Chief Legal Officer

Chief Legal Officer Job Description

Job descriptions for the chief legal officer (CLO) and general counsel positions are nearly identical. However, the CLO position has appeared fairly recently in the corporate world because of an evolving understanding that a company's lawyer needs a seat at the senior executives' table in order to advise the company most effectively.

The CLO is the head of the corporate legal department and is responsible for the legal affairs of the entire corporation. This role includes providing legal counsel to the board of directors, chairman of the board, chief executive officer and other senior management. As a senior executive of the corporation, the CLO also acts as a strategic business partner by providing advice and oversight in numerous areas, including ethics, privacy, transparency, data collection and storage, and regulatory and governmental changes and compliance. The CLO typically holds other positions within the company as well, such as corporate secretary, chief compliance officer or chief privacy officer.

The CLO must possess strong initiative, as well as excellent management and leadership skills and strong business acumen. A juris doctor (JD) and an applicable state license to practice law are required. The level of experience required for the position may vary, depending on company size. Large legal departments of public companies (those employing 50 or more legal professionals) prefer candidates with 15 to 20 years of experience. Small startup companies may find that five or more years of relevant experience is adequate. Companies want candidates who also have experience in a major law firm or corporate legal department, where they have held positions of increasing responsibility, such as associate general counsel or partner. Experience in the company's specific field is preferred, and broad business experience that aligns with that of the company's is highly preferred. Many employers want candidates with experience representing public companies, including familiarity with periodic reporting, Sarbanes-Oxley and corporate governance mandates.

Typical chief legal officer duties:

Developing and leading corporate legal strategy to promote and protect the company's matters

Developing and leading internal audit and corporate compliance programs

Overseeing delivery of legal services and resources to accomplish corporate goals, strategies and priorities

Maintaining proper corporate interactions with the relevant local, state and federal governmental bodies, legislatures and the community at large

Advising the CEO and other senior corporate officers on a variety of issues

Participating in the formulation of general management policy as a member of the executive management team

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Salary for Chief Legal Officer

230750 - 283750

25th percentile

230750

The candidate is new to the role and building the needed skills, experience and autonomy.

50th percentile

251500

The candidate has the experience to perform core responsibilities without direct supervision and is comfortable with the role’s processes and subject matter.

75th percentile

283750

The candidate delivers value beyond the stated job duties, has advanced qualifications and experience, and is ready for the next career level.

Projected salaries for related positions

Position title

25th percentile

50th percentile

75th percentile

General Counsel

219750

239500

270250

In-House Counsel/Associate General Counsel, 10+ Years’ Experience

155500

182250

217500

In-House Counsel, 4-9 Years’ Experience

106750

147250

177250

In-House Counsel, 0-3 Years’ Experience

92500

113500

133500

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