AD49 Office of General Counsel

• Purpose
• Responsibility
• Contact with the Office
• Legal Documents

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, 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 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 on the role and reporting obligations of the Office of General Counsel, please see the Charter and Operating Guidelines for the Committee on Legal and Compliance. 

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

The address for the Office of General Counsel located in Hershey is:

Office of General Counsel

The Pennsylvania State University

Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center

P.O. Box 850, M.C. H142

500 University Drive

Hershey, PA 17033

Office: (717) 531-1411

 

LEGAL DOCUMENTS

All legal documents, including subpoenas, are to be referred to the Office of General Counsel. Please visit www.ogc.psu.edu/resources for more information.

Most Recent Changes:

• 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.

Revision History (and effective dates):

• 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.