General Counsel Manual
The fourteen hyperlinks of the Browse General Counsel section are:
- About the General Counsel’s Office
- North Carolina Laws
- Our Rules
- Service of Process
- Practice Tips
- We Don’t Do That
- Constitutional Matters
- Boards and Commissions
- Public Records and Meetings
- Litigation
- Contracts
- Continuing Legal Education (CLE)
- FAQs
- Where can I find help?
Now, we will cover each linked page.
About the General Counsel’s Office
The General Counsel provides legal services to the North Carolina Department of the Secretary of State. The General Counsel does not offer legal advice to citizens, businesses, or other government agencies. Among her other duties, the General Counsel:
- Provides legal services, research, interpretation, and advice to the Secretary of State and the Department’s management, supervisors, and employees.
- Receives service of process for the Department (G.S. §1A-1, Rule 4(j)(4)).
- Oversees rulemaking for the Department.
- Serves as Chief Records Officer for records retention purposes.
- Coordinates litigation.
- Drafts legal documents, reviews, and negotiates contracts and Memoranda of Understanding.
- Coordinates public records request responses.
We only provide legal advice to the Department and its staff regarding official business. If you need legal advice, please go to the “Where can I find other help?” page.
Legal Interns, Externs, and Pro Bono Opportunities
NC Secretary of State’s General Counsel Office values and supports internships, externships, and law student pro bono projects. However, as a small agency with a large mission, our resources, including attorney supervisory time, are limited.