What level is a general counsel?
Asked by: Lilian Boehm | Last update: November 10, 2025Score: 4.7/5 (54 votes)
A General Counsel (GC) is the most senior person in a company's legal team. They're responsible for providing legal advice, diminishing risk and ensuring that there is a high standard of legal compliance across the business. The role often involves a high level of business acumen and sits at an executive level.
Is general counsel higher than VP?
The VP of Legal often reports directly to the Chief Legal Officer (CLO) or General Counsel (GC). In some organizations, these titles may be used interchangeably, depending on the structure and needs of the business. In organizations without a CLO or GC, the VP of Legal may serve as the top legal executive.
Is general counsel prestigious?
General counsel positions are highly sought-after and involve a lot of responsibility, so those with the right mix of attributes generally land the best positions first. These personality traits include: Sound judgment and the ability to evaluate options fairly. Leadership and a visionary quality.
Is general counsel considered C suite?
Being a general counsel attorney is a tough job, but it can also be a rewarding one. It is most rewarding when your colleagues in the C-suite see you as a peer and not just an order-taking lawyer.
What is a general counsel position?
General Counsel plays a critical role in the business strategy of any organization. They can be responsible for providing legal advice and guidance on various aspects of the business, including financial management, risk management, mergers and acquisitions, corporate governance, and public policy.
What Does A General Counsel Do For A Company?
What is the rank of general counsel?
A General Counsel (GC) is the most senior person in a company's legal team. They're responsible for providing legal advice, diminishing risk and ensuring that there is a high standard of legal compliance across the business. The role often involves a high level of business acumen and sits at an executive level.
Is it hard to become a general counsel?
A general counsel is typically required to have at least five years of experience practicing law to qualify for a general counsel role. Look for an associate position where you can work with more senior-level attorneys and obtain the required experience.
What is another title for General Counsel?
Some companies use the title chief legal officer (CLO) instead of general counsel (learn more about the differences between the CLO and GC here and a deep dive into their roles) to denote the top legal executive.
Is C-suite higher than VP?
In terms of hierarchy and seniority, the C-Suite (Chief) is at the top, followed by the V-Suite (Vice Presidents), and then the D-Suite (Directors).
Is CLO higher than GC?
Position in Hierarchy
The GC is often directly to the CLO, the CEO, or other members of the top management depending on the organizational structure of the company. Even though the GC is a very senior officer, they are not always at the C-level, although more likely in small companies.
Who is the highest paid general counsel?
The highest paid GC in the S&P 500 last year was Kent Walker at Alphabet, who received total compensation of $27.3 million, followed by Apple's Kate Adams ($26.9 million), Blackstone's John Finley ($17.9 million), Booking Holdings' Peter Millones ($15.5 million) and Broadcom's Mark Brazeal ($15.4 million).
What is the highest ranking lawyer?
The Attorney General acts as the principal legal advisor to the President of the United States on all legal matters. The Attorney General is also a statutory member of the Cabinet of the United States and a member of the United States National Security Council.
Do general counsels go to court?
Depending on the stakes (or the number of lawyers in the department) who goes can vary; when the risks are high, that's when the general counsel herself needs to find a seat in the courtroom every day.
What is the hierarchy of titles in a law firm?
In most law firms, the hierarchy is conceptually set up like a pyramid with the partners – the senior most attorneys – at its apex, more junior attorneys ranking below them and so on.
Who should general counsel report to?
The CEO reporting relationship should help you to be a more effective general counsel, and it's probably good for your career. The easy answer is to make this non-negotiable. If you want to be valued and a company really wants you, insist on a direct reporting relationship with the CEO.
What is the highest title for a lawyer?
Law Firm Partners
The pinnacle of the law firm hierarchy is the partners of the firm. Law firm partners play a significant role in law firm management and business. Attorneys who are seasoned not only possess extensive legal knowledge. But also play a major role in a firm's business or capital.
What are D-level executives?
D-level executives are the ones who report to VPs. In this case, D stands for director, e.g. a Director of Engineering or a Director of Sales belong in this grade. Some companies also use the term “B-level executive” to describe mid-level managers. Related resources: Best job sites for executive-level candidates.
What is the CEO right hand man called?
Sometimes, the COO is called the “Vice President of Operations.” The job involves managing the day-to-day administration of the organization. This person often acts as the right-hand man or woman to the CEO. The COO could oversee production, sales, marketing, human resources, or all of the above.
What are the four levels of managers?
The four most common types of managers are top-level managers, middle managers, first-line managers, and team leaders.
Is General Counsel a high position?
In many organizations, the GC reports directly to the CEO and is a member of the company's senior leadership team. According to a study by LawGeex and the Association of Corporate Counsel (ACC), 9 out of 10 companies with 501 to over 1000 employees have a GC.
Is General Counsel considered an officer?
However, the general counsel may be considered (deemed) to be a corporate officer under other laws and rules.
What is a first year lawyer called?
First-year associates are entry-level junior attorneys and are generally recent law school graduates in their first year of law practice.
How much do general counsels make in the Fortune 500?
The report, based on an analysis of the Equilar 500—the 500 largest U.S. companies by revenue—reveals that the median total compensation for General Counsel during the five-year period grew to $3.3 million in 2023, from $2.6 million in 2019.
Do you need to pass the bar to be a general counsel?
General counsels are attorneys who have obtained a law degree and passed the bar exam to practice law in their jurisdiction.
Is general counsel head of legal?
The title “General Counsel” tends to mean the individual who is running the legal department and interfacing with the board, not someone with a reporting relationship to the person who is actually running things.