|
Main accountabilities & expectations
|
Strategic Legal Advisory & Governance
1. Provide strategic legal advice and consultation to the Chancellor and relevant University leadership on complex legal matters, legal risks, and the interpretation and application of applicable legislation, University bylaws, regulations, policies, and decisions.
2. Identify significant legal implications and risks arising from matters referred to the Office and provide the Chancellor with appropriate legal assessment, recommendations, and mitigation options.
3. Oversee the drafting, reviewing, and updating of university policies, regulations, and executive decisions to ensure full compliance with UAE federal and local laws.
4. Provide or oversee legal advice on specialized institutional matters, including intellectual property, data protection and privacy, conflicts of interest, and other areas carrying significant legal or reputational exposure.
5. Establish appropriate legal review standards, protocols, and controls for matters referred to the Office, and provide the Chancellor with periodic reporting on significant legal cases, disputes, investigations, risks, and matters requiring executive direction.
6. Monitor relevant legislative and regulatory developments and advise the Chancellor and concerned University entities on significant implications and required actions.
Contracts, Agreements & Legal Commitments
7. Oversee the legal review of contracts, memoranda of understanding, partnership and research agreements, and other institutional commitments referred to the Office, ensuring appropriate protection of the University's legal interests.
8. Provide legal advice on significant contractual matters, including obligations, liabilities, negotiations, amendments, termination, disputes, and associated risks, and escalate matters requiring executive direction or approval.
Dispute Resolution and Litigation Management
9. Direct the legal strategy and oversight of claims, disputes, litigation, and other legal proceedings involving the University, ensuring appropriate protection of the University's interests.
10. Oversee the engagement and performance of external legal counsel, where required, ensuring appropriate expertise, quality of service, cost effectiveness, and effective management of assigned legal matters.
11. Ensure the appropriate preparation, legal quality, and sufficiency of case files, legal briefs, pleadings, evidence, and other submissions required for legal proceedings.
12. Serve as the primary authorized point of contact with relevant government, judicial, regulatory, and legal authorities on significant legal matters concerning the University, in accordance with delegated authorities.
Investigations and Compliance
13. Direct or provide legal oversight of complex or sensitive investigations involving employees, students, or other University stakeholders, ensuring appropriate legal and procedural requirements are observed.
14. Review investigation outcomes from a legal and procedural perspective and provide recommendations regarding proposed disciplinary or corrective actions to the appropriate decision-making authority.
15. Advise University committees and relevant stakeholders on significant disciplinary, grievance, misconduct, and compliance matters requiring legal interpretation.
Departmental Leadership and Operations
16. Lead the development and execution of the Legal Affairs Office's business and operational plans, aligning departmental objectives with the University's overarching strategic goals.
17. Lead, supervise, and develop Legal Affairs Office staff, ensuring appropriate workload allocation, professional standards, accountability, and quality of legal support.
18. Drive the enhancement of internal legal workflows, standard operating procedures, and archiving systems to promote best practices and ease of information access.
19. Perform any other strategic or operational duties as assigned by the Line Manager, ensuring alignment with the department's objectives and the University's broader institutional priorities.
|