Statement and Purpose

Information regarding if an SPU employee has a question about a legal matter, or if an SPU employee is considering a project, event, or activity that may raise legal issues.

Policy 

If an SPU employee has a question about a legal matter relating to SPU operations or activities, or if an SPU employee is considering a project, event, or activity that may raise legal issues (e.g., legal compliance, risk of legal liability), the employee is encouraged to email SPU’s University Counsel (Nick Glancy, ​nglancy@spu.edu​​).  SPU’s University Counsel represents SPU as an institution and does not provide individual legal advice, except in the capacity of representing SPU.  If faculty members contact SPU’s University Counsel with a request for legal advice, they should copy their dean; and if staff members contact SPU’s University Counsel with a request for legal advice, they should copy their director, assistant vice president, associate vice president, or vice president. 
 
If an SPU employee intends to do a project, event, or activity that raises one or more legal issues, the employee should consult with SPU’s University Counsel at the outset before starting the project in order to identify the legal issues and consider how they should be addressed.  If significant legal work is required, then SPU’s University Counsel may recommend that outside legal counsel assist with the project.  Depending on the facts, the SPU employee may need to budget for some of the outside legal fees as part of the project.  Discussions about whether any legal fees should be borne in part or in whole by the employee’s department will likely involve the department’s area vice president and/or the provost.  ​