Assistant Counsel

DESCRIPTION

Legal Department-Flexible Location

Assistant Counsel

The American Association of University Professors (AAUP) is pleased to announce an Assistant Counsel position to be filled as soon as possible in its legal department. The leadership of the AAUP is looking for an individual who will help transform the Association into an organized, fighting union. Our goal is to defend the higher ed sector against increasing attacks while leading a fight for fair wages, job security, academic freedom, an end to student debt, and expanded access to post-secondary education. The ideal candidate will be committed to shaping and implementing organizing objectives to transform the AAUP into the fastest-growing union in higher education. The location for this position is flexible with the potential for working remotely in the U.S. while traveling regularly to AAUP's Washington D.C. office and elsewhere in the U.S. The Assistant Counsel must have reliable internet connection and be available between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. eastern time. Working in the AAUP's Washington, DC, office is optional. This position will work under AAUP's Senior Counsel.

The AAUP legal department has helped lead the fight against the attacks on higher education. In the legal arena, AAUP has aggressively challenged the Trump administration's attempts to punish faculty for protected speech, to use federal grants to impose ideological control over universities, to restrict the rights of immigrant faculty and students, and to cut funding to universities and components of the federal government that advance higher education. We have filed multiple lawsuits challenging the Trump administration, with notable wins including defeating the administration's termination of grants to Harvard and the University of California and stopping the administration's policy of targeting immigrant faculty based on speech about Palestine. The legal department leads the legal strategy and management of this litigation for AAUP. The legal department also speaks on the First Amendment, issues guidance and know your rights material to assist AAUP chapters and faculty, and provides advice to AAUP leadership on legal strategy. Seeking to shape the law in ways supportive of AAUP principles, the legal department also drafts and submits amicus briefs in key appellate cases. Additionally, the department performs in-house legal work for AAUP and supplies legal support for a number of key AAUP committees.

Duties and Responsibilities

The Associate Counsel will help lead AAUP's legal strategy and provide guidance and assistance to AAUP leadership and AAUP chapters and faculty. The substantive areas include academic freedom, employment and labor law, and constitutional law. This position will include the following responsibilities:

• Assist in the management of AAUP litigation.
• Provide guidance and advice to AAUP leadership and AAUP chapters on utilizing labor and employment law and First Amendment rights to protect AAUP members and higher education.
• Conduct trainings, workshops, and webinars for AAUP members and chapter leaders on legal issues.
• Author and file amicus curiae briefs and other briefs and pleadings in support of AAUP's core issues.
  Assist with the preparation and presentation of materials for management and leadership.
• Conduct legal research using Lexis, PACER and other resources and draft guidance memorandum.
• Review and analyze federal/state legislation-both proposed and existing.
  Draft articles, emails, or other materials for members or other constituencies.
• Prepare AAUP legal compliance materials, review contracts, and provide advice to AAUP management and leadership on legal compliance, governance, and labor and employment matters.
• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• Juris Doctorate degree from an accredited law school.
• Admission, in good standing, and license to practice in at least one jurisdiction.
• Three to eight years of legal experience.
• Strong interpersonal skills and a willingness to reach out to AAUP chapters and allies.
• Strong analytical and research skills, strong attention to detail, and ability to work independently.
• Experience and demonstrated ability working with diverse groups and individuals.
• Computer proficiency skills-including familiarity with MS Office, PACER and Lexis.
• Working knowledge of constitutional law, higher education law, non-profit law, academic freedom, employment or labor law preferred.
• Experience working on or managing affirmative litigation preferred.
• Experience working for a labor union and with unionized employees preferred.
• Must have reliable internet connection and be available to meet between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. eastern time. Working in the AAUP's Washington, DC, office is optional.
• This position requires a valid driver's license and the willingness and ability to travel throughout the United States, to work long, irregular hours and weekends as needed.

This job description is not designed or intended to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, or responsibilities that are required of the employee. Activities, duties, and responsibilities may change, or new ones may be assigned during the course of employment.

REQUIREMENTS

Compensation

Salary range: $95,000 - $120,000. Generous benefits package, including health insurance and 401(K).

Position Classification

This position is designated as a senior program officer in the Legal Department and is excluded from the staff union bargaining unit. This is an exempt position and not eligible for overtime pay.

Work Location

Work location is flexible. Travel to the Washington D.C. office, and to other locations in the U.S., is expected approximately once a month or more frequently.

To Apply

To apply, please submit a cover letter, resume, and a writing sample that would demonstrate your analytical writing skills. No phone calls or recruiters please. Review of applications will begin immediately. Full consideration of applications will be given to applications submitted by November 19, 2026. If necessary, applications submitted after November 19, 2026 may be considered on a rolling basis until December 4, 2026.