50 USC § 3520 - General Counsel of Central Intelligence Agency

---
identifier: "/us/usc/t50/s3520"
source: "usc"
legal_status: "official_prima_facie"
title: "50 USC § 3520 - General Counsel of Central Intelligence Agency"
title_number: 50
title_name: "WAR AND NATIONAL DEFENSE"
section_number: "3520"
section_name: "General Counsel of Central Intelligence Agency"
chapter_number: 46
chapter_name: "CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY"
positive_law: false
currency: "119-84"
last_updated: "2026-04-21"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
source_credit: "(June 20, 1949, ch. 227, § 20, as added Pub. L. 104–293, title VIII, § 813(a), Oct. 11, 1996, 110 Stat. 3483; amended Pub. L. 108–458, title I, § 1071(b)(2)(D), Dec. 17, 2004, 118 Stat. 3690.)"
---


# § 3520. General Counsel of Central Intelligence Agency

**(a)** **Appointment** There is a General Counsel of the Central Intelligence Agency, appointed from civilian life by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate.

**(b)** **Chief legal officer** The General Counsel is the chief legal officer of the Central Intelligence Agency.

**(c)** **Functions** The General Counsel of the Central Intelligence Agency shall perform such functions as the Director may prescribe.

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**Source Credit**: (June 20, 1949, ch. 227, § 20, as added Pub. L. 104–293, title VIII, § 813(a), Oct. 11, 1996, 110 Stat. 3483; amended Pub. L. 108–458, title I, § 1071(b)(2)(D), Dec. 17, 2004, 118 Stat. 3690.)

## Editorial Notes

### Codification

Section was formerly classified to  prior to editorial reclassification and renumbering as this section.

### Amendments

2004—Subsec. (c).  struck out “of Central Intelligence” after “Director”.

## Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date of 2004 Amendment

For Determination by President that amendment by  take effect on , see Memorandum of President of the United States, , 70 F.R. 23925, set out as a note under .

Amendment by  effective not later than six months after , except as otherwise expressly provided, see , set out in an Effective Date of 2004 Amendment; Transition Provisions note under .

### Applicability of Appointment Requirements

> **“(1)** To any vacancy in such position that occurs after the date of the enactment of this Act [Oct. 11, 1996].
> 
> **“(2)** To the incumbent serving in such position on the date of the enactment of this Act as of the date that is six months after such date of enactment, if such incumbent has served in such position continuously between such date of enactment and the date that is six months after such date of enactment.”

, , , provided that: