Legal Services

What this funds

The Office of the Solicitor of Labor (SOL) is the legal enforcement and support arm of DOL, advancing the Department's mission through enforcement of worker safety and protection laws and implementation of the Department's priorities and regulatory agenda. SOL provides the legal support necessary to accomplish the President's labor priorities and the Department's management priorities. SOL provides its legal services through National Office Divisions that are generally dedicated to the major laws under the Department's jurisdiction and Regional Offices that undertake frontline legal enforcement, providing investigative legal assistance and trial-level enforcement litigation in federal courts and administrative forums to protect and improve the working conditions and security of America's working people. The Department is structured such that all legal services, including enforcement, are consolidated within SOL. Thus, DOL's client enforcement agencies, including the Wage and Hour division (WHD) and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), have no attorneys and rely exclusively on SOL to provide legal advice, litigate cases, and fulfill their enforcement goals. SOL participates in the development of complex investigations before litigation, handles every enforcement action that proceeds to litigation, and negotiates all significant and complex settlements. SOL shares the goals of each of its clients and works closely with DOL agencies to develop and implement specific policies and mission critical programs. SOL contributes to the accomplishment of all Departmental enforcement, strategic, and outcome goals in four core ways: Pursuing enforcement actions to protect workers and level the playing field for businesses. SOL, unlike most federal agencies' general counsel offices, has independent litigation authority under most of the statutes DOL enforces. As such, affirmative litigation and fully funding SOL are integral to DOL enforcing its worker protection mission. SOL represents the Department in federal courts and administrative tribunals across the country. SOL also litigates cases in appellate courts and has an active amicus practice that seeks to defend DOL's equities. Working with DOL agencies to support Departmental priorities. SOL works closely with the Department's leadership and agencies to develop and implement policies, programs, and strategies. SOL provides legal opinions and advice to assist Department officials in accomplishing program objectives and responding to emerging issues while complying with applicable legal requirements. DM - 21 LEGAL SERVICES Supporting the Department's regulatory and deregulatory agenda. SOL has an important role in developing, drafting, and legally reviewing regulatory and deregulatory actions related to the laws that DOL is charged with administering. Serving as the general counsel's office to the Department. SOL also provides legal services to the Department in its role as a government agency and employer. For example, SOL advises the Department on myriad general law areas, including ethics, appropriations law, procurement of goods and services, internal employment matters and labor relations, administrative law, Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), and Privacy Act issues. Five-Year Budget Activity History Funding Fiscal Year (Dollars in Thousands) FTE 2022 $132,062 509 2023 $131,062 483 2024 $130,754 528 2025 $136,062 463 2026 $121,062 391 NOTE: A full-year 2026 appropriation for this account was not enacted at the time the budget was prepared. FY 2027 In FY 2027, SOL is requesting $120,243,000 and 391 FTE in General Fund and Unemployment Trust Funds (UTF), and $8,334,000 and 21 FTE in Black Lung Disability Trust Fund (BLDTF). Additionally, SOL receives funding from reimbursements. SOL will provide legal services commensurate with this funding level to support Administration priorities. SOL has three functions critical to DOL's mission and strives to deliver high-quality legal services in each function. Each of these functions depend on having attorneys and supporting staff to deliver legal services: Legal Support for DOL Policy. SOL provides legal opinions and advice to DOL agencies on programmatic issues across the range of DOL's activities. SOL also assists DOL agencies with preparing public-facing materials (e.g., guidance materials, opinion letters, written interpretations, and other compliance assistance efforts) that help employers understand their legal obligations and promote compliance with the law. SOL also plays a critical role in helping to develop, update, draft, and defend DOL's regulatory and deregulatory agenda. Enforcement and Compliance Functions. SOL provides litigation and legal advice to ensure that DOL's laws are enforced consistently with DOL's mission and law-abiding employers can operate on

Extracted from Departmental Management, p. 10. Verbatim; nothing here is paraphrased.

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