General Counsel Requirements, Skills & Qualifications

The following common skills and qualifications are required of a General Counsel:

  • Bachelor's degree in Law 
  • MA or BSc in Business Administration is a plus.
  • x years of experience as a General Counsel or similar role
  • Excellent knowledge of wide range of legal issues
  • Very good understanding of legal issues 
  • Excellent judgement and analytical skills
  • Effective communication skills 
  • Leadership and management skills
  • Ability to develop legal strategy and objectives
  • Ability to predict and prevent legal issues and risks 
  • Strong moral and ethical principles
  • Professional ethics 

Note that this is not an exhaustive list of General Counsel skill, qualifications and experience. Job requirements for specific General Counsel roles may vary, depending on the industry and type of employer.