Legal counsels are employed by organisations, businesses or corporations to ensure that every aspect of legal compliance is adhered to. The job involves a wide spectrum of responsibilities including making sure that all contracts, leases, licences and other legal documents are correct, that the company conforms to all legislation as dictated by the relevant authorities, that trade mark and copyright applications are approved and that the legal rights of employees are upheld. The job holder will also advise and represent the company in court in the event of litigation
A legal counsel will often be privy to sensitive corporate information as it is necessary for them to understand every aspect of how a business is run so this individual must be discreet, trustworthy and reliable. They must have good analytical skills as well as being capable problem solvers
Training for the job involves law school, a degree of experience in the field and a sound knowledge of how businesses operate. As the job is often demanding, remuneration is good. Salaries depend on experience and employer but average around £60,000 per year.