Assistant or Associate Counsel

The State University of New York; City of Albany (NY); On-site; USD 92,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Dental coverage

Vision coverage

Tuition assistance

Parental leave

Paid holidays

Job summary

The State University of New York's Office of General Counsel in Albany, NY seeks an Assistant or Associate Counsel to provide day-to-day legal services to a state-operated campus and system-wide matters. The role requires JD, NY Bar admission, strong writing and research, and the ability to manage multiple matters with discretion.

Salary ranges reflect Assistant and Associate levels and SUNY benefits. Limited telecommuting may be available; travel as needed.

Qualifications

• Juris Doctor degree from ABA-accredited law school or foreign equivalent.
• Admission to NY State Bar or eligible within six months.
• Strong academic background.
• Excellent legal research, writing, and communication skills.
• Ability to manage multiple matters with sound judgment.

Responsibilities

• Provide legal advice for campus and SUNY System wide matters.
• Draft, review, and revise agreements, policies, and memos.
• Support governance, ethics, records, and policy interpretation.
• Conduct legal research and supply statutory and regulatory guidance.
• Assist with SUNY policies, procedures, and cross-campus initiatives.

Skills

Juris Doctor

NY Bar

Legal research

Legal writing

Multitasking

Education

ABA-accredited law school

Job description

Location: Albany, NY Category: Professional Positions Job Type: Full-time Posted On: Wed Sep 9 2026

Job Description:

About The Office Of General Counsel:

The Office of General Counsel provides legal services and support to the Board of Trustees, the Chancellor and senior officers of the State University of New York at SUNY System Administration, as well as to presidents and administrators of campuses across the System. Under the leadership of the Senior Vice Chancellor for Legal Affairs and General Counsel, the SUNY Office of General Counsel provides legal services to the System and the 29 state-operated campuses. The OGC consists of more than 70 experienced higher education attorneys, paralegals and support staff located in Albany at the System Administration headquarters and in campus-based offices at the four University Centers, Health Science Centers, and various SUNY colleges. The legal practice of the Office of General Counsel involves a broad range of matters, including governance and ethics, legislation, public procurement, contracts, litigation oversight, labor and employment, student affairs, health care, capital construction, public finance, records, policy, compliance, and other matters affecting public higher education. The Office of General Counsel represents SUNY in interactions with State officials and entities that regulate, oversee, or otherwise affect SUNY's operations, including the Attorney General, State Comptroller, Governor's Office, State Legislature, and other state and local agencies and entities.

Duties And Responsibilities:

SUNY System Administration, located in Albany, New York, invites applications for an attorney position within the Office of General Counsel. The position will be filled at the Assistant Counsel or Associate Counsel level, depending on the selected candidate's relevant experience.

This position will provide legal services and guidance in a split role. The Assistant or Associate Counsel will be responsible for providing legal advice and supporting on day-to-day legal matters for a state-operated campus, as well as providing highly competent professional and timely legal services to SUNY System Administration, and on systemwide matters.

Responsibilities For The Campus-based Portion Of The Role Will Include Providing Legal Advice And Support On a Broad Range Of Matters, Including Without Limitation:

• Advising campus on general higher education, public sector, governance, operational, and administrative matters;
• Drafting, reviewing, and revising agreements, memoranda of understanding, policies, guidance documents, correspondence, templates, and legal memoranda;
• Providing legal advice on governance, ethics, records, delegations of authority, institutional policies, compliance, risk management, and general operational issues;
• Conducting legal research and providing statutory, regulatory, and policy interpretation;
• Responding to legal inquiries from campus clients;
• Supporting the development, review, and implementation of SUNY policies, procedures, guidance, forms, and related materials;
• Assisting with matters involving state agencies, regulators, auditors, and other oversight entities;
• Supporting University-wide matters and cross-campus legal issues as assigned; and
• Performing other duties as assigned.

