General Counsel

Mission Statement

The Office of the General Counsel of Loyola University of Chicago is charged with the responsibility of providing, or causing to be provided, legal counsel and representation to Loyola University Chicago. The mission of the Office of the General Counsel is to provide first class legal services to the University, and to accomplish our mission we seek to:

• provide timely and responsible legal guidance;
• address existing and potential legal problems;
• reduce exposure to legal risk;
• help the institutional clients effectively and efficiently achieve their objectives;
• provide strong, vigorous and responsible advocacy;
• coordinate and supervise all legal services for the institutional clients

The University is our client, but our legal services to the University are provided through the individuals who carry out our clients’ work: their Board of Trustees, their officers, deans and heads of other academic units, department heads, or other designated representatives of the University. It follows, therefore, that the institution's needs and interests be recognized and placed above those of any of their units, employees or other individuals. We will provide legal advice and representation to those employees acting within the scope of their duties, but we cannot provide personal legal advice or representation to trustees, employees, students or other individuals.

We try to understand our clients’ objectives, alert them to the legal issues that may impact them and work together to meet their goals. We will endeavor to keep abreast of legislative, regulatory and case law, so that we can assist our clients in responding to requirements imposed by new developments.

The goal of our department, to the maximum extent possible, is prevention—to keep issues from becoming problems and problems from becoming lawsuits. Through timely and knowledgeable advice, we aid our clients in avoiding or reducing exposure to legal risks. We help the University discharge its missions by helping to create an awareness of the legal ramifications of proposed actions and by suggesting available alternative solutions where problems arise. 

When required to appear before courts, administrative agencies, or other public bodies, we provide strong and responsible advocacy. In non-adversary public situations we are also advocates and ambassadors for our clients and other persons who come in contact with the Office of the General Counsel, and we recognize the importance of professional conduct and will strive to acknowledge the inherent dignity of each individual, treating him or her accordingly. We recognize the importance of teamwork in performing our duties.

We are responsible for allocating available resources appropriately in seeking to achieve this mission and in the resolution of legal matters. We recognize that certain requests for legal services take priority over others, depending on the urgency and completeness of the request, the authority of the individual making the request, the significance of the legal issues, and the overall importance of the issue to the University.

In fulfilling the mission of this department, we strive to exercise the professional competence and independent judgment, avoid personal conflicts of interest or the appearance thereof, maintain the highest standards of ethical conduct, and be guided by the Illinois Rules of Professional Conduct and the Mission Statement of Loyola University Chicago.