Veena Dubal Appointed as AAUP General Counsel

The AAUP is thrilled to announce the appointment of Veena Dubal, professor of law at the University of California, Irvine, School of Law, as the Association’s next general counsel, for a renewable term ending in 2026.

Professor Dubal’s research focuses broadly on law, technology, and precarious workers, combining legal and empirical analysis to explore issues of labor and inequality. Her work encompasses a range of topics, including the impact of digital technologies and emerging legal frameworks on workers' lives; the interplay between law, work, and identity; and the role of law and lawyers in solidarity movements.

Dubal has written numerous articles in law and social science journals as well as essays for the popular press. Her research has been cited internationally in legal decisions, including by the California Supreme Court, and her research and commentary are regularly featured in media outlets, including The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal, the Los Angeles Times, NPR, and CNN. She earned a BA from Stanford University and holds JD and PhD degrees from the University of California, Berkeley, where she conducted an ethnography of the San Francisco taxi industry. The subject of her doctoral research arose from her work as a public interest attorney and Berkeley Law Foundation Fellow at the Asian Law Caucus where she founded a taxi worker project and represented Muslim Americans in civil rights cases. Professor Dubal is the recipient of numerous awards and grants, including the Fulbright, for her scholarship and previous work as a public interest lawyer.

“Veena has led the fight to expand the rights of all workers, including workers in the gig economy,” said AAUP President Todd Wolfson. “Given her track record as a powerful advocate, the AAUP is lucky to have her as part of our team in this critical moment for higher education.”

“Academic freedom is central not only to higher education and scholarship, but also to our broader political, social, and economic freedoms,” said Veena Dubal. “In this exigent historical moment when this critical value is under threat, I am proud to serve the AAUP, its new leadership, and my fellow university workers as general counsel.”

Dubal will work closely with the AAUP’s legal staff to pursue AAUP activities, which include advising on higher education legal issues; preparing amicus briefs; monitoring legal developments in higher education around the country; and keeping the Association apprised of new and emerging legal issues that may have implications in areas such as academic freedom, labor and employment law, freedom of expression, and intellectual property rights.