Every state and territory in the US appoints an Attorney General (AG). This legal professional provides guidance to government agencies and legislatures as well as representing public interests in an impartial fashion.
The AG represents the state in civil and criminal proceedings; initiates civil and criminal action to enforce laws; prepare legal opinions; and more.
History
The attorney general (AG), is the chief law enforcement official for the United States and leads the Department of Justice as its Director General. Appointed by the President with advice and consent of the Senate, their appointment constitutes an integral part of Cabinet governance.
The New York attorney general serves the public interest through enforcement of laws to protect consumers, tenants, patients, workers and investors; advocating economic and social justice; encouraging harm-reducing criminal strategies; preserving the environment and coordinating statewide civil and criminal investigations.
Letitia “Tish” James became New York attorney general in 2013, becoming the first woman of color ever to hold this office. Prior to her election as Attorney General, James served as Public Advocate in New York City where she transformed it into an effective change agent. Additionally, James is an accomplished litigator and champion for women’s rights – something this office has been providing ever since 1626 when established under New Netherland’s colonial governance.
Duties
Attorney generals (AGs), commonly referred to as the people’s lawyers, serve the public interest by upholding laws which protect consumers, landlords and patients; prosecuting crimes; advocating economic and social justice initiatives; encouraging harm-reducing public health strategies and protecting the environment. Furthermore, AGs act as watchdogs against federal or even state agencies, filing suits against their arbitrary actions or intrusion into their jurisdiction.
At a federal level, the Attorney General oversees the Department of Justice and provides legal advice to Presidents and executive department heads on legal matters. Each of the 50 states and territories elect their own attorney general who perform similar work.
Roles and responsibilities of state attorney general offices vary considerably by state, with NAAG’s State Litigation and AG Activity Database offering more details on this. Also check out ACS’ biweekly podcast The People’s Lawyer to hear how recent AGs, like Eric Schneiderman, have used settlement funds nontraditionally such as funding land banks or helping homeowners post-housing crisis.
Training
Attorneys General are the chief legal officers for their jurisdictions, providing advice to government agencies and legislatures, while representing public interests on various matters including consumer protection, antitrust enforcement, criminal justice issues and safeguarding vulnerable populations. Their offices and staff tackle an array of tasks from consumer protection to antitrust enforcement enforcement to protecting vulnerable populations and more.
Deputy attorneys general specialize in numerous fields. Civil rights prosecutors defend and pursue actions to combat discrimination within New York, while civil litigation prosecutors and investigators prosecute violations of state laws related to consumer fraud, property theft, false advertising and insurance fraud among other types.
The Office of the Attorney General provides training opportunities to its staff members as well as others within the legal community. In addition to on-demand courses, resources such as Leadership Center for AG Studies and State AG Pulse Podcast provide resources relevant to attorney generals. Likewise, NAAG also hosts conferences and meetings throughout the year in various locations around the United States.