General Counsel job summary
A great job description starts with a compelling summary of the position and its role within your company. Your summary should provide an overview of your company and expectations for the position. Outline the types of activities and responsibilities required for the job so job seekers can determine if they are qualified, or if the job is a good fit.
Example of a General Counsel job summary
We are interested in hiring a General Counsel who can oversee the compliance and risk management activities for our organization, and advance the company’s position by publishing articles on legislation required to improve the industry. The successful candidate will be responsible for making sure that company contracts follow policies and legal guidelines. He or she will also work with our executive team to ensure that the company is always in compliance with industry employment and business process laws.
General Counsel responsibilities and duties
The responsibilities and duties section is the most important part of the job description. Here you should outline the functions this position will perform on a regular basis, how the job functions within the organization and who the job reports to.
- Provide accurate legal guidance to the executive staff on all matters that affect the company
- Manage the compliance, risk management and legal services groups
- Attend executive level meetings related to the future direction of the company, pending mergers and acquisitions, and changes in policy
- Create vendor contracts and contractor agreements
- Ensure that the company is in compliance with all current business process laws
General Counsel qualifications and skills
Next, outline the required and preferred skills for your position. This may include education, previous job experience, certifications and technical skills. You may also include soft skills and personality traits that you envision for a successful hire. While it may be tempting to include a long list of skills and requirements, including too many could dissuade qualified candidates from applying. Keep your list of qualifications concise, but provide enough detail with relevant keywords and terms.
- Master’s Degree in Law required (J.D. preferred)
- 10+ years’ legal practice experience
- Proven understanding of national and international labor, trademark and copyright laws
- Strong communication and organizational skills
- Must be willing to travel one week out of each month