Do you value your GC? If so, please count the ways, as the role of the General Counsel is becoming more and more important to organizations. As Deborah Ben-Canaan of Major, Lindsey & Africa points out in her recent article, positioning the General Counsel is a critical task now more than ever. Those seeking General Counsel jobs need to keep abreast of these trends, as expectations are increasing and will continue to do so for years to come.
“Through my line of work, I’ve had a front row seat to the seismic evolution of the general counsel role in recent years. Today’s GC isn’t just a legal advisor and company watchdog. Rather, they’re a critical member of the executive team, playing a pivotal role in managing risk and shaping financial and business strategies. This increasing importance of, and demand for, the GC role can be attributed to numerous and wide-ranging factors, such as post-pandemic retirements, increasing and new regulatory requirements, economic uncertainties, global growth, and greater importance in signaling company values/morals.
This ever-expanding role has left executive teams questioning how to appropriately position their General Counsel within the organization. My reply is always the same: How much do you value your General Counsel and how do you show them that value? If they’re meant to be a bona fide strategic player—and you want a GC who will be a significant asset to your leadership team and organization, this question is critical. If you truly value your GC, here are the top factors you need to consider in order to demonstrate that value:….”
Read: How Much Do You Value Your GC? at Major, Lindsey & Africa