DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY
HEADQUARTERS UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS
WASHINGTON, DC 20380-0001
MCO 5800.12
CL
26 Sep 89
MARINE CORPS ORDER 5800.12
From: Commandant of the Marine Corps
To: Distribution List
Subj: AREA COUNSEL OFFICES
1. Purpose. To publish the duties and responsibilities of
Area Counsel Offices for providing installation law support to
Marine Corps commands.
2. Background
a. The increasing complexity and volume of legal issues
confronting commanders in the area of installation law--defined
as land use, environmental, labor, procurement and business and
commercial law--the anticipated lack of growth in legal support
manpower and funding, and the regional nature of many of the
issues involved compels consolidating installation law support
in single, integrated regional offices in order to provide
efficient, responsive support to all commands in the specified
region.
b. Accordingly, a Western Area Counsel Office Test Program
was authorized on 29 January 1988. Following its successful
completion the Western Area Counsel Office (WACO) was
permanently established on 15 July 1988, and on 15 July 1989,
the Eastern Area Counsel Office (EACO) was also established.
3. Policy. Installation law resources will be organized and
employed on a regional basis, centrally controlled, and
utilizing an integrated team of Marine Corps judge advocates
and civilian attorneys as the most efficient and effective
method of providing such law support to the commands served.
4. Organization
a. Western Area Counsel Office
(1) The office is located at Marine Corps Base, Camp
Pendleton under the Counsel, WACO.
(2) Regional installation law support will be provided
to all Marine Corps installations in California and Arizona and
in such other areas as may be directed.
(3) Supervisory control will be exercised by the
Counsel for the Commandant, Headquarters Marine Corps.
MCO 5800.12
26 Sep 89
b. Eastern Area Counsel Office
(1) The office is located at Marine Corps Base, Camp
Lejeune under the Counsel, EACO.
(2) Regional installation law support will be provided
to all Marine Corps installations in North and South Carolina
and in such other areas as may be directed.
(3) Supervisory control will be exercised by the
Counsel for the Commandant, Headquarters Marine Corps.
5. Action
a. Counsel for the Commandant. Exercise operational and
supervisory control over WACO and EACO.
b. Staff Judge Advocate to the Commandant. Provide such
assistance in the discharge of his responsibilities under this
Order as may be requested by the Counsel for the Commandant.
c. Installation Commanders
(1) Ensure staffs consult and coordinate with the
appropriate Area Counsel Office personnel on all matters
involving installation law.
(2) As appropriate in individual cases, coordinate
efforts with other installations commanders to ensure effective
response to regional issues.
d. Counsel, WACO
(1) Serve as head of WACO.
(2) Serve as Counsel to the West Coast Regional Review
Board.
(3) Provide timely, responsive, and comprehensive
installation law support to all commanders and their staffs in
the Western Area.
(4) Coordinate with regional staff judge advocates to
ensure most effective and efficient employment of respective
resources in order to avoid duplication of effort.
(5) Maintain a regional filing system or data base for
legal issues within the area of responsibility.
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MCO 5800.12
26 Sep 89
d. Counsel, EACO
(1) Serve as head of EACO.
(2) Serve as Counsel to the East Coast Regional Review
Board.
(3) Provide timely, responsive, and comprehensive
installation law support to all commanders and their staffs in
the Eastern Area.
(4) Coordinate with regional staff judge advocates to
ensure most effective and efficient employment of respective
resources in order to avoid duplication of effort.
(5) Maintain a regional filing system or data base for
legal issues within the area of responsibility.
6. Reserve Applicability. This Order is not applicable to the
Marine Corps Reserve.
DISTRIBUTION: A
Copy to: 8145001
