Corporation counsel

The Corporation Counsel is the title given to the chief legal officer in some municipal and county jurisdictions, who handles civil claims against the city, including negotiating settlements and defending the city when it is sued. Most corporation counsels do not prosecute criminal cases, though some prosecute traffic and local ordinance violations. In Washington D.C., the former Corporation Counsel, now known as Attorney General, prosecutes adult misdemeanors and juvenile delinquency cases in addition to traffic and local ordinance violations.

The cities of New York, and Chicago, among others, use this title. Counties in Hawaii and Wisconsin have Corporation Counsels as well.

In some jurisdictions, such as counties in Ohio, the County Prosecuting Attorney is by law Corporation Counsel for the County and other governmental entities in the county.

See also

• City attorney
• General counsel
• New York City Law Department