A well-known educationist, Asutosh Mukhopadhyay began his career as a lawyer and rose to the position of a judge in the Calcutta High Court in 1904. For a few years, he served as member of Bengal Legislative Council. He was appointed the Vice-Chancellor of the Calcutta University and remained so for more than ten years. He also founded the Calcutta Mathematical Society. He was chosen President of the Asiatic Society of Bengal and Chairman of the Trustees of Indian Museum and Council of Imperial (now National) Library.