FAQ
Welcome to the FAQ page for the Office of Government and Legal Affairs. This section provides answers to common inquiries our office receives regarding university policy, legal compliance, contracts, government relations, and other legal matters.
The information provided here is for general guidance on university-related business and does not constitute personal legal advice. Our office represents the university as an institution.
Please browse the topics below. If your question is not addressed, faculty and staff should contact our office directly for assistance with university matters.
The General Counsel and Deputy General Counsel serve as legal counsel for the university and represent the university as a corporate entity in legal matters. Our office provides legal advice and assistance to the President and Board of Trustees, senior administrative and academic officers, and employees acting within their scope of employment. All matters requiring legal advice and/or legal action (including, for example, contracts and agreements, lawsuits, subpoenas, correspondence raising legal claims, issues of government regulatory compliance, taxation, and real estate) must be referred to our office. Our office is responsible for coordination of all legal services for the university, and must approve in advance any engagement of outside counsel to advise or represent the university.
No.
We can only provide you assistance and advice if the legal matter directly involves or affects the university. If you have a personal legal matter, you are encouraged to seek counsel from an independent attorney.
Our office needs to review all contracts before they are signed.
We strive to provide feedback on all contracts within 10 business days. You are encouraged to submit your contract for review as soon as possible to ensure that there is ample time for review.
E-mail your contract to our office as soon as possible and indicate in your e-mail the time constraint.
We will notify you if our office cannot complete the review within the amount of time requested.
Compliance issues can be related to activities, situations, and transactions that could potentially violate federal, state, or local laws and regulations, or violate Loyola’s policies, procedures, and rules. Examples include violations of regulations associated with research, conflicts of interest, environmental concerns, fraud, information security, fire safety, etc.
If you believe that compliance is not being upheld, follow the steps below for how to address the potential issue:
- Identify concern. If you have observed potentially illegal or unethical behavior, you may first wish to review related policies for guidance and clarity.
- Discuss concern with supervisor. Contact your supervisor for guidance about your concern. If you are uncomfortable with this approach, see Step 3.
- Discuss concern with our office. If you are still uncomfortable, wish to remain anonymous, or have not received an adequate response, see Step 4.
- Submit a report to the anonymous hotline.
Do not accept service of a subpoena or other legal document that is directed at the university. Only our office is authorized to accept service of a subpoena or any other legal document on behalf of the university. If a process server attempts to serve you with a legal document that is directed at the university, send the process server to our office and contact us immediately. Please explain that only our office is authorized to accept service on behalf of the university.
Forward the document to our office as soon as possible.
If a lawyer other than an attorney for the University calls you to discuss a legal matter, instruct the lawyer to contact the Office of the General Counsel at (408) 554-5355. Do not discuss any pending or potential lawsuits or legal matters with outside attorneys.
No.
Our office is charged with engaging outside counsel when necessary.
Contact the Loyola University Police Department Chief of Police (504) 865-3434) or our office immediately.
Do not provide information or access until you have conferred with one or both of these offices to ensure that the person has valid authority and the university responds appropriately.
Calmly explain that you are checking with other university officials and ask the official to wait.
If this is an expected or planned visit, please follow your office’s standard protocol, which should include referring requests for employment verification to Human Resources and referring requests for education verification to Student Services.