Who acts as the department's attorney?

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The department’s attorney is the state’s legal adviser who handles litigation, provides official legal opinions, and ensures compliance with state law for that agency. In California, that role is filled by the Attorney General, who represents state departments in legal matters and offers formal legal guidance. The Governor is the executive leader and does not serve as the department’s attorney, and the Director is the department head, not its legal counsel. Private attorneys may be hired for specific cases, but the routine legal work for a department falls to the Attorney General.