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General Counsel Interview Questions

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Whether you are preparing to interview a candidate or applying for a job, review our list of top General Counsel interview questions and answers.

  1. Why did you become a general counsel? See answer
  2. Describe your experience as a general counsel. See answer
  3. What skills do you think a general counsel needs to succeed? See answer
  4. How has your education and training helped your career as a general counsel? See answer
  5. Can you describe your management style? See answer
  6. What is your greatest strength as a general counsel? See answer
  7. Imagine an executive disagreed with you on a legal decision. How would you handle the situation? See answer
  8. What is the most challenging situation you handled as a general counsel? See answer
  9. How do you decide when to recommend collabourating with outside counsel? See answer
  10. How well do you handle multiple legal tasks and ongoing projects? See answer
  11. What experience do you have creating contracts and contractor agreements? See answer
  12. How do you stay current with laws and regulations? See answer
  13. Can you describe a legal compliance issue an organisation in our industry could face? See answer
  14. Why do you want to work as a lawyer in this organisation? See answer
  15. What’s your greatest achievement as a general counsel?
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Hire your next General Counsel today.

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Hire your next General Counsel today.

Post a job
Our mission

Indeed’s Employer Resource Library helps businesses grow and manage their workforce. With over 15,000 articles in 6 languages, we offer tactical advice, how-tos and best practices to help businesses hire and retain great employees.

Read our editorial guidelines

15 General Counsel Interview Questions and Answers

Why did you become a general counsel?

General counsel positions are high-paying jobs, and some people get into the career for the employment benefits. The goal of this question is to find out what motivates a general counsel, besides the salary. What to look for in an answer: 

  • Passion for providing legal advice to executives
  • What interests a candidate
  • Enthusiasm for the role

Example:

"I became a general counsel because I have a natural inclination to help people make good decisions. My interest in the field started when I was a teenager. At that time, I would advise my friends on how to deal with cyberbullying and they encouraged me to consider a career as a counsellor. I was also passionate about practising law, so I made a commitment that I'd become a general counsel. I'm confident I made the right choice because every day as a general counsel excites me."

Describe your experience as a general counsel.

A general counsel needs years of work experience in an associate position to succeed in their role. By asking this question, you can determine whether a candidate meets your requirements for a general counsel. What to look for in an answer:

  • Relevant work experience practising law
  • Lessons learned from their experience
  • Passion for advising companies and groups on legal issues

Example:

"I started my career eight years ago as a junior partner at Jugger Hills LLP. After working for two years, I was promoted to senior partner. This position taught me how to work with other lawyers, manage risks, and make accurate legal decisions. I believe my work experience would be valuable to your company."

What skills do you think a general counsel needs to succeed?

This question tests a candidate's understanding of a general counsel's role. Pay attention to qualities that make a general candidate stand out from others. What to look for in an answer:

  • Interpersonal, analytical, and research skills
  • Desire to bring value to your company using their skills
  • Preparedness for the interview

Example:

"As a general counsel, I'm confident in my research and analytical skills. I'm good at finding laws and regulations that apply to your industry. My problem-solving skills also help me objectively evaluate legal issues and offer accurate advice. I have excellent written and verbal communication skills, which help me negotiate mergers and acquisitions. As your general counsel, I'd make accurate legal decisions for your organisation."

How has your education and training helped your career as a general counsel?

To qualify for a general counsel position, a candidate must have extensive education and training in legal practises. This question helps you find out more about a candidate's educational background. What to look for in an answer:

  • Lessons learned from education
  • Positive attitude to learning
  • How a candidate's educational experiences fit your company's culture

Example:

"I earned a bachelor's degree in law from Osgoode Hall Law School. Each course prepared me for the role of general counsel, and they required extensive legal research. My capstone project also required me to analyse reports, contracts, and research papers. While working on it, I got the real-world experience I needed to understand how to provide accurate legal guidance and ensure compliance with business laws."

Can you describe your management style?

A general counsel is the chief legal counsel for an organisation. They typically work with lawyers and other employees to come up with good legal advice. Asking this question reveals how a candidate manages an in-house legal department. What to look for in an answer:

  • A management style that suits your organisational culture
  • Politeness and professionalism
  • Practical leadership and management skills

Example:

"I'd describe my management style as consultative. I often ask other legal counsels for their views and feedback and take concerns seriously. In my experience, this management style leads to stronger problem-solving teams and less turnover rates. I also know how to motivate others when they feel frustrated, angry, or stressed."

What is your greatest strength as a general counsel?

