One NIU department faces reorganization.

Next year, the Office of Corporate Counsel and General Counsel will be combined to form the Office of Legal Services under the leadership of Ken Davidson.

“With the pending retirement of long-time General Counsel George Shur, I have taken … steps that I believe will streamline and strengthen our legal operations,” NIU President John Peters said in a press release.

The Office of Legal Services will take over the handling of legal duties previously managed by the separate offices.

“This new model, which is employed at many other comprehensive public universities, will allow for more uniform reporting of legal issues and greater clarification and accountability with respect to specific legal responsibilities associated with university operations,” Peters said. “It should also allow us to realize some administrative cost savings.”

The change will take effect on Jan. 1, 2003. Davidson then will become the associate vice president for Legal Services and General Counsel.

Davidson’s relationship with the university began in 1990 as the general counsel for the Illinois Board of Regents in Springfield. In 1995, he took on his current duties of corporate counsel for NIU.

“My goal is the full integration of legal services that are used by the staff and officers of the university,” Davidson said.

Davidson said he plans to achieve this goal by meeting with deans and other university officials to evaluate current needs. He also wants to organize practice groups in the Office of Legal Services to work on specific subject matter, such as academic and business affairs, labor employment laws and risk management.

“I’d like to get qualified attorneys and paralegals with training or experience in certain areas delivering those services,” Davidson said.

Shur has faith in Davidson as he takes on the task of reorganizing the legal office for NIU.

“I’m comfortable with the fact that the university will be well-served,” Shur said.