The state attorney general in each of the 50 United States and six US territories is the chief legal advisor to the state government and the state's chief law enforcement officer. The principal duties of the state attorney general are to supervise and direct the administration and operation of the offices, boards, divisions and bureaus that comprise the department. The state attorney appoints the individual state's attorney.

A state's attorney or state atorney is the lawyer representing the interests of the state in a legal proceeding, typically as a prosecutor. It is an official title in the United States, sometimes appointed but the most commonly an elected official serving as the chief law enforcement officer of her or her county, circuit or district. The offices of district attorney, commonwealth's attorney, county attorney, county prosecutor or prosecuting attorney are more frequently the case in the United States.