What is the Office of the Legal Adviser?
The Office of the Legal Adviser is a government agency within the United States Department of State. The Office of the Legal Adviser was created by an Act of Congress in February of 1931 to formally provide a rank equivalent to that of an Assistant Secretary. The Legal Adviser replaced the Solicitor, a Department of Justice employee who had previously functioned as the Department of State’s chief legal officer since the late 1800’s.
Between the year of 1870 and 1891, the Examiner of Claims was the position that had been the chief legal officer of the Department. Since then, however, the office has been revamped; the current Office of the Legal Adviser is responsible for providing legal advice on all problems, both domestic and international, that arise in the course of the Department’s general activities.
Office of the Legal Adviser Quick Facts
The following details outline the administration of the Office of the Legal Adviser:
The Office of the Legal Adviser was founded in 1931
The headquarters of the Office of the Legal Adviser are located in Washington, D.C.
The Office of the Legal Adviser is responsible for the jurisdiction over the Federal Government of the United States
The head of the Office of the Legal Adviser is Harold Koh, who was held office since June 25, 2009
The Inaugural holder of the position was Green Hackworth
Government Agency of the Executive Branch
Government agencies are defined as organizations, councils, and offices operating under the jurisdiction of the Federal Government of the United States of America; each federal agency retains specific administrative jurisdiction over specific facets latent within the operations of the United States Government.