Responsibilities For The System Administration And Systemwide Portion Of The Role Will Include Providing Legal Support For SUNY-wide Programs, Projects, Priorities, And Implementation Efforts, Including Without Limitation:

• Advising on legal, governance, compliance, policy, operational, and implementation issues related to systemwide initiatives;
• Supporting initiatives involving multiple SUNY campuses, System Administration offices, state agencies, external partners, or other stakeholders;
• Drafting and reviewing project materials, implementation guidance, agreements, FAQs, policy language, templates, briefing materials, and decision memoranda;
• Identifying legal and operational risks in proposed initiatives and recommending practical options;
• Coordinating with subject-matter experts in academic affairs, student success, compliance, finance, procurement, human resources, government relations, communications, campus operations, and other areas;
• Supporting Chancellor, Board of Trustees, and senior leadership priorities as assigned;
• Assisting with the legal structure and implementation of new programs, partnerships, and cross-campus initiatives;
• Developing repeatable legal frameworks, forms, templates, and guidance for systemwide use; and
• Performing other duties as assigned.

Job Requirements:

• Required Qualifications:
• Juris Doctor degree from an accredited ABA law school, or foreign equivalent.
• Admission to the New York State Bar, or eligibility for admission within six months.
• Strong academic background.
• For appointment as Assistant Counsel, a minimum of 2 to 3 years of legal practice or other relevant legal experience before the start date.
• For appointment as Associate Counsel, a minimum of 3 to 5 years of legal practice or other relevant legal experience before the start date.
• Strong legal research, writing, analytical, and communication skills.
• Sound judgment and discretion in handling sensitive matters.
• Ability to provide practical legal advice to non-lawyer clients.
• Ability to manage multiple matters, shifting priorities, and deadlines.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience advising governmental entities, public authorities, higher education institutions, nonprofit institutions, or other regulated organizations.
• Experience advising on governance, policy, compliance, administrative, operational, or general institutional matters.
• Experience supporting cross-functional projects, institutional initiatives, strategic priorities, or implementation work.
• Familiarity with New York State and federal laws, regulations, and approval processes affecting public higher education.
• Experience drafting or reviewing policies, guidance documents, agreements, memoranda of understanding, templates, legal memoranda, or briefing materials.
• Experience working with regulators, oversight agencies, or public-sector stakeholders.
• Experience managing complex legal matters and client relationships across multiple stakeholders.
• Superior written and oral communication and interpersonal skills.
• Strong analytical and legal research skills.

Additional Information:

• Salary is dependent on a variety of factors, including but not limited to, experience, education, training, and certifications.
• The range for an Assistant Counsel position is $92,000 - $110,000.
• The range as an Associate Counsel position is $115,000 - $130,000.
• Excellent Benefit Package which includes: NYS health insurance, free dental and vision coverage, competitive retirement options, tuition assistance, parental leave at full pay, and generous vacation, sick, and holiday time. 13 days of paid holidays per year; 21 days of vacation and 21 days of sick time accrued each year. Please see our Management/Confidential benefits summary for additional information.
• Management/Confidential appointments work under the leadership and discretion of the appointing authority and are not represented by a union.
• This position is located in Albany, NY. Limited telecommuting may be available. Some travel may be required depending on the needs of clients.
• Offer of employment is contingent upon successful completion of a pre-employment background check and verification of degree(s) and credentials.

Applicants must be currently authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis. VISA sponsorship is not available for this position. Applicants with a valid driver's license are preferred.

SUNY System Administration Benefits

SUNY System Administration provides an outstanding and comprehensive benefits package to support you and your family through the many life changes you may experience while you work for SUNY. Our nationally recognized benefits include:

• Retirement: The choice between a fully funded pension plan and a self-driven defined contribution plan, along with two supplemental plans to increase your ability to save for retirement.
• Health Insurance: Several health insurance options at an affordable cost that provide full coverage without mandatory deductibles.
• Time Off: Paid time off with separate vacation and sick leave accruals up to 21 days a year for each category.
• Additional paid leave policy options for childbirth, adoption, elder care, and other family care situations.

Explore our full benefits offerings here: www.suny.edu/benefits