Services Provided

The Office of the General Counsel assists the University community by providing a wide variety of legal services. These include:

• advising University administrators, faculty, and staff on regulatory compliance and other legal aspects of their professional duties
• representing the University in litigation before federal and state courts and administrative agencies
• drafting, reviewing, and negotiating contracts between the University and other entities
• reviewing legal documents and correspondence
• monitoring University compliance with federal and state regulatory requirements
• representing the University in real estate and other commercial transactions
• working with outside counsel representing the University in legal proceedings
• providing training on applicable legal issues
• assisting in formulating and/or reviewing University policies and procedures

Principal areas of practice include the following:

• Contracts
• Copyright and Publishing
• Immigration
• Intellectual Property
• Labor and Employment
• Litigation
• Real Estate and Land Use
• Records Access and Privacy
• Regulatory Compliance
• Student Issues

In addition to providing legal services to the University community, the Office of General Counsel offers a broad spectrum of training sessions and seminars on a wide range of legal subjects and assists departments in designing and implementing policies and procedures. Training sessions can  be tailored to a department’s specific needs. We encourage departments to take advantage of these training opportunities, which, like most of the services provided by the Office, are offered free of charge.

The Office of General Counsel cannot provide legal advice to students or employees about personal legal issues or to persons with claims adverse to the University.  Students requiring legal advice should contact Community Rights and Responsibilities located in the Student Services Building.