The Office of the General Counsel is the legal advisor and advocate for the Foundation, providing legal advice and assistance on all aspects of the Foundation's programs, policies, and operations, as well as areas affecting science and technology more broadly. Advice is provided in a wide variety of areas, such as: grants, contracts and cooperative agreements; intellectual property; conflicts-of-interest; employee and labor relations; civil rights; health, safety and environment; public regulation of research; Federal fiscal and administrative law and procedure; international law and agreements; and national security restrictions of scientific research (including export controls). The Office of the General Counsel also provides litigation expertise to the agency coordinating each phase of complex litigation with various divisions of the U.S. Department of Justice.

Lawrence Rudolph is the General Counsel of the Foundation.

Amy Northcutt is the Deputy General Counsel.