Justice Geraldine S. Hines Legal Fellowship

About the Office of the Inspector General (OIG or Office)

The Massachusetts OIG is at the forefront of promoting effective government and the responsible use of public money and property. The OIG is an independent state agency charged with preventing and detecting fraud, waste, and abuse in the use of public funds and public property. The OIG has broad oversight of how state and local governments use federal, state and local funds and property.

The Office is led by the Inspector General of the Commonwealth, who is appointed by the Governor, Attorney General and Auditor. M.G.L. c. 12A, § 2. The OIG is organized into three bureaus: Specialty & General Government, Legal & Compliance, and Operations, Training & Publications. The bureaus focus on specific agencies, issues, or functions. See About The OIG | Office of the Inspector General (OIG) for more information about the OIG.

Further details may be found at Chapter 12A (malegislature.gov).

The Legal & Compliance Bureau 

The Legal & Compliance Bureau is managed by the General Counsel. This bureau consists of three divisions: The Office of the General Counsel; Audit, Oversight and Investigations; and Government Outreach and Public Policy. The Office of the General Counsel provides legal support across the office related to human resources, procurements, compliance, litigation and investigations. The Audit, Oversight and Investigation Division investigates possible fraud, waste and abuse of public resources across state and local government. The Government Outreach and Public Policy Division oversees the OIG’s government outreach, municipal engagement, and policy and legislative initiatives and is responsible for legislative mandates such as the review of land dispositions.

The Office of the General Counsel

The Office of the General Counsel (Legal Team) serves as in-house counsel to the OIG. The Legal Team provides essential legal advice and support to the OIG on external and internal matters. The Legal Team supports investigative divisions when legal issues arise during an investigation, audit or review by assisting with formal interviews; analyzing evidence; conducting legal research; enforcing summonses; and liaising with state, municipal and private entities. In addition, the Legal Team manages legal strategy in all OIG litigation, and attorneys in the Office of the General Counsel represent the OIG in state and federal court. The Legal Team attorneys also draft and review legislation and provide guidance on state and local procurement matters.

The Office of the General Counsel also plays a key internal support role. The Legal Team provides legal guidance and support to the OIG on human resources and fiscal related matters. The Office of the General Counsel has responsibilities related to compliance and internal controls within the OIG including onboarding new employees, developing and updating policies and procedures, and regularly providing in-house training on topics such as confidentiality, ethics and conflicts of interest.

About Justice Gerldine S. Hines

The OIG is honored to name this Fellowship after Justice Geraldine S. Hines, whose distinguished career as a lawyer and jurist reflects her commitment to public service and social justice. She was the first African American woman appoint