About the Office of Legal Affairs
Purpose Statement and Mission
The purpose of the Office of Legal Affairs is to advise and educate Liberty University decision makers on applicable laws, resolve legal claims, facilitate transactions, foster organizational ethics and a culture of compliance, and provide counsel for sound decision-making and creative problem-solving, all in service to the University’s mission.
The mission of the Office of Legal Affairs is to provide high quality legal services and counsel to our clients, Liberty University and its affiliates. Legal services are provided by request of the President, the Board of Trustees, and other administrators generally at the Vice President, Dean and Director levels. The office also undertakes various legal initiatives. The office consists of ten attorneys, support staff, and legal interns. The General Counsel also retains outside counsel on certain matters.
The General Counsel’s function is to provide, manage and coordinate legal services for Liberty University. This is a wide and varied practice because the University’s work touches so many areas of the law, including:
- administrative
- advertising & marketing
- athletics
- aviation
- broadcasting
- construction
- commercial contracts
- corporate & other business entities
- education
- employment
- entertainment
- ethics
- immigration
- intellectual property
- investment & securities
- law enforcement
- litigation
- lobbying
- non-profit
- privacy
- real estate
- tax
- tort law
- wills, trusts & estates
Legal work undertaken includes:
- respond to subpoenas
- assess legal risk
- customized training
- draft contracts and forms
- review of certain contracts
- supervise outside attorneys
- provide advice and counsel that applies law to answer questions
- interpret legal standards for compliance
- interface with governmental agencies
- provide legally informed strategic advice
- draft policy and review policy proposals and revisions
- draft public statements regarding legal matters
Generally, contract review services are provided by the Procurement and Payment Services Department, which consults with the Office of Legal Affairs, as necessary.
All staff members in the Office of Legal Affairs endeavor to maintain the highest standards of professional ethics, discrete confidentiality, and exemplary integrity, diligently working toward those ends. They take pride in all they do and strive to produce an excellent work product. Four words exemplify the qualities of the Office of Legal Affairs: mission, commitment, service, and professionalism. The staff is committed to the unique mission of the University and is committed to providing service to others which is required for the mission to succeed, while maintaining the high standards of a Christian legal professional.