A Deputy General Counsel, or DGC, is a high-ranking corporate lawyer serving as the second-in-command within a company’s legal department. This senior-level executive assists the General Counsel in managing the organization’s legal affairs. The role is most commonly found in large corporations and global organizations that have substantial and complex legal needs requiring a deep bench of legal expertise.
Core Responsibilities of a Deputy General Counsel
The Deputy General Counsel’s role is tasked with overseeing the day-to-day functions of the legal department. This involves supervising junior attorneys and other legal staff, managing workflows, and ensuring the department runs efficiently. A significant part of their duties includes providing direct legal advice and support to various business units and senior management on a wide array of matters.
Their responsibilities include the drafting, reviewing, and negotiating of significant contracts and agreements that the company enters into. The DGC will also oversee and manage major litigation, arbitrations, or other dispute resolution processes, developing strategies to minimize risk and protect the company’s interests. This includes managing external law firms hired to assist with specialized legal matters.
A primary function is to ensure the organization maintains compliance with all relevant federal, state, and local laws and regulations. This includes developing and implementing compliance programs and corporate governance policies to mitigate legal risks. They are also involved in providing strategic legal advice that aligns with the company’s broader business objectives and participating in high-level decision-making processes. In some organizations, a DGC might have a special emphasis on a particular area, such as mergers and acquisitions, intellectual property, or complex international agreements.
Position within the Legal Department Hierarchy
The Deputy General Counsel reports directly to the General Counsel (GC), who is the chief legal officer of the company. The DGC serves as the GC’s second-in-command and is empowered to act on their behalf when necessary. This structure allows the General Counsel to focus on broader strategic issues, while the DGC handles the operational management of the legal department.
While the GC holds ultimate responsibility for the company’s legal strategy, the DGC ensures that strategy is implemented effectively throughout the organization. This makes the DGC a bridge between the high-level directives of the GC and the daily work of the legal team. The role is distinct from that of an Associate General Counsel (AGC) or Assistant General Counsel.
The DGC is senior to AGCs and often directly manages them. In larger legal departments, there might be multiple AGCs who handle legal matters for specific departments or have specialized areas of practice. These individuals report to the Deputy General Counsel, who coordinates their efforts and ensures alignment with the overall legal department’s goals.
Qualifications and Skills Required
Becoming a Deputy General Counsel requires a significant educational and professional background. The foundational requirements are a Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree from an accredited law school and an active license to practice law, which means being a member in good standing of a state bar.
Beyond education, extensive professional experience is expected. Candidates typically need between 10 to 15 years of progressive legal experience, with a substantial portion of that time spent in a senior or leadership role. This experience often includes a combination of work at a private law firm and previous roles within a corporate in-house legal department.
In addition to legal expertise, a specific set of skills is necessary to succeed. Strong leadership and team management abilities are needed for overseeing the legal department staff. Communication and interpersonal skills are needed to advise senior management and collaborate with various business units effectively. A DGC must also possess strong business acumen to provide legal advice that is strategically aligned with the company’s commercial objectives.
Career Outlook and Compensation
The Deputy General Counsel position is widely regarded as the primary stepping stone to becoming a General Counsel. Holding the DGC title provides the necessary experience in managing a legal team and navigating the complexities of a corporate environment, making it a pivotal point in a lawyer’s in-house career path.
Compensation for a Deputy General Counsel varies significantly based on factors such as the size and revenue of the company, the industry, and the geographic location of the headquarters. A DGC at a large, publicly traded company in a major metropolitan area will earn substantially more than one at a smaller, private company in a less populated region.
The salary for a DGC is substantial, reflecting the high level of responsibility. While base salaries can range broadly from approximately $147,000 to over $290,000, this is often supplemented by significant bonuses, stock options, or other forms of equity.