[1] David Warrington is the current White House counsel, serving since January 20, 2025.

The counsel's office also helps define the line between official and political activities, oversees executive appointments and judicial selection, handles presidential pardons, reviews legislation and presidential statements, and handles lawsuits against the president in his role as president, as well as serving as the White House contact for the Department of Justice.

In those situations the president relies on a personal attorney if he desires confidential legal advice.

The office is also distinct from the judiciary, and from others who are not appointed to positions but nominated by the president and confirmed by the Senate.

These would be foremost the attorney general of the United States, and the principal deputy and other assistants, who are nominated by the president to oversee the United States Department of Justice, or the solicitor general of the United States and staff (the solicitor general is the fourth-ranking official in the Justice Department), who argue cases before the U.S. Supreme Court (and in lower federal courts) for the Justice Department when it is a party to the case.