NEW FEATURE: OGC introduces a new case management system to provide more efficient and comprehensive information and assistance to our members. See link below!

The dedicated staff at AFSA's Office of the General Counsel (OGC) always stand ready to assist our members with questions or problems related to their Foreign Service employment. We encourage you to know your rights and to seek out OGC staff whose main task is to represent the interests of our Foreign Service members.

We provide grievance counseling and legal assistance free-of-charge to those who have been AFSA members for at least six months.

As you consider your individual situation, many questions may come up. Our OGC team has compiled general answers to some of these frequently asked questions (below). The list is not comprehensive, and some questions may only be answered by speaking to our lawyers and advisors directly.

For assistance from AFSA’s Office of the General Counsel please click here.

• Absentee Voting Guide
• AFSA Labor Management Explanation of Services and Scope of Representation
• AFSA Labor Management Responsibilities
• AFSA Post Representatives
• Anti-Lobbying Act
• Assignment Restrictions and Preclusions – What to Do
• Attorney List
• Dissent Channel
• Divorce Resources
• DS Procedurals for Security Clearance Investigations
• EEO Investigation Guidance
• EEO Witness Guidance
• Ethics and Professionalism
• Foreign Contact Reporting
• The Foreign Service Clause
• Foreign Service Labor Management 101
• General Guidance for FS Employees
• Grievance Guidance
• Guidance on Protesting
• Guidance on Recording of DS/RSO/OIG/OCR Interviews
• Guidance on the Use of Diplomatic Passports
• Guide to Writing Appeal Briefs for Unrepresented Complainants before the EEOC Office of Federal Operations
• Guidelines for Official Writing
• Hatch Act Guidance from the U.S. Office of Special Counsel
• Health Benefits Plan Guide
• IG and DS Investigation Guidance
• In-State Tuition Residency Determination
• Legal Defense Fund (LDF) SOP
• LMRDA Union Member Rights
• Long-Term Care Calculator
• Overtime and Compensatory Time Rules
• Parental Leave
• Pay Chart
• Pregnancy, Adoption, Surrogacy and Foster Care
• Pro Bono Representation Request Process
• Professional Liability Insurance Reimbursement
• Residence and Domicile
• Rules on Political Activity
• Security Clearance Suspension
• Security Reporting Requirements
• Social Media Guidance
• SOP: Policy, Assistance, Oversight and Reporting
• Tax Guide
• Whistleblower
• Workers Compensation