Jobs and Careers

Associate General Counsel, Intellectual Property, Office of General Counsel

Cincinnati, United Statesfull_timeVerifiedPosted 22 May 2026

About the role

Current UC employees must apply internally via SuccessFactors

Next Lives at the University of Cincinnati

Founded in 1819, the University of Cincinnati ranks among the nation’s best urban public research universities. Home to more than 53,600 students, 12,000 faculty and staff, and over 360,000 living alumni, UC, a Carnegie 1 institution, combines research prowess with a physical setting The New York Times has called “the most ambitious campus design program in the country." UC's momentum has never been stronger as the anchor of the Cincinnati Innovation District, the oldest cooperative education (co-op) program in the country with students earning $94 million annually through paid experiences, an academic health system, and as a member of the Big 12 Conference. The university contributes $10.6 billion in economic impact to the city and $22.7 billion to the state of Ohio. At UC, next is all of us. Learn more at uc.edu.

UC is a mission-driven organization where we are committed to student success and positively transforming the community through scholarship and service. We thrive on innovation, making an impact, and fostering an environment where staff and faculty are key contributors to UC’s success.

Job Overview

The Office of General Counsel supports the dynamic educational environment of the University of Cincinnati by providing legal advice to support all areas of operation, instruction, research and administration at the University.

Attorneys in the Office of General Counsel provide, manage and coordinate legal services including legal counsel, representation, and advocacy to the University. As an assistant attorney general, these services are often performed in collaboration with the Ohio Attorney General’s Office.

Attorneys within the Office of General Counsel are expected to provide high-level legal advice, counsel and advocacy to the University in a wide variety of areas. This particular position is for an Associate General Counsel-Intellectual Property. It is part of a team within the Office of General Counsel responsible for providing accurate, timely, and detailed legal services to the University’s Office of Innovation, Office of Research, and Office of Trademarks, Licensing & Brand Engagement.

This position is primarily focused on developing and implementing patent strategy and protecting and commercializing innovations. This is an outstanding professional opportunity to work with highly talented and committed colleagues and contribute to the continued growth of a world-class organization.

Essential Functions

Reporting to the Vice President for Legal Affairs & General Counsel (or designee), this position will collaborate closely with leadership for the Office of Innovation to prepare, file, and prosecute patent applications, either directly or in coordination with external counsel; provide strategic IP counsel to leadership and staff, including guidance on patentability, claim scope, prosecution strategy, filing decisions, and portfolio development; collaborate with faculty, inventors, and staff to identify, evaluate, protect, and position intellectual property for commercialization; oversee patent prosecution workflows, including docket management, review of prosecution materials, foreign filing decisions, and continuation strategy; and support copyright and trademark matters, including protection strategy, registration questions, ownership issues, and practical risk assessment.
Provide and coordinate high-quality legal services including legal counsel, representation, and advocacy to the University on multiple unrelated matters rapidly, accurately, and effectively in a high-volume, fast-paced environment consistent with the expectations of the General Counsel or designee, University stakeholders, and the Ohio Attorney General.
Negotiate, draft, administer, and achieve legal compliance on a broad variety of commercial contracts, licensing agreements, leases, and other legal instruments memorializing the diverse activities of a large, dynamic, public organization.
Provide legal advice and counsel in contracting, compliance, intellectual property, and other higher education legal practice areas including, but not limited to, trademarks and licensing, labor and employment, student-related matters, contract review and negotiation, public procurement, compliance, privacy, public records, constitutional law, real estate, transactional matters, gifts and development, administrative law, and research-related matters such as