Who is chief legal officer?
Asked by: Mr. Jacey Fritsch | Last update: December 7, 2025Score: 4.4/5 (24 votes)
Key Takeaways A chief legal officer (CLO) is a
Is CLO higher than general counsel?
The General Counsel focuses more on the legal work and may also report to the CLO or CEO of the organization. Although the general counsel is a crucial part of any organization, their role in the executive team or decision-making is quite limited.
Who is the chief law officer in the UK?
Current role holder
Richard Hermer was appointed Attorney General on 5 July 2024. Richard Hermer KC was called to the Bar in 1993 and he took silk in 2009. He was previously Head of Chambers at Matrix and has served as a Deputy High Court Judge.
Do you have to be a lawyer to be a chief legal officer?
While a law degree is essential for a career as a Chief Legal Officer (CLO), it is not the only requirement. A Juris Doctor (JD) from an accredited law school and passing the bar exam are fundamental steps. However, practical experience, strategic thinking, and leadership skills are equally crucial.
Who does the chief legal officer report to?
This highlights the importance of the CLO having a unique voice within the organisation and, critically, an effective direct reporting line to the CEO in order to operate within an effective risk compliance framework. This is instrumental in protecting a company's operational performance.
A Conversation with Pierre Gentin, McKinsey’s Chief Legal Officer
Who is the chief legal officer?
A chief legal officer (CLO) is a legal executive appointed to govern a firm's legal department, lead in-house attorneys, provide direction on major legal and regulatory issues, and work to minimize legal risks.
What is CLO in court?
The Conservation & Liquidation Office (CLO) has become one of the premier receivership operations in the country and will continue to manage the affairs of conservatorship and receivership in California for the benefit and protection of policyholders and other creditors interested in the assets of the estates.
Who is the highest legal officer?
Attorney General is the highest law officer in India. Article 76 of the Indian Constitution under its Part-V deals with the position of Attorney General of India. He is the chief legal advisor to the government of India and advises the union government on all legal matters.
Does a CLO have to be a lawyer?
The CLO of a company may or may not be the actual "lawyer" for the company, but would be required to have the requisite knowledge of the law to retain and secure attorneys who do serve the company.
What is the difference between head of legal and chief legal officer?
However generally speaking, General Counsels tend to focus on legal and compliance matters, whereas Chief Legal Officers typically have a broader range of responsibilities including legal, strategic and executive functions.
Who is the highest law officer in the UK?
The Attorney General for England and Wales, a member of the UK Government, is similarly the chief law officer of the Crown in England and Wales and advises and represents the Crown and government departments in court.
What is the title for Chief Legal Officer?
Chief Legal Officer
The CLO title highlights the strategic importance of this role overseeing key legal and compliance functions. The ideal CLO possesses strong leadership, strategic thinking, and excellent communication skills.
What's the difference between solicitor and Attorney General?
Lesson Summary. The U.S. Solicitor General works for the Attorney General, who is in charge of legal representation for the United States' executive branch. The Solicitor General represents the United States in front of the U.S. Supreme Court, unless the Attorney General wants to.
What is the highest level of solicitor?
Ranks in a law firm start from entry-level positions like paralegals and trainee solicitors, progressing through legal associates and senior associates, up to managerial roles such as legal directors and partners, with senior partners at the top.
What job title is CLO?
Over the past thirty years, corporate learning has evolved from training delivery to building organizational capabilities. No role embodies this evolution more than the Chief Learning Officer (CLO), though even this title understates the role's current scope.
Do you need a law degree to be a chief legal officer?
A chief legal officer is a lawyer with a Juris Doctor (JD) degree, state license and extensive corporate experience.
What are the duties of a CLO?
The duties of the CLO are defined in eight areas of responsibility: employment liaison, crisis management and security liaison, education liaison, information and resource management, guidance and referral, welcoming and orientation, community liaison, and events planning.
What is the highest legal position in a company?
General Counsel (GC) is almost always the most senior person on the legal team.
What is the chief legal officer called?
February 2016. A general counsel, also known as chief counsel or chief legal officer (CLO), is the chief in-house lawyer for a company or a governmental department.
What is the highest rank in a lawyer?
Understanding the prototypical law firm hierarchy can be helpful for both attorneys and clients alike. 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 is below the Attorney General?
Directly below and connected to the Attorney General is the Deputy Attorney General.
Who reports to the chief legal officer?
Division of Responsibilities
The GC, on the other hand, would have the entire legal team report to them and would be the one managing the day-to-day legal function. In this scenario, the GC is answerable and reports to the CLO.
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.
How does CLO work?
A CLO is a portfolio of predominantly leveraged loans that is securitized and managed as a fund. Each CLO is structured as a series of “tranches,” or groups of interest-paying bonds, along with a small portion of equity, which receives excess payments.