A company’s General Counsel (GC) is its chief lawyer and an integral member of the senior leadership team, reporting directly to the Chief Executive Officer and advising the board of directors on matters of strategic importance. This dual function requires the GC to operate as a legal guardian and a business strategist.
The GC is tasked with protecting the company from legal risk while also contributing to its commercial success. The position demands a professional who can provide sound legal counsel that is deeply integrated with the company’s business objectives and overall strategy.
The Educational Foundation
The journey to becoming a General Counsel begins with a rigorous academic and professional qualification process. The first step is earning a Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree. This three-year postgraduate program provides the specialized legal education necessary to understand and apply law within a business context. Attending a law school accredited by the American Bar Association (ABA) is a standard requirement for legal practice in the United States.
Upon graduating from law school, the next step is to become a licensed attorney. This is achieved by passing a state bar examination, a comprehensive test of legal knowledge and principles. Passing the bar and being admitted to a state’s law society are mandatory for practicing law and providing the legal advice that is central to the GC role.
While the J.D. and a law license are the core requirements, certain educational choices can provide a competitive edge. An undergraduate degree in fields like business, finance, or business administration can be particularly advantageous. This background provides a foundational understanding of management concepts and corporate operations, and some lawyers aspiring to the C-suite also choose to pursue a Master of Business Administration (MBA) to further sharpen their financial and strategic skills.
Gaining Essential Legal Experience
Following law school, an aspiring General Counsel must accumulate substantial and relevant legal experience. The most common route involves starting a career at a large law firm. These firms provide intensive training and expose junior lawyers to a wide array of complex legal matters for high-stakes corporate clients.
An alternative, though less traditional, path is to begin a legal career directly within a company’s in-house legal department. While this can offer early exposure to the specific business environment of one company, it may not provide the same breadth of training across different industries and legal challenges as a major law firm. Regardless of the starting point, making the transition from a law firm to an in-house role is a common step in the journey toward becoming a GC.
Experience in corporate law is foundational. Expertise is also highly valued in areas such as:
- Corporate governance, which involves advising boards and ensuring compliance with corporate formalities
- Mergers and acquisitions (M&A), which involves navigating complex transactions that are central to corporate strategy
- Securities law for publicly traded companies
- Litigation management
- Intellectual property
- Labor and employment law
Most professionals need at least 10 to 15 years of legal experience, with roles of increasing responsibility over time. This progression often involves moving from an associate at a law firm to a senior in-house counsel or Deputy General Counsel role. This extensive period is necessary to develop deep legal expertise and the seasoned judgment required to lead a corporate legal function.
Developing Key Competencies Beyond Legal Expertise
Business Acumen
A deep understanding of the business involves a thorough grasp of the company’s industry, its financial statements, and its strategic objectives. The GC must understand key business concepts like finance, accounting, and marketing to provide legal advice that is commercially relevant and aligned with enterprise priorities.
Leadership and Management
The General Counsel is the leader of the legal department, a role that requires strong management skills. This includes managing a team of lawyers and legal staff, developing talent, and overseeing the department’s budget. They must also manage relationships with external law firms and other vendors, making strategic decisions about when and how to use outside resources.
Risk Assessment and Mitigation
A central function of the General Counsel is to identify, assess, and mitigate potential legal and business risks. This involves developing practical and strategic solutions that balance legal obligations with business objectives. This skill is applied in a variety of contexts, from managing litigation and regulatory investigations to advising on crisis response.
Communication and Interpersonal Skills
GCs must be exceptional communicators. They need to translate complex legal issues into clear, understandable language for non-lawyer executives, board members, and employees. Strong interpersonal skills and a high level of emotional intelligence are needed to foster a culture of partnership between the legal department and the rest of the business.
High Ethical Standards
The General Counsel is often described as the ethical conscience of the organization. They are responsible for ensuring the company operates with integrity and complies with the law. This requires unimpeachable personal ethics and the courage to provide unwelcome advice when necessary.
Making the Transition to General Counsel
Securing a General Counsel position is the final step in a long and strategic career path. The transition typically happens in one of two ways: through an internal promotion or an external hire. An internal promotion often involves elevating a senior lawyer, such as a Deputy General Counsel, who has deep institutional knowledge and has been groomed for the position as part of a succession plan. This path allows for a smoother transition, as the candidate already has established relationships and understands the company’s culture.
Many companies, however, opt to hire their General Counsel from outside the organization. Data from 2022 showed that 53% of Fortune 1000 GC roles were filled by external candidates. This approach is often taken when a company seeks a leader with a specific type of experience, such as a prior GC role, or wants to bring in a fresh perspective. The decision can also be influenced by a desire to increase the diversity of the leadership team.
Executive search firms, often called headhunters, play a significant role in filling top legal positions. These firms are retained by companies to identify and vet potential candidates, and many senior-level GC vacancies are never publicly advertised. Therefore, building relationships with these search consultants is a practical step for any aspiring GC.
Throughout one’s career, strategic networking is indispensable. Building and maintaining a strong professional network of business leaders, fellow attorneys, and recruiters is fundamental. Ultimately, the trust and reputation built over a career often become the deciding factors in landing the top legal job.