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Small or Large Company? For a General Counsel, That Is the Question

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  6. Small or Large Company? For a General Counsel, That Is the Question

published August 18, 2008

By CEO and Founder - BCG Attorney Search left
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( 38 votes, average: 3.9 out of 5)
What do you think about this article? Rate it using the stars above and let us know what you think in the comments below.
<<Why should you opt for general counsel job as opposed to working within a law firm? Well, some would say that it offers more job security, which is absolutely true. In a law firm, you have to deal with the possibility of there not being enough clients to go around. When you get an inside counsel job, though, the client is already there and will always be there as long as the business stays afloat and as long as you remain its GC.

For many lawyers, working as counsel for a company is ideal as it offers a steady stream of work. Within a law firm, you have to share the work load with other lawyers and seek out the clients. Within a company, however, this is not an issue.


So, what type of company do you choose? Do you go with a large company, which will likely be very hectic and stressful, or do you go with a small company, which may not require too much work. This is really your choice, but when it comes to general counsel jobs, many people feel that small companies are best. They are more personal, less stressful (in most cases), and less hectic.

What Skills Do I Need as a General Counsel?

Aside from the general requirements for being a GC, which include having gained admittance to the state bar, there are a variety of other things that may be required of you. For example, you may be asked to create corporate or contractual documents. At the same time, you might be asked to review any of these types of documents, as well as negotiate them from a legal standpoint. You may also be asked to manage a variety of real estate issues, which might include lease creations and negotiations.

Broadly speaking, you can definitely expect to have to provide legal advice regarding a multitude of situations and issues. A GC is often required to analyze different elements of a business, such as procedures, regulations, and statutes. Also, if any instances occur in which outside legal representatives or counsel must be dealt with, you will have to deal directly with that as the general counsel for the company.

An inside counsel job will also include providing guidance and legal advice in the areas of employment and labor issues. Depending on the type of business you are working with, you may also have to provide guidance and legal advice about other issues as well.

How to Find a Job in a Small Company

To find an inside counsel job, there are a variety of places that you can look. You can start, for example, with your local newspaper, looking in the help wanted ads. In most cases, you will be asked to present a resume, as well as a cover letter. Therefore, it is a good idea to make sure that you have at least one copy with you at all times while you are looking for a job.

You can also search for a GC job on the Internet. The Internet has become a great place to find a job, and many people are turning to online job ads more than ever before. So, do not rule out sites such as LawCrossing as a good method of finding a great GC job.

Alternative Summary

Harrison is the founder of BCG Attorney Search and several companies in the legal employment space that collectively gets thousands of attorneys jobs each year. Harrison’s writings about attorney careers and placement attract millions of reads each year. Harrison is widely considered the most successful recruiter in the United States and personally places multiple attorneys most weeks. His articles on legal search and placement are read by attorneys, law students and others millions of times per year.

More about Harrison

About LawCrossing

LawCrossing has received tens of thousands of attorneys jobs and has been the leading legal job board in the United States for almost two decades. LawCrossing helps attorneys dramatically improve their careers by locating every legal job opening in the market. Unlike other job sites, LawCrossing consolidates every job in the legal market and posts jobs regardless of whether or not an employer is paying. LawCrossing takes your legal career seriously and understands the legal profession. For more information, please visit www.LawCrossing.com.
  1. Legal Jobs
  2. Legal Articles
  3. Attorney
  4. Attorney Job Search Resources
  5. Finding Attorney Jobs
  6. Small or Large Company? For a General Counsel, That Is the Question

published August 18, 2008

By CEO and Founder - BCG Attorney Search left
( 38 votes, average: 3.9 out of 5)
What do you think about this article? Rate it using the stars above and let us know what you think in the comments below.

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