Assistant Counsel - Office of General Counsel

Location: Albany, NY Category: Professional Posted On: Fri Jan 30 2026

The Assistant Counsel is a member of the SUNY Office of General Counsel ("OGC") assigned to represent the University at Albany Campus, located on the UAlbany Campus. The position is responsible for all matters affecting the legal interests of the Campus and reports directly to the Chief Campus Counsel at UAlbany for all legal matters.

• This position advises on a wide range of legal issues pertaining to University business, its relationships with affiliated entities, and its administrators, faculty, and staff. Responsibilities include providing up-to-date and timely legal advice based on thorough research on:
  • Student leaves of absence, discipline, dismissal, and appeals
  • Compliance with state and federal laws and regulations, including Title IX, Title VI, Title VII, FERPA, New York Education Law Article 129-b
  • Faculty hiring, promotion, tenure, investigations, discipline, termination and discrimination
  • Drafting and negotiating contracts within the context of New York State finance and procurement guidelines
  • Reviewing the legal ramifications of external audits
  • FOIL handling and interpretation
• This position will also assist in UAlbany litigation, primarily handled in court by the NYS Attorney General as trial counsel, and represent UAlbany and UAlbany employees in state and federal administrative agency proceedings.
• Key Position
  
  Responsibilities include:
  • Developing, negotiating, reviewing academic agreements with other colleges and universities
  • Providing advice and recommendations regarding campus-based policies
  • Legal support to the Office of Enterprise Risk Management
  • Advising in various student-related matters concerning academic leaves, discipline, and dismissal
  • Creating clear, concise, enforceable, persuasive legal drafts and writing supported by competent legal authority
  • Representing UAlbany and UAlbany employees in state and federal administrative agency proceedings and, on occasion, state and federal courts
  • Representing UAlbany in employee and student discipline matters, discrimination cases, internal investigations, and labor and employment issues
  • Developing and delivering training to campus constituencies on key compliance issues including 1st Amendment, attorney‑client privilege, record retention/e‑discovery, email, FOIL, media responses, NYS Ethics, and other important areas
  • Maintaining good relationships and communicating effectively with clients
  • Adhering to the highest professional and ethical standards
  • Keeping clients updated on changes to the law affecting the University’s legal interests
• SUNY OGC Duties: This position interfaces with OGC colleagues to coordinate the delivery of consistent legal services, including participation in OGC staff meetings and trainings. The position directly handles all other duties as may be assigned by the SUNY General Counsel.

• J.D. degree from an ABA accredited law school
• Applicants must demonstrate an ability to develop inclusive and equitable relationships within our diverse campus community
• Applicants must demonstrate an ability to support diversity, equity, access, inclusion, and belonging relative to their role

• Experience with:
  • At least one (1) year of legal experience
  • Admission in good standing to the New York State Bar (or ability to gain admission within one year)
  • Higher Education Law
  • Employment and Discrimination Law (including arbitrations and interrogations)
  • Litigation experience on behalf of SUNY or another New York State agency
  • Policy development
  • Student Affairs related issues (including small claims)
  • Research related to contractual issues
  • Procurement contracts

Professional Rank and Salary Range:
Assistant Counsel, MP, $105,000 - $115,000.

Special Notes:
Visa sponsorship is not available for this position. If you currently need sponsorship or will need it in the future to maintain employment authorization, you do not meet eligibility requirements. Additionally, UAlbany is not an E‑Verify employer.

The Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act mandates that all Title IV institutions, without exception, prepare, publish, and distribute an Annual Security Report. The University at Albany’s Annual Security Report is available in PDF format by clicking this link (Use the "Apply for this Job" box below)..shtml

Pursuant to NYS Labor Law 194‑A, no State entity is permitted to rely on, orally or in writing, seek, request, or require in any form that an applicant for employment provide his or her current wage, or salary history as a condition to be interviewed. If such information has been requested from you before such time, please contact the Governor’s Office of Employee Relations at 518‑474‑6988 or via email .

THE UNIVERSITY AT ALBANY IS AN EO/AA/IRCA/ADA EMPLOYER.

Please apply online via