Welcome to the Office of the General Counsel
The Department of Education Organization Act establishes an Office of the General Counsel (OGC), headed by a General Counsel who is appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate, and whose broad statutory mission is to “provide legal assistance to the Secretary concerning the programs and policies of the Department.” The General Counsel’s statutory responsibility to provide legal services is not limited to the Secretary alone, but generally extends to all other officers and employees of the Department, as they serve the Secretary in carrying out the duties of the Department. In addition to providing legal assistance and performing legal functions, including the provision of legal advice, litigation, and legislative services, OGC is responsible for performing certain law-related management functions, including managing the Department’s ethics program as well as the clearance of its regulatory documents. To learn more, see OGC Organization.
Organization and Function of OGC
The Office of the General Counsel is under the supervision of the General Counsel, who serves as principal adviser to the Secretary on all legal matters affecting Departmental programs and activities. The Office has three legal practice areas, each of which is headed by a Deputy General Counsel, and an operations management staff, headed by an Executive Officer.
In performing its responsibilities, the Office of the General Counsel:
- Provides legal advice and services to the Secretary, Deputy Secretary, and the Principal Officers of the U.S. Department of Education, as well as any other person authorized to request that advice or those services.
- Prepares or reviews for legal form and effect public documents, rules, and Federal Register Notices issued by the Department, and legal instruments entered into by the Department.
- Represents the Secretary, the Department, or any of its officers or units in court or administrative litigation, except for administrative proceedings initiated by the Office for Civil Rights.
- Serves as liaison to other Federal agencies in connection with legal matters involving the Department.
- Drafts legislative proposals originating in the Department and reviews the legal aspects of proposed or pending legislation.
- Leads and manages the regulatory function of the Department and drafts selected regulations.
- Prepares or reviews pleadings, briefs, memoranda, and other legal documents for proceedings involving the Department or requested by other Government agencies for use in proceedings, except for administrative proceedings initiated by the Office for Civil Rights.
- Coordinates and manages the Department's ethics program and provides Department-wide ethics advice and training.
- Serves as the Department's Claims Officer under the Federal Tort Claims Act and the Military Personnel and Civilian Employees Claims Act of 1964.
The Immediate Office of the General Counsel staff provides overall direction, coordination and leadership to the Office of the General Counsel.
Program Service supervises and coordinates the work of 2 divisions, each headed by an Assistant General Counsel and Deputy Assistant General Counsel.
Departmental Law and Postsecondary and Education is under the direction of a Deputy General Counsel who reports directly to the General Counsel.
Supervises and coordinates the work of three Divisions under the direction of the Deputy General Counsel.
OGC Staff and Contact Information
Find the names and contact information for the team at OGC.
Find the names and phone numbers of OGC's senior staff members.
Find key phone numbers that will make it easy for you to get in touch with OGC offices.
Harley A.J. (Bucky) Methfessel serves as Senior Counsel for Information and Technology in the Office of the General Counsel (the OGC).
Philip H. Rosenfelt is the Deputy General Counsel for Program Service in the Office of the General Counsel at the U.S. Department of Education.
Rob Wexler is Senior Counsel to the General Counsel at the U.S. Department of Education.
Amanda Amann is a Deputy Assistant General Counsel for Regulatory Services.
Lisa Brown has served as the Department of Education’s General Counsel since her Senate confirmation in October 2021.
William (Will) Desmond has served as Senior Counsel in the Office of the General Counsel since February 2021.
Marcella Goodridge is the Assistant General Counsel for Ethics and has served in that position since January 2017.
Francisco Lopez is the Deputy Assistant General Counsel for Educational Equity and Research and has served in that capacity since January 2012.
Hilary Malawer has served as the Deputy General Counsel for Regulatory Services, Legislation, and Ethics in the Office of the General Counsel (OGC).
Toby Merrill is the Deputy General Counsel for Postsecondary Education.
Jessa Mirtle has served as Senior Counsel in the Office of the General Counsel since July 2021.
Ron Petracca is Senior Counsel to the General Counsel at the U.S. Department of Education.
Paul Riddle is an Assistant General Counsel at the U.S. Department of Education.
Jennifer Rodriguez has served as the Confidential Assistant in the Office of the General Counsel since May 2022.
Kristina Spencer is the Deputy Assistant General Counsel for Ethics and has served in that position since June 2018.
Ethics Division
Learn about laws and policy related to ethics at the Department of Education, including regulations related to political activities, outside activities, and gifts between employees.
This page contains all ethics pledges waivers issued by the DoED Designated Agency Ethics Official (DAEO) to appointees of the Biden Administration.
OGC's Legal Internship Program provides law students with an opportunity to build valuable legal and professional skills.
Guidance documents represent the Department of Education’s (ED) current thinking on a topic.
The Department of Education's regulatory efforts are guided in part by two recent Executive orders.
ADR offers parties the opportunity to resolve disputes collaboratively and avoid time-consuming and costly litigation.
Our Locations
400 Maryland Ave., SW
Washington, DC 20202
