What Is a Chief Legal Officer?
When you’re eager about how companies operate primarily based on the law, corporate law may be a good career path for you. In this role, you want legal experience to help corporations comply with laws and rules and decrease litigation risks while conducting business. With expertise, you possibly can work your way up to the senior-level position of a chief authorized officer (CLO). In this article, we explain the role of a chief legal officer, the right way to change into one and reply some continuously asked questions on this profession.
Key takeaways
A CLO is a legal executive who helps a company observe legal and regulatory issues.
A CLO is an adviser to different firm officers and board members to minimize authorized risks.
A CLO is usually probably the most highly effective legal executive in a publicly traded company.
What’s a chief authorized officer?
A chief legal officer is a lawyer with a Juris Doctor (JD) degree, state license and intensive corporate experience. Because the head of a corporate legal department, a CLO is liable for overseeing an organization’s authorized affairs. They have in depth legal backgrounds with previous positions as head legal, first basic counsel and law firm partner before changing into a CLO.
What does a chief legal officer do?
Chief legal officers usually work as probably the most senior authorized executive for publicly traded companies. These companies wish to guarantee they’re protecting their workers, assets and stakeholders in accordance with the law.
A CLO’s duties could embody:
Keeping leadership informed of new or altering laws
Consulting a company’s board on legal advice and laws
Overseeing a company’s in-house attorneys and authorized department
Educating employees on legal points
Organising training materials relating to authorized issues for workers
Preparing authorized forms similar to nondisclosure agreements or proprietary information agreements
Developing and implementing authorized strategies and policies in the most effective interest of the corporate
Leading inner audits and corporate compliance initiatives
Litigating on behalf of a company
Understanding contracts signed by the corporate
The right way to develop into a chief legal officer
Follow these steps to develop into a qualified chief legal officer:
1. Earn a bachelor’s degree
Most aspiring lawyers begin by earning a bachelor’s degree in business, philosophy or history. Different widespread majors for pre-law students embrace history, business, philosophy, English, political science and liberal arts. Since there aren’t any particular “pre-law” degrees, it is best to seek out coursework similar to international law, cyber law, public speaking, argumentation principle, communications and any others associated to the examine of law.
Law school admission is highly competitive so you wish to keep a high grade level average (GPA) throughout your undergraduate years. Law school admissions teams may favor candidates with relevant work experience so seek out an law firm internship before you graduate.
2. Apply to law school
In the course of the final years of your undergraduate program, you need to take the Law School Admission Test (LSAT). Your rating is a key component once you apply for law school. Chances are you’ll take the LSAT several instances to get a higher score.
Law schools may also require a personal statement in your application. This is a brief essay the place you clarify why you wish to attend law school and why you’re a certified candidate.
You might also be required to incorporate a letter of recommendation. Ask a highly revered community member, reminiscent of a professor or previous employer, to write your letter of recommendation. The admissions staff can also want to meet with you in particular person to additional focus on your background and application.
3. Attend law school
It typically takes three years to earn a JD degree. The first half of the program focuses on legal writing, civil procedures, constitutional law and property law. Within the second half, you will select a specialization. As an aspiring chief legal officer, you must focus on corporate law. Alongside with courses typically law topics, you might examine mental property law, corporate finance, enterprise law, real estate law, employment law and other topics associated to practising law in a business setting.
4. Pass the bar examination
Law school graduates want a state license and admission to the American Bar Affiliation to apply law. You need to take a licensing or “bar” exam on federal, criminal, constitutional and multistate law, a written essay part and an ethics test. Requirements fluctuate by state and jurisdiction however the bar exam is the same for all lawyers irrespective of their specialization. You will take the bar examination within the state the place you want to practice. Be prepared to pass a background check to be admitted to the bar.
5. Gain work experience
Many chief legal officers start as practicing attorneys and work their way up by way of internal promotions or applying to higher level positions within their industry. They may have a background as a law firm partner, head of authorized or first normal counselor.
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