38 USC § 311 - General Counsel

---
identifier: "/us/usc/t38/s311"
source: "usc"
legal_status: "official_legal_evidence"
title: "38 USC § 311 - General Counsel"
title_number: 38
title_name: "VETERANS’ BENEFITS"
section_number: "311"
section_name: "General Counsel"
chapter_number: 3
chapter_name: "DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS"
part_number: "I"
part_name: "GENERAL PROVISIONS"
positive_law: true
currency: "119-84"
last_updated: "2026-04-21"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
source_credit: "(Added Pub. L. 102–83, § 2(a), Aug. 6, 1991, 105 Stat. 383.)"
---


# § 311. General Counsel

There is in the Department the Office of the General Counsel. There is at the head of the office a General Counsel, who is appointed by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate. The General Counsel is the chief legal officer of the Department and provides legal assistance to the Secretary concerning the programs and policies of the Department.

---

**Source Credit**: (Added Pub. L. 102–83, § 2(a), Aug. 6, 1991, 105 Stat. 383.)

## Editorial Notes

### Prior Provisions

Prior section 311 was renumbered .

Provisions similar to those in this section were contained in , known as the Department of Veterans Affairs Act, prior to repeal by .