Office of the Attorney General

We are a satellite location of the Office of the Attorney General. Another satellite office, located at the UConn Health Center in Farmington, serves the UConn Health Center.

The purpose of this website is to provide you with information about this office, its role at the University of Connecticut, answers to frequently asked questions and links to other sources of State and Federal higher education-related information.

This satellite unit of the State's Office of the Attorney General is located at the University of Connecticut's main campus in Storrs. The office was established in 1967. Our primary mission is to advise the University's Board of Trustees, the President and the executive administration at Storrs and all of its regional campuses, with the exception of the University's Health Center in Farmington, where two additional Assistant Attorneys General are assigned. This office is a part of the Education Department of the Office of the Attorney General of the State of Connecticut.

This office guides the University administration in the proper interpretation of state and federal laws, as well as University rules and policies, with a primary goal of substituting conflict resolution for any unnecessary and costly litigation.

Pursuant to the limitations set forth in the Connecticut General Statutes, this office may represent qualified staff of the University when they are sued in either their official or individual capacities. This responsibility involves actions before federal and state courts and administrative agencies. This office also provides regular advice and consultation to the administration regarding student and personnel matters, arbitration hearings; affirmative action, undergraduate student government, contractual and copyright matters.

Since 1897, the Attorney General's Office has been charged with general supervision over all legal matters in which the State was an interested party, except those legal matters over which the State's Attorneys had direction. Today, the Office is comprised of the Attorney General and his Executive Staff, which includes the Deputy Attorney General and three Associate Attorneys General. In addition, approximately 225 Assistant Attorneys General are assigned to fifteen departments, including Education and Employment.

The Office of the Attorney General ("OAG") provides legal representation to the University in civil actions brought in federal and State courts and administrative forums. In addition, the OAG provides legal counsel, risk management advice, contract review and approval, compliance oversight and preventative advice to the University and all of its branches. It also serves an advisory as well as educational function within the college community, providing training to the University administration in matters of potential legal risk to the University.

The OAG provides counsel in decision making in all areas of the university, including: the Board of Trustees, the President, Provost, Vice Presidents and Vice Provosts, Deans, Directors and Department Heads; faculty, supervisors and other employees acting in their capacity as employees; student organization leaders regarding contracts and, in limited circumstances, legal issues confronting their organizations.

Some examples of the types of legal services provided by the OAG to the university include:

• legal representation of the University in civil actions brought against the University in state or federal court;
• reviewing, drafting, negotiating, and enforcing legal documents such as conveyances, internal policies and procedures, licenses, and gift documents;
• reviewing all forms of contracts for legal sufficiency
• working with departments during audits, investigations, and other compliance reviews;
• advising and assisting with property matters, labor relations, personnel and EEO matters, insurance and risk management, tax and business issues, and patent, trademark and copyright issues;
• advice concerning student, faculty and staff grievance and disciplinary proceedings;
• representation of the University, its employees and officials in claims filed against the University within the Connecticut Office of the Claims Commissioner.

Communications regarding legal matters with the OAG attorneys are ordinarily confidential and protected by attorney-client privilege (see Attorney-Client Privilege under Litigation section).

The OAG cannot provide personal legal advice to any University staff or students.

Please remember that communications to our office through e-mail are not necessarily secure and therefore confidentiality cannot be guaranteed.