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Quick Overview of the Office of the Legal Adviser

Quick Overview of the Office of the Legal AdviserWhat 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.

The decisions rendered by this office and the solicitors and Examiners of Claims are represented statute officials of the Department of Justice who possess the distinct authority to adjudicate such claims. The Legal Adviser heads the United States Department of State Office of the Legal Adviser. The individual is required to receive appointment from the President of the United States; subsequent to selection, the individual must be approved by the United States Senate.

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.

The Office of the Legal Adviser functions as a government agency under the Executive Branch of the United States government, which is comprised of 3 total branches; in addition to the Executive branch – which is responsible for the regulation and enforcement of operational legislation existing within the United States of America – there also exists the Legislative and Judicial Branches.