James E. Holst
General Counsel & Vice President for Legal Affairs

James Holst has been general counsel of the Regents since June 1986. Prior to his appointment, he had been acting general counsel for seven months and deputy general counsel from September 1984 to December 1985. As general counsel, he is the chief legal officer of the Regents and oversees a staff of attorneys in the Office of the General Counsel.

Holst joined the Office of the General Counsel in 1964. He became an associate counsel in 1974 and soon became chief associate counsel, a position he held until 1984. Since 1993, Holst has reported to both the chair of the Regents and to the UC president.

Holst graduated with honors in political science from UC Berkeley. Three years later, he earned his law degree from Berkeley's Boalt Hall. He is a member of the State Bar, the National Association of College and University Attorneys and the American Academy of Hospital Attorneys.