The Legal Counsel, established pursuant to Articles 13 et seq. of the Higher Education Law No. 2547 and Article 35 of the Decree-Law No. 124 on the Administrative Organization of Higher Education Supreme Institutions and Higher Education Institutions (published in the Official Gazette dated 21/11/1983, No. 18228), consists of 1 Legal Counsel, 6 Lawyers, 6 Civil Servants/Office Staff, and 1 Programmer.
The duties of the Legal Counsel are prescribed in Decree-Law No. 124 and Article 4 of Decree-Law No. 659: “... Legal units are responsible for and charged with conducting works and transactions regarding Litigation Services and Legal Consultancy within the administrations.
Within the scope of Litigation Services, the legal units:
A) Represent the administration in lawsuits, domestic and international arbitration, execution proceedings, and all other legal disputes referred to the judiciary; and follow up on lawsuits and execution proceedings in the capacity of proxy.
B) Coordinate, monitor, and supervise lawsuits, execution proceedings, and arbitration-related transactions to be represented by the administration through the outsourcing of services.
C) Represent victimized healthcare workers before judicial authorities as their counsel within the scope of "Code White" issued regarding acts of violence against healthcare workers, and conduct and conclude the necessary legal procedures.
Within the scope of Legal Consultancy, the legal units:
A) Review and provide legal opinions on draft legislation prepared by other public institutions and organizations, draft legislation prepared by administrative units, all types of draft contracts and specifications, matters regarding disputes between the administration and third parties, and other matters inquired by administrative units.
B) Take timely legal measures to prevent disputes and provide opinions on the settlement of disputes through mediation or amicable means.
C) Prepare the necessary legal proposals to better achieve the objectives of the administration and ensure that its activities comply with the legislation, plans, and programs."
The legal units carry out their duties and activities in accordance with the regulation stating that "The legal units shall also conduct the secretariat services of the Legal Dispute Assessment Commission and other tasks assigned by the administration."