Introduction

Often likened to trauma surgeons or counselors, Corporate Lawyers are the ones that corporate firms turn to in a crisis. They work across the board, seeking a common ground for both parties while handling behind-the-scenes legal transactions for large corporations.

Also Known As:

• Corporation Lawyer
• Staff Attorney
• Corporate Counsel
• In-House Counsel

Typical Job Responsibilities

• Advise corporations (clients or employers) on their legal rights, obligations, and privileges as related to the corporation’s business activities; advise them on the pros and cons of prosecuting or defending a lawsuit; suggest alternative courses of action


• Advise corporate executives and managers on a wide range of issues, such as tax & compliance, employment & international commercial law, intellectual property or real estate law, litigation, patents, and government regulations


• Advise corporations on property interests, union-related issues, and contracts with other companies, including suppliers of raw materials


• Act as legal advisors and agents of the corporation in business transactions such as mergers & acquisitions; identify risks and propose alternative structures to mitigate risks


• Study constitutions, statutes, previous decisions, ordinances, and decisions of quasi-judicial bodies that apply to corporations; help clients avoid expensive litigation by anticipating and circumventing problems


• Review and draft contracts, annual reports, and other legal documents including pleadings, discovery, motions, briefs, and wills; prepare and file government reports; prepare internal reports for company executives


• Negotiate and draft commercial agreements; review new business agreements; identify and analyze legal issues relating to proposed products or services


• Ensure compliance with local, state, and federal laws and regulations; brief internal stakeholders on investigations and compliance; keep their clients up to date on new business laws and regulations


• Offer recommendations on labor relations and employee safety; negotiate employee contracts; act as lead negotiator in collective bargaining negotiations with unions; work with the chief legal officer and top management to review and update personnel policies; formulate employee handbooks


• Adapt their varying roles and daily responsibilities to their practice environment, the field of specialization, and to whether they are in-house or outside counsels; meet and interview prospective or new clients

Standard Work Environment

Corporate Lawyers work in a fast-paced work environment. They spend a part of their time in meetings with board members and management, helping them strategize and offering legal and business advice. They typically work in comfortable, well-lit offices. They often have their own spaces and secretaries assigned to them with access to legal research assistants and a library. Large companies also provide them with the latest technology and office equipment and a supporting team of paralegals, legal secretaries, and administrative professionals.

Work Schedule

Work hours are typically 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., although some evening and weekend work may be required, especially when preparing court cases. Working less than 40 hours is unusual, and most Corporate Lawyers work considerably more. Those working in large firms tend to put in the most extended hours, as do those in private practice.

Employers

Most Corporate Lawyers work in private practice, either in a law firm or a solo practice. They may also work in-house as full-time employees of one company. Self-employed Corporate Lawyers may advise several corporate clients.

Corporate Lawyers are generally employed by:

• Private Corporations
• Government Agencies
• Judiciary
• Law Firms
• Educational Organizations
• Nonprofit Organizationsy

Workplace Challenges

• Heavy pressure during work, especially to meet deadlines during trials
• An exercise in stamina and skillful negotiation as a deal moves towards closing time
• Demands of work limit personal interests and family life

Suggested Work Experience

• Part-time jobs or summer internships in law firms, government agencies, and corporate legal departments provide valuable experience. Smaller firms, government agencies, and public-interest organizations may hire as summer associates certain students who have completed their first year at law school. The summer associate programs in most large firms are open only to law students who have completed their second year.
• Talking to seasoned Corporate Lawyers about their jobs and asking them what they like and dislike about their careers, how they broke into the field, and other such questions will help students learn more about this specialty. Students can seek help from their school counselors or a professional association to arrange an interview. Typing briefs, working in the law school library, or searching records as a junior court clerk will give you job contacts and a firsthand view of the legal world.

Recommended Qualifications

Performance, experience, and the acquisition of professional qualifications drives career progression. Very few in-house Corporate Lawyers are hired directly out of law school. New hires usually start as associates and work on teams with more experienced seniors. They need to work their way up or lose their positions. Advancement usually comes as significant pay raises, a movement to better-known companies, and promotion to managerial positions such as Supervisory Attorney, Managing Attorney, General Counsel, or Chief Legal Officer.
Corporate Lawyers who have put in several years may be offered a partnership in and partial ownership of a firm. Those who do not advance within their firm may be forced to leave, a practice commonly known as “up or out.”
Proficient Corporate Lawyers may choose to go into solo practice or move to a large corporation’s legal department. They may then move across organizations in pursuit of top positions. Others move beyond corporate legal departments to become CEOs or corporate board members. Some Corporate Lawyers become judges or law professors.

Certifications, Licenses and Registration

Criminal Defence Lawyers must pass the bar exam before practicing the law. Change of location would require passing a bar exam pertinent to the area. Some locations require a character evaluation and background test before granting you admission to the bar. Individual government entities conduct licensing. It typically requires the passage of an examination in addition to the fulfillment of eligibility requirements, such as a minimum level of education, work experience, training, or the completion of an internship, residency, or apprenticeship. Voluntary certification from an objective and reputed organization can help you gain professional credibility, encourage renewal, and become an independent consultant. Successful certification programs protect public welfare by incorporating a Code of Ethics. Investigation of members who practice outside the Code earns public trust and respect, which are the most critical elements in securing a professional’s future.

Projected Career Map

There is stiff competition for Criminal Defence Lawyer positions. Traditionally, a Criminal Defense Lawyer begins working as a junior associate either for a law firm or for a prosecutor or a public defender. They can advance to Senior Associate positions at law firms or choose to become self-employed as solo practitioners. Being accepted as a partner in a law firm could be the pinnacle of their career. Criminal Defense Lawyers can also work as District Attorneys who are employed by and prosecute cases on behalf of the government. A few choose to work with non-profit organizations and represent individuals who cannot afford private counsel.

Beneficial Professional Development

Continuing professional development is the holistic commitment of professionals towards enhancing personal skills and proficiency throughout their active careers through work-based learning, a professional activity, formal education, or self-directed learning. Most locations require Criminal Defence Lawyers to meet continuing education requirements to stay up-to-date on developments in the legal fields and law changes. These courses may be taken through national and state bar associations, law schools, or even the Internet. CPD allows individuals to upskill continually, regardless of their age, job, or level of knowledge. It prevents practical and academic qualifications from becoming outdated, enables individuals to identify any knowledge gaps, and allows professionals to progress to a new specialism.

Conclusion

Law without justice is a wound without a cure. There isn’t much justice in this world. Perhaps that’s why Criminal Defence Lawyers find it immensely satisfying to create some as often as possible.

Advice from the Wise

It is better to see ten guilty men walk free than one innocent man put in jail. So, although a Criminal Defence Lawyer has one of the more thankless jobs in the legal arena, you are there to ensure that the innocent get a fair trial.