The Office of University Counsel provides legal advice to the Board of Trustees, the Chancellor, the administration, faculty, and staff on legal matters involving or affecting the institution; advises the University administration on a broad range of initiatives, policy matters, and issues; and serves as a liaison between the University and its related and affiliated entities on legal issues.

The Office engages in problem management and preventative counseling, including the identification of high risk activities and enterprises conducted by the University and the articulation of methodologies or strategies for coping with the risks.

The Office is responsible for selecting and supervising any outside counsel engaged by the institution. It coordinates all litigation conducted by the North Carolina Attorney General's Office on behalf of the University. It represents the University before certain regulatory agencies and quasi-governmental organizations as necessary. The Office drafts many University agreements and documents, reviews drafts of agreements and documents prepared by other offices, and reviews contracts as required by University Policy #62. An illustrative list of subjects handled by the Office is available on the web.

The Office cannot represent or advise individual faculty members, staff or students about personal legal matters. The Office does make available pamphlets from the North Carolina Bar Association addressing a variety of legal issues of a personal nature including one on how to find a lawyer. Students often qualify for the free services of Western North Carolina Legal Services, Inc. in Sylva (828-586-8931) for civil matters. Individuals may also contact the Lawyer Referral Service of the North Carolina Bar Association (800-662-7660) for a referral to a lawyer in your region.