CLA Organizational and Operational Guidelines

I. Purpose:

In agreement with the purpose of the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities (APLU), the central purpose of the Council on Legal Affairs (CLA) shall be to (1) provide a forum for APLU member chief legal officers to learn from each other, network, and enhance the effectiveness of the profession. 2) consider the effects of policy and serve as a resource to the association.

II. Membership

Membership in the CLA shall be open to the General Counsel (GC), or the senior-most legal affairs officer employed at each APLU member institution if the GC position does not exist. Each APLU institution shall have one vote and one representative in CLA.

III. Meetings

The CLA shall strive to meet at least twice a year including at the APLU Annual Meeting and a Summer Meeting. The Executive Committee shall meet on a more regular basis, subject to the call of the CLA Chair, to plan council activities.

IV. Officers

The Officers of the CLA shall be:

1. Chair
2. Chair Elect
3. Past Chair (through 2028 Annual Meeting)

Effective following the 2026 APLU Annual Meeting, the CLA shall be chaired by a member of the council elected by the CLA Executive Committee.  The Chair shall serve as the representative on the APLU Board of Directors.

The officer position of Past Chair shall be temporary to support continuity and growth of the council in its inaugural years, phased out following the 2028 APLU Annual Meeting.

V. Executive Committee

The Executive Committee shall be responsible for conducting business between meetings of the CLA. When fully constituted, the Executive Committee shall consist of 15 members elected to staggered three-year terms, plus the CLA officers.

The duties of the CLA Executive Committee are to plan the various meetings of the CLA, with the assistance of the APLU staff. In addition, the Executive Committee is charged with keeping the CLA membership informed of the various legal and policy issues as appropriate, and serving as a resource to help guide the association as necessary.

For the inaugural year of the CLA, the APLU President will nominate the first class of the Executive Committee, to be confirmed by the full CLA.

VI. Elections

A. Timing and Terms

The election of officers and CLA Executive Committee members shall take place by September. The term of office for the CLA officers shall be two years in duration. The initial Executive Committee members shall be members of APLU’s General Counsels Advisory Group and will be appointed to three-year terms. Subsequently, five members will be elected each year to serve three-year terms. 

No member may serve more than two terms for each role.

B. Succession

The Chair-Elect shall automatically become the elected Chair at the APLU Annual Meeting at the expiration of the term of the Chair. In the event that the elected Chair is unable to complete a term, the position shall be filled by the Chair-Elect. No individual may hold two CLA offices simultaneously, but must resign one of the positions. The Nominating Committee shall nominate a replacement from the membership to fill the remainder of the term, subject to ratification by the CLA Executive Committee. If a member of the Executive Committee is unable to complete a term, the Chair shall appoint a replacement from the membership to complete the term upon consulting the Executive Committee.

C. Nominations

1. The previous chair shall appoint a Nominating Committee from members of the Executive Committee, who are not candidates for officer and executive committee positions, to select candidates for the several CLA positions. The Committee shall be comprised of the CLA officers and members of the Executive Committee chosen by the previous chair. In the event a nominating committee member becomes a candidate, the Past previous chair shall replace the member choosing an alternative member of Executive Committee to serve. Recommendations for candidates for Executive Committee and Officer positions shall be sought from the full membership.
   
2. When making nominations for CLA officers and the Executive Committee, the Nominating Committee is encouraged to prioritize broad representation of the CLA and of the membership of APLU.

D. Elections

The slate shall be approved by a majority vote of voting members of the CLA Executive Committee. If the slate is not approved, additional candidates will be sought from the membership, and an election conducted via electronic ballot of the Committee.

IX. Awards

The CLA may constitute an awards program to recognize excellence in the profession and contributions to the mission of APLU.

X. Changes

Changes to “Organizational and Operational Guidelines of the CLA” may be made upon ratification of the Executive Committee.

XI. Bylaws

The general bylaws of APLU shall apply to the activities of the CLA.