Constitutional Status and Legislative Framework
The organization and operation of the Legal Council of the State are founded on a multi-level regulatory framework.
At constitutional level, Article 100A of the Constitution enshrines the Legal Council of the State as a constitutionally recognized and safeguarded institution, defining its core role in the judicial support and representation of the State, as well as the basic principles governing the service status of its legal officers and staff.
On 21 September 2021, the Hellenic Parliament, sitting in plenary session, adopted Law 4831/2021, entitled “Organic Law of the Legal Council of the State (L.C.S.), Status of its Legal Officers and Employees, and Other Provisions” (Government Gazette A΄ 170). This law defines the competences, structure and mode of operation of the Legal Council of the State, as well as the service status of its personnel.
Core Priorities of the Organic Law
- The digital transformation of the Legal Council of the State and its electronic operation.
- The restructuring and modernization of the structure and operation of the Legal Council of the State, with an emphasis on specialization and the efficient allocation of human resources and assets.
- The simplification of the procedures of the Legal Council of the State, the reduction of workload, the elimination of bureaucratic practices, and its contribution to the swift administration of justice and the execution of court judgments.
- The strengthening of the constitutionally mandated competence of the L.C.S. regarding the extrajudicial or amicable settlement of disputes between the State and other public entities and private individuals.
- The updating of the provisions concerning the general service status of the Legal Officers of the Legal Council of the State, both as regards the conduct of the entry competition — which is now held on a regular, biennial basis using new criteria and grading methods — as well as matters of inspection, promotions, and the disciplinary law applicable to the Legal Officers of the Legal Council of the State.
Presidential Decree 51/2022 further specifies the competences of the Directorates of the Central Service.
Recent Legislative Reforms
In 2025, further reforms were introduced by Law 5259/2025, with the aim of modernizing the operation of the Legal Council of the State, increasing flexibility, accelerating procedures and simplifying the handling of cases. These provisions amended and supplemented Law 4831/2021, addressing issues that had arisen during the first years of its implementation.
Among the main reforms introduced in 2025 were the establishment of a Special Section of the Legal Council of the State for urgent and highly important matters, the creation of a formation for the out-of-court settlement of disputes, and the adjustment of the powers of three-member committees in order to simplify and accelerate the handling of cases.
The reforms also strengthened the role of the Legal Advisers’ Offices, clarified issues concerning representation and approval procedures, updated the number of established posts of legal officers, and introduced provisions to ensure the uninterrupted operation of the Legal Council of the State. Further amendments concerned the competition for the recruitment of new legal officers, the service status of members of the Council and the annual reporting procedure to the Hellenic Parliament.
Role in the New Public-Sector Disciplinary Framework
In the same year, the Legal Council of the State was also entrusted with a decisive role in a major reform of the disciplinary law of public-sector employees. Law 5225/2025 established the Disciplinary Council for Human Resources of the Public Sector at the Ministry of the Interior, with competence over disciplinary matters concerning civil servants and employees of public-law legal entities.
The exclusive staffing of this new disciplinary body by members of the Legal Council of the State reflects the confidence of the State in their legal expertise, independence and institutional experience. From 1 July 2026, the Council is to be staffed by sixty legal officers of the Legal Council of the State, including a Vice-President, Legal Advisers, Assistant Legal Advisers and Judicial Representatives.
For the first phase of implementation, the law provides for an initial composition of fifteen members, with a six-month term beginning on 1 January 2026, ensuring a gradual and orderly transition to the new disciplinary system.
Law 5225/2025 also established a Special Legal Office for Disciplinary Cases as an organisational unit of the Legal Council of the State. This new unit is responsible for matters falling within the competence of the Disciplinary Council for Human Resources of the Public Sector and is intended to support the administrative and operational effectiveness of the new framework.
To meet the increased needs arising from this reform, the number of established posts of legal officers of the Legal Council of the State was increased, and a competition was announced for the recruitment of new Judicial Representatives.
The success of these reforms is closely linked to the effective use of modern digital tools and platforms. Digital support is expected to improve the organization, management and monitoring of disciplinary cases and to contribute to the acceleration and overall efficiency of the relevant procedures.