Associate General Counsel Responsibilities

Associate general counsel is an attorney who supports and assists the general counsel in his duties. The associate general counsel responsibilities vary depending on the type of organization where he is working. It may either be corporate or a government organization. The normal duties range from advising and guiding the organization on the laws that will affect the organization, help in developing new contracts and keeping an update with the current legal developments.

Key Responsibilities of an Associate General Counsel

The associate general counsel is expected to assist the general counsel in the provision and coordination of the legal services. Here is a list of key responsibilities that need to be handled by him:

• He should be able to work under the supervision of the general counsel and is responsible for all the legal secretarial and administrative work
• He should research and analyze all the articles, legal documents used in the preparation of various contracts
• He should calendar and monitor the deadlines for different kinds of claims, litigations or any other relevant legal procedures
• He should make sure that the clients' or organizations' goals and objectives are achieved in compliance with the rules and regulations
• A thorough knowledge of the laws is important to perform all the investigation, research work needed for claims and lawsuits right from the beginning
• He should be able to study and analyze the policies and practices that may be affecting the organization

In addition to these duties he must be carry out research on the current laws as well as keep abreast with the changing laws that may affect the organization. He should pay close attention to see that all the legal procedures are followed. If there are some alterations needed he can advise and recommend these changes. He can also help to develop new procedures, policies and rules that may be in the interest of the organization. He is also responsible for negotiating different types of contracts for the organization. He provides legal advice to support the growth of the business. He should identify, assess and manage the legal risks involved.

Essential Skills for an Associate Counsel

To become a successful associate counsel you must possess the following set of skills:

1. Excellent written and oral communication skills
2. Should be confident while making presentations of complex matters
3. Should be able to maintain the confidentiality of the privileged information
4. Should be motivated, self starter with a sound judgment
5. Should have an ability to work effectively with a diverse level of business personnel
6. Should possess excellent analytical ability and should be a team player. If required he should be able to work independently without any body's supervision

Besides these he should have an excellent knowledge of the legal terminology, laws and on line legal research tools. He should be well-versed with computers to maintain different kinds of data. He must be able to work under pressure and should have an ability to meet the deadlines.

Educational Qualifications for an Associate General Counsel

The minimum educational qualification required for an associate general counsel is a Juris doctor or equivalent degree in law from an ABA accredited law school. A demonstrated experience in a similar profile will definitely increase your chances of getting hired for that particular job.

Salary for an Associate General Counsel

The salary package for an associate general counsel differs according to the kind of exposure he has had in a similar profile. It also depends on the kind of responsibilities that he will be handling and the organization where he is working. The academic qualifications are equally important.

Work Schedule for an Associate General Counsel

The work hours do not extend beyond forty hours per week. Some companies may offer part time or full time positions. Flexible working hours are also provided by some of the companies.

Career Advancement for an Associate General Counsel

There are excellent professional and personal growth opportunities to be promoted as a general counsel if you shoulder your associate general counsel responsibilities effectively and successfully.