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Telephone - 217-782-1809
Fax - 217-785-2438
The Office of Legal Counsel is responsible for providing advice to the Department on all legal matters. It is responsible for providing advice to the Director in establishing policies; preparing and reviewing proposed legislation and administrative rules; ensuring that all legal documents are properly administered; and the coordination of legal service requirements with the Department, the Attorney General's Office and with other appropriate State, local and private entities. In particular, the office:
- Coordinates the Department's efforts with the Attorney General's Office when the Department seeks a legal remedy against another party.
- Reviews all complaints, pleadings and legal memoranda regarding any lawsuit brought against the Department in the Court of Claims and coordinates the Department's efforts with the Attorney General's Office in the defense of such claim.
- Prepares legal memoranda on matters of law including the interpretation of statutes, administrative rules and other regulations affecting the Department and its staff.
- Assists in drafting or reviewing legislation which affects Department policies.
- Reviews and approves all legal documents executed by the director or his designees such as contracts, Memorandum of Understanding, etc.
- Administers the Department's administrative rule program.
- Responds to Freedom of Information requests.
- Provides legal counsel and assistance to all Office Directors and the various divisions within the offices.
- Assists States Attorneys in the prosecution of criminal matters relating to the Department.
Legal Staff:
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Mitchell Cohen, Counsel
Practice Area: Coordinates the activities of the Office of Legal Services with the Director's Office, members of the Executive Staff and the Office of the General Counsel to the Governor; Plans, directs, and supervises the Legal Staff; Chief Legal Counsel to the Director regarding Agency programs, statutory authority and responsibilities concerning all Agency Offices, Divisions and the Scientific Surveys; Provides legal counsel to Agency staff including interpretations of statutes and regulations, reviews drafts of legal agreements and contracts, coordinates issuance of administrative rules, and insures adequacy of legislation, rules and regulations; Responsible for the handling and coordination with the Attorney General's Office of all litigation, including all Court of Claims cases involving the agency.
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Robert G. Mool
Assistant Counsel
Practice Area: Involves Illinois water law issues and legal support to the Office of Water Resources; lead counsel in the dispute with Wisconsin on the use and allocation of Lake Michigan water; handles personnel issues and associated litigation and is involved with regulatory and general activities of the Office of Mines and Minerals, the Office of Land Management and Education, the Office of Realty and Environmental Planning and the Illinois Conservation Foundation.
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Virginia I. Yang
Deputy Counsel
Practice Area: Environmental litigation and regulatory matters, mines and mineral projects, related bankruptcy matters, licensing and registrations (lands and watercraft), criminal investigations and enforcement, contracts, government liasion with other federal, state, & local government entities, including the City of Chicago, and regulatory policy development for the Department.
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