunning 420-acre campus, and a collaborative work environment. Join a team of passionate, creative people who work hard and have fun supporting the College students, faculty, and staff.

We want to hear from you if you are excited about this role! For full consideration, submit applications with an uploaded resume, including a cover letter, by March 1, 2025. Applications received after this date may be reviewed on a rolling basis until the job has been filled. A cover letter indicating how your qualifications and experience have prepared you for this position. If you have experience that meets any of the preferred qualifications, please include a detailed explanation of any such experience in your cover letter and how it meets the preferred qualification(s).

Act 153 Required by Position 

This position may regularly interact with minors. Under Pennsylvania Child Protective Services Law, (23 Pa. Cons. Stat. §§6301, et seq.) employees who have direct contact with minors are required to obtain the following background clearances prior to the start of employment:

• Pennsylvania Access to Criminal History (PATCH) through the Pennsylvania State Police
• Pennsylvania Child Abuse History Clearance (PACA) through the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services
• FBI Criminal History Background Check (FBI Fingerprint).

Education Verification Required by Position

An education verification is required for this position because a college degree is a required qualification for this position.

Preview our Benefits Flyer. We offer benefit plans starting at zero cost! Upon benefit eligibility, the College contributes 10% of an employee’s salary to their retirement account. Employees are 100% vested in their accounts on the date participation begins.

2025 Swarthmore Benefits Guidebook

Retirement Plans

Tuition Grant Program

Tuition Reimbursement Program

Paid Time Off (Staff)

Holiday Schedule

Swarthmore College actively seeks and welcomes applications from candidates with exceptional qualifications, particularly those with demonstrable commitments to a more inclusive society and world. Swarthmore College is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Women and minorities are encouraged to apply.