The Office of General Law (OGL) is responsible for representing the USPTO in matters other than those involving intellectual property issues. In this regard, the Deputy General Counsel's office provides advice and written legal opinions on areas concerning the administration and management of the USPTO.

The Deputy General Counsel's office also represents the USPTO in administrative proceedings before the Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB), Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), Federal Labor Relations Authority (FLRA), Federal Services Impasse Panel (FSIP), and arbitrators. Administrative litigation includes negotiability appeals and Unfair Labor Practice cases before the FLRA, cases before the FSIP involving bargaining impasses, arbitration cases, MSPB cases, and EEOC cases. William R. Covey is the Deputy General Counsel for General Law.