Lawyers who are searching for their first jobs are likely to forget the position of general counsel. The general counsel for any company is the lawyer who advises the CEO and board of directors on legal matters pertaining to the company. The company may be embroiled in a major lawsuit, and the general counsel will help the company fight any litigation. You may get a general counsel jobs for a small company to start, and you will find yourself running a small legal empire out of your office.
#1: The Duties Of The General Counsel
The general counsel of any company shuffles papers every day to ensure the company is managing its legal obligations properly. Companies find themselves in many legal situations that are difficult to navigate, and the general counsel will help prepare legal documents the company requires to keep operating. Each step in the company's legal machinations is handled by the general counsel, and the general counsel is routinely called in for advice.
#2: The Pay Scale
The general counsel of a large company will easily make six figures every year, and the largest companies in the world pay their general counsels in stock options. A lawyer can make over a million dollars a year in a job like this, and you may choose to start your career as legal counsel in the business to increase your earning potential.
Working as the general counsel for a single company is much like running your legal office out of someone's corporate headquarters. You are on retainer full-time for the company, and you spring into action any time the company needs assistance. You are the only voice of reason in a building where no one else has a law degree, and you are paid handsomely for your services as the general counsel.