About Office of General Counsel
Legal services are provided to Minnesota State Colleges and Universities by the Minnesota Attorney General's Office (AGO) and the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities Office of General Counsel (OGC). Each system college and university is assigned an assistant attorney general to serve as general counsel, available to assist with all legal matters. In addition, the AGO provides specialty legal services to the system including employment law, contract, real estate, intellectual property, and finance issues.
The Office of General Counsel provides assistance to the system office as well as the system colleges and universities. The OGC focuses primarily on areas that present significant policy as well as legal issues, including governance, data practices, immigration, global study programs, copyright and other policy-related issues. The General Counsel coordinates the provision of Minnesota State Colleges and Universities legal services, including consultation on litigation, contracts and other legal issues of special significance to the system.
Campus representatives authorized by the president to obtain legal services may contact the AGO assigned attorney or the OGC staff for assistance or referral to specialized Attorney General staff. The full range of legal services is available, including litigation representation, legal advice, and assistance with contract, intellectual property, real estate or other transactions.
All Minnesota State Colleges and Universities legal services must be obtained through the AGO or OGC. In very limited circumstances, outside counsel may be appointed by the Attorney General to meet specialized system needs. Any college or university interested in specialized outside counsel for any purpose should direct an inquiry to the General Counsel.
Our Mission: To provide excellent preventative and responsive legal services in support of the missions of the colleges, universities, and system.
Our Values: Ethics and integrity, judgment, knowledge, and respect.
