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Office of the University Counsel

Mission Statement

To provide top quality, timely, effective and efficient legal services to the university coummunity.

Legal Services to the University Community

The University Counsel's office provides legal services to the President and members of the University community, including representation, advice, research, training and opinions to administration, faculty and staff, and others acting on the University's behalf.

The University Counsel serves as a member of the President's executive leadership team and works closely and collaboratively with senior administrators, executive and administrative employees, faculty, staff, and various standing and ad hoc committees, including the University's conflict of interest evaluation committee. The University Counsel is responsible for providing employees with client advice, representation in civil matters and administrative/enforcement proceedings, litigation support, reviewing, drafting and negotiating contracts and settlements, extra-judicial resolutions, institutional affiliation, purchasing and service contracts, and other legal matters involving the institution, including review of University policies and procedures.

For most employees, the most important function University Counsel will serve will be providing legal representation and advice during a lawsuit, institutional dispute, complaint, grievance, or investigation; as legal counsel during an on-site investigation or audit by an external enforcement agency such as the Department of Labor, the United States Department of Education, the EEOC, or the NCAA; as litigation counsel; or as a liaison between the employee and the Tennessee Attorney General's office during litigation.  University counsel enjoys derivative authority from the Tennessee Attorney General and as such is empowered to represent Tennessee State University and the university's employees in legal disputes.