General counsels oversee legal departments in large organizations, requiring a law degree and experience in commercial or corporate law. Strong leadership skills are necessary to protect the organization’s interests and ensure compliance with government regulations. Associations and forums provide networking opportunities for general counsels.
Many large organizations, educational institutions, and government agencies have an in-house legal department. The general counsel, or the head of this department, generally protects the interest of the entire organization and oversees the legal associates within the department. Becoming a legal adviser generally requires an individual to be a well-established attorney with a reasonable amount of time and experience in a commercial or corporate law environment. Strong leadership skills are likely also required to become a general consultant.
In most areas, an attorney general is required to hold a law degree. Many organizations also require an understanding of business laws and government regulations that apply to their specific industry. Law courses that focus on these areas can help provide you with the educational background you need to become a general counsel.
Typically, the experience level required to become a general counsel is much more rigorous than it is for some other types of attorneys. A general counsel position is not an entry-level position; therefore, experience can be as important as education in some cases. Individuals looking to become a general counsel must have experience working in business or corporate law environments. Companies often seek legal advisers with working knowledge of business law specific to their industry. Some attorneys may also work in lower-level positions at a corporate law firm and later become a general counsel for that firm.
A general counsel tends to be the watchdog of an organization, working to ensure that the company is protected and that all legal obligations are carefully followed. As a result, strong leadership skills tend to be an important quality for a general counsel. In government agencies, a general counsel usually deals with government policies and regulations; this may vary somewhat from the role of a general counsel in the private sector. For the most part, though, general counsels in the private sector and government tend to have many of the same responsibilities.
Several organizations offer support to the General Council in the form of associations and forums. This includes the Silicon Valley General Counsel Association and General Counsel Forum in the US, as well as GC100 in the UK. Each of these associations and forums supports members, which may include not only lawyers but management professionals as well. Each organization offers its members the opportunity to network with other industry professionals to discuss best practices, risk management and current compliance issues.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
