The Office of General Counsel provides legal advice and representation to Samford University. The office advises the Board of Trustees, the President, executive officers, administrators, faculty, and staff on all legal issues that impact the university. Samford is a complex academic community that implicates numerous legal disciplines. As such, the work of the Office of General Counsel involves many areas of law, including compliance oversight, contracting, licensing, business transactions, corporate governance, litigation, employment, athletics, intellectual property, real estate, law enforcement, and risk management.
Government Affairs
The Office of Government Affairs serves as the chief liaison between Samford University and elected and appointed officials at the federal, state, and local levels. The office works to advance the interests and mission of Samford University through engagement with government leaders and policymakers in Washington, D.C., Montgomery, Homewood, and the greater Birmingham area.
Who is in the Office of General Counsel?
Joseph H. “Jody” Hunt
Joseph H. (“Jody”) Hunt ’82 is General Counsel and Vice President for Government Affairs. Prior to joining Samford, Jody spent more than two decades at the United States Department of Justice in Washington D.C., where he supervised the government’s highest-profile litigation involving constitutional issues, national security matters, state secrets cases, and numerous other challenges to federal statutes and programs in courts around the country. During his time as a career public servant, Jody was a three-time recipient of the Attorney General’s Distinguished Service Award, the highest honor at the United States Department of Justice. In 2017, he served as Chief of Staff to the Attorney General of the United States, and was later confirmed by the United States Senate as Assistant Attorney General in charge of the Civil Division. As head of the division, which operates as the government’s law firm, he oversaw the work of more than 1,000 attorneys who defended and prosecuted matters nationwide on behalf of the United States. Jody earned a bachelor’s degree from the Howard College of Arts and Sciences at Samford, where he was covaledictorian of his class and President of the Student Government. He went on to earn a master’s degree from The Florida State University and his juris doctor (J.D.) degree from Columbia University. He also spent time working in private practice, and was a law clerk to U.S. District Judge James H. Hancock of the Northern District of Alabama.
Jared Miller
Jared Miller came to Samford in 2022 and serves as its Deputy General Counsel. Jared earned his Bachelor of Arts in Classical Studies, magna cum laude, from Samford where he was also a University Fellow. Upon his graduation from Samford, he attended The University of Alabama School of Law where he received his juris doctor, cum laude. During law school he was also an Articles Editor for the Alabama Law Review and a law clerk for the University of Alabama Office of Counsel. After law school, Jared continued to work in the Office of Counsel at Alabama as a Law Fellow and then as University Counsel until leaving to return to his undergraduate alma mater. Jared and his wife, Haley, are the proud parents of two children, Annie and Peterson, and are members of Dawson Memorial Baptist Church in Homewood.
Katie Jackman
Katie Jackman came to Samford in October 2022 and serves as an Executive Assistant and Paralegal. Katie earned her Bachelor of Arts in Corporate Journalism from Auburn University and later obtained her Paralegal Studies Certificate from Samford University. She previously worked as a paralegal at Burr & Forman LLP and Cox & Stansberry, LLC. Katie and her husband, Charles, are the proud parents of two children, Claire and Bennett, and are members of Shades Mountain Baptist Church.
FAQs
Does the General Counsel provide legal assistance for personal matters for faculty, staff and students?
No, the General Counsel only represents the university, including faculty and non-faculty employees with respect to the performance of their employment by Samford. If faculty, staff, students or other individuals have personal legal issues, they should contact a private attorney.
When should I contact the Office of the General Counsel?
Contact the Office of the General Counsel when you need legal documents prepared or reviewed, when a situation may result in a claim or lawsuit against the university, when you are seeking legal advice in relation to your Samford employment obligations, and when you have questions about compliance issues.
I have a personal document that requires notarization. May I get that notarized in your office?
Yes. We are available to notarize university and personal documents for faculty, staff and students during normal business hours. Contact our office at 205-726-4502 to schedule an appointment. You will need to bring a state or government-issued picture I.D. with you. Do not sign the document until you are in the presence of the notary.
Does the General Counsel need to review all university contracts?
Yes, all contracts require a legal review by the Office of General Counsel.
Who has the authority to sign a contract on behalf of Samford University?
The President has the authority to sign all contracts on behalf of the university. The President has delegated to the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs the authority to sign Academic Contracts and to the Vice President for Finance and Business Affairs the authority to sign Business Contracts. (The President, Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs, and Vice President for Finance and Business Affairs may delegate authority to other University officials to sign certain contracts within their area of responsibility.)
