What Is General Counsel?

A general counsel is the chief legal officer of a corporation, an institution or a governmental entity. A general counsel may have associates in the office to assist him. The general counsel protects the interests of the entity by reviewing contracts and pointing out legal risks in a company's path.

Function

• The attorney who works as general counsel gives legal opinions about any situation facing a company. A general counsel can identify potentially harmful or poorly structured agreements that could undermine a company's viability. They help develop policy and procedures that comply with current laws and that further the company's overall goals.

Management Team

• The general counsel is an important member of an organization's management team. A general counsel understands the mission and priorities of a company or organization and assures that the implementation of the mission is legally viable, contains manageable risks and avoids legal problems. When there are legal complications, a competent general counsel can find creative solutions that save money over hiring outside counsel unfamiliar with the goals and vision of the organization.

Types

• The U.S. president has a general counsel, as does each branch of the military, most government departments and museums, such as the Smithsonian. Most universities have an office of legal counsel as well. Large corporations, such as Wells Fargo, AIG and Proctor & Gamble, have multiple employees in their general counsel offices.