The General Counsel serves as the primary legal advisor to Emporia State University. As such, legal advice is provided to those who administer the affairs of the University and who are authorized to act on behalf of the University, including the University President, administrators, academic officers and faculty, shared governance entities, and subordinate entities of the University. The General Counsel does not give personal legal advice to University personnel or to others.

Duties of General Counsel

In fulfilling its role, the General Counsel has the following duties:

• Advise the President and others acting on behalf of the University regarding the University’s interests with regard to legal, regulatory, policy and compliance issues. This includes ancillary issues, such as (but not limited to) business, academic, public relations, student and personnel matters, and University shared governance.
• Fulfill such assignments and projects as directed by the President from time to time.
• Assist the Kansas Attorney General’s Office with any and all litigation in which the University or a University employee is a party.
• Review contracts, memorandums of understanding and memorandums of agreement.
• Draft language for contracts and memorandums, policies, official correspondence, and other legal documents.
• Prepare written opinions with recommendations as asked or when appropriate to an issue.
• Share new information on relevant issues with the appropriate University officials.
• Receive and respond to inquiries and requests pursuant to the Kansas Open Records Act and the Kansas Open Meetings Act.
• Receive and respond to inquiries and notices from federal and state agencies.
• Be available to speak to University schools, colleges, departments, shared governance, and other groups on issues relevant to each group and the University.

DISCLAIMER: The information presented here is for general informational purposes only. Nothing contained within this site and related links may be construed as legal advice from the Emporia State University Office of General Counsel. Laws, regulations and policies change frequently. Legal advice can be provided only in the course of an attorney-client relationship with reference to all of the facts of a specific situation. This information, therefore, must not be relied on as a substitute for obtaining legal advice from a licensed attorney. If you have legal questions or need legal advice pertaining to University matters, please contact the Office of General Counsel directly.