Highlights
5 key objectives
8 position requirements
9 competencies
The General Counsel is a critical role in the organisation, responsible for providing strategic legal advice and managing risk. This role requires a proactive problem-solver who can identify potential legal issues and devise effective solutions.
The General Counsel will partner with sales and finance teams to secure advantageous business deals, and create legal frameworks for emerging technologies. They will also manage the company's risk profile, aligning it with business growth strategies.
The ideal candidate will have a deep understanding of the company's industry, a strong legal network, and a proven track record of building high-performing legal teams.
*This hiring scorecard is AI-generated, and is based on the insightful work of leading venture capital firm, a16z.
Key objectives
Key objectives describe the objectives that the new employee has to achieve to be considered successful and help create the context for basic requirements and competencies.
Timely and ongoing advice is provided to guide key decisions, preventing the commitment of significant resources without proper consideration. Strategic partnerships with the sales and finance teams are established to support the pursuit of larger deals and unlock additional revenue opportunities.
Proactive identification and resolution of issues are prioritized, rather than relying solely on external counsel after problems arise. A comprehensive understanding of the industry, operations, products, and sales model enables the development of business plans, risk mitigation strategies, and innovative and cost-effective legal solutions.
The General Counsel actively serves as an ambassador for the company, taking the initiative to establish legal frameworks for emerging technologies within the company's domain.
Position requirements
Position requirements include the required experiences, qualifications, and skills needed to achieve the key objectives of the role.
Industry Knowledge and Legal Expertise
Demonstrated experience and expertise in key legal areas relevant to the company, such as intellectual property, contracts, litigation, privacy, and regulatory compliance. Familiarity with the company's industry and its specific legal challenges and opportunities is essential.
- Can you provide an example of a complex legal issue you successfully navigated in a previous role, particularly related to our industry?
- Tell me about a time when your legal expertise directly contributed to the success of a business initiative or project.
Look for specific examples where the candidate demonstrated their legal expertise and applied it to the company's industry. They should be able to explain how they resolved complex legal issues and the impact it had on the business.
Strategic Thinking and Problem Solving
Proven ability to think strategically about business and legal issues, identify potential risks and opportunities, and develop creative, cost-effective solutions to complex problems. Strong analytical and decision-making skills are required.
- Describe a situation where you had to devise a legal strategy to address a significant business risk or opportunity. What was your approach, and what was the outcome?
- Tell me about a time when you used your analytical skills to solve a complex legal problem for your organization.
Look for examples where the candidate demonstrated strategic thinking and problem-solving skills in addressing business risks or opportunities. They should be able to articulate their approach, the challenges they faced, and the results they achieved.
Relationship Building and Communication
Exceptional interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to build strong relationships and effectively collaborate with internal and external stakeholders, including sales and finance teams, regulators, and outside counsel.
- Can you share an example of a time when you had to collaborate with multiple stakeholders to achieve a common goal? How did you establish trust and maintain effective communication throughout the process?
- Tell me about a time when you successfully managed a relationship with a difficult stakeholder, such as a regulator or outside counsel.
Look for specific examples where the candidate demonstrated strong relationship-building and communication skills, both with internal and external stakeholders. They should be able to describe their approach to collaboration and how they managed challenges in building trust and maintaining effective communication.
Competencies
Competencies are the knowledge, skills, and abilities required to perform a job successfully. They help to distinguish superior performance from the average.
Business Acumen
Understands the business and the competitive situation, evaluates the impact of business decisions, and is quick to take advantage of new business opportunities.
Strategic Thinking
Understands industry trends, develops future-oriented scenarios, articulates a compelling vision, and links strategic goals to daily work.
Leading Teams
The need for the candidate to demonstrate leadership skills, build a strong team identity, and resolve disputes amicably is paramount, given the team of VPs and marketing specialists they will lead.
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