The in-house legal team within any organization plays an important role. They don’t just manage contracts and vendors, their role is far more than that. There are various legal titles within in-house departments.
If you are wondering what the different in-house counsel titles are and what their key responsibilities are, this blog is a perfect start for you. We have covered all possible in-house legal titles here, from general counsel to contract administrators.
What is the in-house counsel title hierarchy?
There are various positions in the legal department, aka in-house counsel titles. Here are some of the common legal job titles hierarchy in in-house counsel:
General Counsel (GC) / Chief Legal Officer (CLO)
The General Counsel or Chief Legal Officers are at the top in-house legal department structure titles. They are responsible for overseeing all types of crucial legal matters. They provide crucial legal advice to the board members, senior management and CLO is also responsible for managing the legal team or department.
Key responsibilities of GC & CLO in, in-house legal departments are:
Legal Strategy: They are responsible for developing and implementing legal strategies for the company and the legal department. Additionally, they have to align these responsibilities with business objectives.
Risk Management: Both are at the top of the legal department positions and are responsible for mitigating the legal risks that are caused by internal and external factors.
Compliance: It is crucial to stay in compliance with all the relevant laws and regulations in the legal industry.
Corporate Governance: CLO and GC provide corporate governance on matters, such as board meetings and stakeholder relations.
Litigation Management: They oversee matter management and litigation processes to manage relations with external law firms.
Deputy General Counsel
The deputy general counsel plays a major role in supporting general counsel in managing in-house legal teams. They are also responsible for overseeing legal functions related to specific geographic regions.
Key responsibilities of deputy general counsel:
Legal Support: They are responsible for providing legal advice and support for the everyday functioning of in-house counsel and strategic projects.
Supervision: Supervision is another important responsibility of DGC.They lead and mentor junior legal staff for the in-house department.
Specialization: DGC is also responsible for handling law areas such as intellectual property, corporate law, employment law, or mergers and acquisitions.
Contract Management: They are responsible for overseeing the contract lifecycle, drafting, negotiating, and review of contracts in the department.
Legal Operations Manager
The legal operations manager is responsible for optimizing the legal department’s efficiency and effectiveness. They also improve various different processes of legal operations, legal technology implementation, and strategic planning.
Key responsibilities of legal operation managers:
Process Improvement: LOM is responsible for streamlining the process of legal workflow or investing in workflow automation software.
Technology Management: They are also responsible for implementing and managing legal roles and technology solutions in the legal department.
Budget Management: LOM is also responsible for managing the budget of in-house departments. They keep track of all finances.
Vendor Management: Managing relationships with external vendors and legal services providers is also the responsibility of the legal operations manager.
Performance Metrics: Keep track of KPIs for legal departments and ensure proper reporting and data analysis of data.
Contracts Administrator
The contract administrator is also among the legal job titles list. As they are responsible for managing the contract lifecycle within the legal department or organization. This is to ensure that all the contracts are in compliance and well executed.
Key responsibilities of contract administrators in the legal department include:
Drafting & negotiating contracts: They are responsible for drafting, reviewing, and negotiating contracts on behalf of the team or organization.
Compliance Management: Contract administrators have to ensure that you comply with necessary company policies and legal requirements.
Renewals & Termination: They keep check on the renewal and termination of contracts.
Record Keeping: They keep records of all the contracts, review other contacts, and organize all the contracts.
Associate or Assistant General Counsel
The associate or assistant general counsel is responsible for assisting the General Counsel and Deputy General Counsel. They help GC & DGC in performing their duties or on special projects. They are also an important part of the legal department structure.
Key responsibilities of associate counsel or assistant general counsel includes:
Legal Support: They are responsible for providing legal advice and support to general counsel on assigned matters and issues.
Special Projects: Associate counsel may also have to handle some special projects that they are assigned.
Supervision: Apart from that, the legal support they also assist in overseeing junior legal staff in the team or outside legal counsel if needed.
Policy Development: They also assist in developing and implementing necessary company policies.
Compliance: Compliance management is also the part of associate or assistant general counsel’s responsibility. They ensure compliance with legal regulations and relevant laws.
Senior Corporate Counsel
Senior corporate counsel is responsible for providing high-level legal support to the company and in-house team. They usually focus more on complex legal matters.
Key responsibilities of senior corporate legal counsel include:
Transactional Support: SCC provides necessary advice on significant business transactions, which can be related to mergers and acquisitions.
Complex Legal Issues: Senior corporate counsel handles all the complex legal matters and they provide strategic advice to the team and other members.
Regulatory Compliance: Their role also includes compliance regulations. They ensure all industry rules, laws, and regulations are adhered to.
Litigation Management: Litigation management is a crucial part of the in-house legal team. They can manage significant litigation and disputes.
Policy Development: They are also responsible for developing and implementing necessary compliance policies and procedures.
Corporate Counsel or Legal Counsel
Corporate or legal counsel is primarily responsible for providing legal advice to specific business and functional areas within the organization or company.
Key responsibilities of corporate or legal counsel also include:
Contracts Management: They are responsible for drafting and negotiating contracts with vendors, customers, suppliers, and partners.
Advisory Role: They are responsible for providing legal advice on matters such as business translations, operations, and more.
Dispute Resolution: They are responsible for handling various minor litigations and disputes within in-house teams or during operations.
The Bottom Line
The in-house legal team helps in navigating the complex landscape of the legal, corporate, and business world today. By understanding the diverse roles within the in-house team, you can get the best people in your organization. Each role is different and has its own set of responsibilities. They contribute to the overall strategy and work of the organization.