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The Solicitor of Labor,
a Presidential appointee confirmed by the Senate, serves as legal advisor to
the Secretary and other Department officials and its legislative program. The
Solicitor, with offices headquartered in Washington, D.C., is assisted by three
Deputy Solicitors. The Deputy Solicitor of Labor, a Presidential appointee,
serves as the principal Deputy and first in line of succession to the Solicitor
and is the Solicitor’s alter ego and principal advisor.
The Deputy Solicitor for
National Operations oversees the legal activities performed in the national
office by attorneys in eight program divisions, each headed by an Associate
Solicitor. The divisions provide full legal services within designated
legislative and program areas. The Deputy for Regional Operations oversees the
legal activities performed in eight regional and six branch offices, which
serve as lower court trial litigation and administrative hearing centers and
are headed by a Regional Solicitor or an Associate Regional Solicitor. The
Deputy Solicitor for National Operations and the Deputy Solicitor for Regional
Operations share responsibility for oversight of the Management and
Administrative Legal Services Division.
The Immediate Office
coordinates with the Solicitor General's Office and provides centralized
services within the Department, including drafting briefs provided to the
Solicitor General, for all Supreme Court cases in which DOL is a party or
amicus curiae or has an interest. The Immediate Office litigates cases in the
courts of appeals and files briefs in other judicial forums after another
division has transferred a case or briefing assignment to it. It also acts as a
resource on appellate matters and other legal issues for the Solicitor's
Office, performs special assignments and legal analyses for the Solicitor, and
comments on appeal and amicus recommendations generated by other divisions.
The Office of Legal
Counsel reports to the Deputy Solicitor and is responsible for support of
legislative and litigation matters concerning the Department. This office
prepares comments, impact statements and testimony in response to legislative
proposals concerning Department programs and acts as the Department’s
liaison for clearance of legislative items through the executive branch. The
office also manages the Department's ethics program, including providing legal
advice and training and administering the financial disclosure system.
Additionally, the office provides legal counsel on cross-cutting issues in such
areas as Departmental organization and executive personnel.
The Immediate Office
also administers SOL's Honors Program for attorneys with exemplary records who
are completing law school or judicial clerkships. Participants spend their
first two years in the program while working on assignments in both the
National Office and the Regional Offices.
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