Chief Legal Officer Job Description

Chief legal officer job description and profile

The chief legal officer of the company oversees all legal operations of the company. He reviews reports presented by legal managers and makes decisions regarding various legal aspects ranging from lawsuits to corporate contracts. He advices the high level officials in policy making and formulating strategies regarding the future of the company. He is directly involved in merger and partnership deals as the representative of the company.

Chief legal officer duties and responsibilities

• Reviewing legal documents related to the company and ensuring legal safety of the company
• Participating actively in high level planning and strategizing meetings and providing legal inputs in order to eliminate the risk of bans and lawsuits
• Ensuring that innovations developed in the company are patented and that the rights are protected
• Handling lawsuits when required
• Directing staff of the legal department to take on different functions
• Ensure that all legal formalities such as tax payments, maintenance of assets, lease agreements and other such obligations are fulfilled on time
• May have to travel to different places to settle deals and value real estate on behalf of the company
• Ensuring high level secrecy and confidentiality of legal data of the company
• Keeping track of the latest amendments and regulations in law
• Overseeing budget of the legal department

Chief legal officer skills and specifications

• Besides strong knowledge about law in general and corporate law in particular, chief legal officers have to have very strong decision making and analytical skills
• Excellent negotiation and communication skills
• Excellent observation skills
• Ability to think out of the box in order to solve legal complications

Chief legal officer education and qualification

• Master’s in law with a minimum of ten years experience in handling legal matters is essential for the job

Chief legal officer salary

• Salaries range from $130,000 to more than $200,000 with the national median being $160,000 per annum