The Office of General Counsel is responsible for providing sound, effective, and timely legal advice and representation to the State Board of Education, the Commissioner of Education, and all units within the Department of Education, particularly in the areas of the Florida School Code, Administrative Procedure Act, Sunshine Laws and FERPA (student records), state and federal constitutional law, ethics, contracts, copyright, and personnel. The General Counsel’s office handles litigation and manages litigation handled by outside counsel, reviews the Department’s contracts, grants, procurement documents, technical assistance documents, and other publications of the Department.