Administrative Policies

AD49 Office of General Counsel

Policy Status
Active
Subject Matter Expert
Office of General Counsel, 814-867-4088
Policy Steward
Senior Vice President and Chief of Staff

PURPOSE

To outline the function and duties of the University’s Office of the Vice President and General Counsel.

RESPONSIBILITY

The Office of the Vice President and General Counsel provides legal counsel and representation to The Pennsylvania State University and all of its schools and colleges, Commonwealth Campuses, divisions, units, affiliates and related entities, including Penn State Health, on the broad range of legal matters affecting the University.  The Office of General Counsel serves the University Board of Trustees, the President, officers, administrators, faculty, and staff in their official capacities.  The attorneys in the Office of General Counsel do not provide legal services to University employees or students in their personal matters.  Students with personal legal issues should contact the Office of Student Legal Services.

The General Counsel is solely responsible for determining when certain matters require the retention of outside counsel.  Attorneys within the Office of General Counsel will retain and supervise the representation of outside counsel.

For more information about University Board of Trustee oversight of legal matters, please see the Committee on Audit & Risk Operating Guidelines. 

CONTACT WITH THE OFFICE

Contact information and practice areas for the attorneys in the Office of General Counsel can be found on the Office of General Counsel website: www.ogc.psu.edu. 

The address for the Office of General Counsel is:

Office of General Counsel
The Pennsylvania State University
227 West Beaver Avenue
Suite 507
State College, PA 16801

Office: (814) 867-4088

Email: GeneralCounsel@psu.edu 

LEGAL DOCUMENTS

All legal documents, including subpoenas, are to be immediately referred to the Office of General Counsel. This directive does not apply to legal documents, including subpoenas, issued to Penn State Health.

If you are a third-party seeking to properly serve a validly issued subpoena to The Pennsylvania State University for documents, please direct the subpoena to the following:

The Pennsylvania State University
Attn: Records Custodian
c/o Office of General Counsel
227 West Beaver Avenue, Suite 507
State College, PA  16801

If you are an employee of The Pennsylvania State University who receives a subpoena issued to the University, please complete the Subpoena Intake FORM and immediately forward the subpoena via email to subpoenas@psu.edu.

Please also send the original copy of the subpoena to the University’s Office of General Counsel, 227 West Beaver Avenue, Suite 507, State College, PA  16801.

Please visit www.ogc.psu.edu/resources for more information.

 

Most Recent Changes:

  • November 7, 2024 - Editorial changes:  added and updated information in Legal Documents section, updated contact information, updated and provided clarification in Responsibility section.

Revision History (and effective dates):

  • November 7, 2018 - Editorial changes: revised language in the Responsibility and Legal Documents sections, added contact information for the Office of General Counsel in Hershey, removed the Further Information section.
  • July 23, 2015 - Editorial changes. Addition of policy steward information, in the event that there are questions or requests for changes to the policy.
  • September 4, 2013 - Editorial change. Revised the Contact with the Office section, to reflect the removal of the Old Main office address.
  • February 25, 2013 - Editorial change. Revised the Contact with the Office section, to reflect an additional address as well as their office in Old Main.
  • July 6, 2012 - Editorial change. Removed contact information (mobile and E-mail) in the Contact with the Office section, pending directive from new counsel.
  • July 19, 2010 - This policy has been renamed (formerly known as Contacts With The University's Legal Counsel) along with major revisions to the policy verbiage to reflect the establishment of the Office of General Counsel.
  • June 14, 2006 - Revision History added.
  • April 10, 1998 - Title changes, as well as relocated and renumbered Policy AD49 from HR70 (previously PS70).
  • November 25, 1987 - Title changes.
  • December 13, 1971 - New Policy.
Date Approved
Date Published
Effective Date