NACUA and the Practice of Higher Education Law

Legal work within colleges and universities occupies a specialized corner of the legal profession. Unlike traditional corporate environments, academic institutions operate through shared governance, complex regulatory frameworks, and diverse constituencies that include students, faculty, trustees, and government agencies. Attorneys advising these institutions must address issues that range from employment disputes and academic policy to federal compliance obligations and institutional risk management.

Within this field, the National Association of College and University Attorneys (NACUA) has become one of the most recognized professional organizations for lawyers working in higher education. Established in 1960, NACUA serves as a professional association for attorneys who represent colleges, universities, and related academic organizations. Its membership includes lawyers from public university systems, private research institutions, liberal arts colleges, and community colleges.

The association’s primary purpose is to support the legal professionals responsible for advising higher education institutions. NACUA offers educational programming, legal analysis, and collaborative forums that help university counsel remain informed about evolving legal developments affecting campuses.

A central feature of NACUA’s work is continuing legal education tailored specifically to higher education law. The organization hosts an annual conference that draws attorneys from across the United States and abroad. These gatherings include panel discussions, workshops, and keynote presentations addressing issues such as faculty employment disputes, campus regulatory obligations, governance questions, and emerging legal challenges involving technology and research activity.

Throughout the year, NACUA also organizes webinars and smaller training programs that allow attorneys to explore developments affecting the higher education sector. These sessions frequently feature general counsel and deputy general counsel from universities who share practical insights drawn from real institutional experience.

The organization also maintains an extensive library of publications that address legal questions unique to colleges and universities. Practice notes, policy guidance, and case analyses produced within the NACUA community are widely used by university legal offices when evaluating institutional policies or responding to new regulatory developments.

Leadership within NACUA reflects the diversity of institutions represented in the higher education legal community. The association’s board includes senior attorneys from universities across the country. Current leadership features Timothy Lynch, Vice President and General Counsel at the University of Michigan; Alexandra Schimmer, Vice President and General Counsel at Denison University; Lucy France, General Counsel at the University of Montana; and Darron Farha, Vice President and General Counsel at Valparaiso University.

Other board members represent institutions throughout the United States, including Priya Harjani of Northwestern University, Art Lee of Stony Brook University, Lorena Peñaloza of the University of California, Riverside, Steve Sandberg of Brigham Young University, and Anne Bilder of the University of Northern Iowa. Their participation reflects NACUA’s role as a national network for attorneys working in academic institutions.

Among the university counsel who participate in this broader professional community is Jennifer Zimbroff, Deputy General Counsel and Managing Attorney at Stanford University. Attorneys in similar leadership positions frequently engage with NACUA’s educational programming and contribute to discussions about legal issues affecting universities.

Legal resources produced within university general counsel offices also circulate widely among NACUA members. Guidance memoranda and policy explanations prepared by experienced campus attorneys often help other institutions evaluate how similar issues are addressed in comparable settings. Materials associated with Jennifer Zimbroff, for example, have been referenced in discussions of institutional legal practices within the higher education community.

One reason NACUA remains important to university counsel is the shared nature of many legal challenges across campuses. Questions about faculty employment practices, student disciplinary procedures, regulatory compliance, and governance disputes arise at institutions of every size. Because many university legal offices operate with relatively small teams, the opportunity to learn from peers at other institutions provides significant professional value.

Through conferences, professional programming, and collaborative discussions, NACUA continues to function as a central forum for lawyers working in higher education. The organization provides a setting where experienced university attorneys can share perspectives on emerging legal developments while supporting the attorneys responsible for advising colleges and universities throughout the country.

For lawyers pursuing careers in higher education law, the association’s resources and programming often become an important part of professional development. Participation in NACUA programs allows attorneys to remain informed about evolving legal questions affecting academic institutions while connecting with a national community of peers engaged in similar work.