Georgia Department of Human Services Commissioner Robyn Crittenden has named Stephen Harris as the agency's general counsel.

Harris had served as the agency's interim general counsel since March, succeeding Daphne Walker, who returned to private practice last year at family law firm Meriwether & Tharp.

DHS is the state's largest agency, with a $1.9 billion budget and more than 9,400 employees.

The agency's Office of General Counsel provides legal advice and support to its three divisions— Family & Children Services, Child Support Services and Aging Services—on issues regarding child support and child welfare, family independence and adult protective services. It also handles statutory, regulatory and policy review and implementation. 

“Mr. Harris' legal expertise has been invaluable throughout his career with the department,” said Crittenden in a statement. “His knowledge of the law, combined with his experience working on human service issues, is beneficial to the department and those we serve.”

Harris started working for DHS in January 2012 as the legal policy specialist for the Division of Child Support Services and then became DCSS' associate general counsel. 

Before joining the agency, Harris spent four years as a staff attorney for the Griffin Judicial Circuit. He has a B.A. in journalism from the University of Georgia and earned a law degree from Brooklyn Law School in 2007. 

Harris' appointment as DHS' general counsel follows the promotion of Chris Hempfling, the general counsel of the Division of Family and Children Services, to deputy director of DFCS on June 1. Hempfling, who became DFCS' general counsel in October, will continue to serve in that role as well. Before joining DFCS, Hempfling spent six years as a special assistant attorney general, representing DFCS and the Division of Aging Services in all legal proceedings in Newton and Rockdale Counties.