The unit's main responsibilities include, in particular:

• General civil and administrative law
  Handling matters of general civil and contract law, as well as public and administrative law
• Contract law and matters related to performance obligations
  Reviewing, drafting and legally assessing contracts, as well as advising on issues related to contractual performance and warranty claims
• Liability
  Clarifying liability issues relating to the university and its members, as well and assessing claims for damages
• Self-insurance principle of the State of Hesse
  Advising on matters relating to the self-insurance principle.
• Labour and collective bargaining law
  Advising university members, in particular personnel administrators and managers, on labour and collective bargaining law issues and representing them in labour court proceedings.
• Civil service law
  Advising HR officers and managers on civil service law matters and providing support in civil service law proceedings.
• Disciplinary proceedings and matters related to competition dispute
  Conducting and supporting disciplinary proceedings and performing tasks in the context of competition dispute proceedings.

The General Legal Affairs is distinct from the responsibilities of other departments, which handle the following areas:

• Student Affairs and higher Education Law – legal issues relating to enrolment, studies, examinations and de-registration; university statutes and regulations.
• Property Management – property, tenancy and construction matters, as well as building management.
• Research-related matters – contractual and legal issues relating to research projects, third-party funding and collaborations.
• Data protection: General legal inquiries, particularly those concerning the records of processing activities and issues related to joint controllership.