This question helps you determine what skill, personality trait, or natural ability sets a general counsel apart. What to look for in an answer:

  • Strengths that align with the position
  • Desire to apply their strength
  • Example to support their strength

Example:

"My ability to focus on a task is my greatest strength. When I put my mind to complete something, I make sure I give it my best. At my last job, I negotiated acquisitions and reviewed contracts. My ability to focus, even when reviewing many pages, helped my previous employers get the best deals. I also use this strength with my analytical skills to analyse information."

Imagine an executive disagreed with you on a legal decision. How would you handle the situation?

While a general counsel's primary responsibility is to advise on legal matters, an executive may disagree with their recommendations. This question enables you to understand how a candidate would handle difficult situations involving upper management. What to look for in an answer:

  • Professionalism and respectfulness
  • Ability to express their legal expertise confidently
  • Interpersonal and communication skills

Example:

"If an executive disagreed with me on a legal issue, I'd reach out to them to find out their reason. I'd listen actively to their views on my legal advice and politely reiterate why I recommended it. If they were still unconvinced, I'd ask for their suggestion on how to handle the situation."

What's your greatest achievement as a general counsel?

By asking this question, you can learn more about a candidate's general counsel background and expertise. What to look for in an answer:

  • Actions performed to achieve results
  • Application of skills, personality traits, or natural ability
  • Passion for providing business and legal advice

Example:

"As the general counsel for a pension plan board, I negotiated a multimillion-dollar deal that increased pensions for teachers. This project earned me the Canadian General Counsel of the Year award at the Canadian General Counsel Awards (CGCA). I love my job and look forward to putting similar efforts in your organisation."

What is the most challenging situation you handled as a general counsel?

A general counsel's job is to help companies solve their legal challenges. This question tells you what industry-specific expertise and experience a candidate has. What to look for in an answer:

  • Problem-solving skills
  • Strategic-thinking and critical-thinking skills
  • Professional competence as a general counsel

Example:

"At my last general counsel position, I handled a noncompliance issue that could have disrupted the company's operations. The manufacturing department forgot to renew its permit and missed the deadline. I quickly formed a legal team and collabourated with outside counsel on the matter. After brainstorming various ideas, we came up with a strategy that enabled the department to renew its permit without paying fines."

How do you decide when to recommend collabourating with outside counsel?

As the chief attorney, a general counsel can recommend that the in-house legal team works with outside counsel on a legal issue. This question tells you more about a general counsel's expertise. What to look for in an answer:

  • Understanding of when to reach out to outside counsel
  • Focus on the company's goals
  • Drive to help a company solve its legal issues

Example:

"I'd recommend my team collabourated with outside counsel if there were adverse financial implications of carrying out legal actions. If the turnaround time for a high-priority issue wasn't enough for the in-house team, I'd also recommend collabourating with outside counsel. I make sure I put my best in each task and analyse situations carefully before making decisions."

How well do you handle multiple legal tasks and ongoing projects?

A general counsel often needs to handle several tasks, such as managing risk and compliance and attending executive meetings. The goal of this question is to find out whether a candidate can work in fast-paced companies. What to look for in an answer:

  • Excellent time-management and organisational skills
  • Ability to prioritise work and multitask
  • Strategies to balance work-life and avoid burnout

Example:

"I understand my job requires me to lead your in-house legal department and complete tasks quickly. To stay organised, I make sure I plan my day before it begins. I like to write down tasks and cross each one out when I complete them. I find it rewarding when I review my list and see I'm making progress."

What experience do you have creating contracts and contractor agreements?

Creating contracts and contractor agreements is an important duty of a general counsel. A candidate's answer reveals whether they understand the role. What to look for in an answer:

  • Understanding of how to create contracts and agreements
  • Example to support their experience
  • Effective written communication skills

Example:

"I'm happy to prepare contracts and contractor agreements for your company. At my last general counsel position, I found this duty the easiest to complete. I'm detailed-oriented, and I believe my experience creating reports would be useful here. Can you tell me how frequently executives in your company need reports?"

How do you stay current with laws and regulations?

As government legal experts examine laws and look for ways to improve them, a general counsel must stay up-to-date with the changes. This question helps you find out what steps a candidate takes to keep up with laws and regulations. What to look for:

  • Positive attitude to learning
  • Strategies to keep skills relevant and expand knowledge
  • Proactiveness

Example:

"In my free time, I like reading blogs, articles, and research papers. I set Google Alerts for keywords that relate to my job and enjoy networking with other general counsel. I also think social media platforms for professionals are great places to hang out with other people and discuss recent happenings."

Can you describe a legal compliance issue an organisation in our industry could face?

The purpose of this question is to find out whether a general counsel understands your company and industry. What to look for in an answer:

  • Understanding of applicable laws in your industry
  • Research skills
  • Critical-thinking and strategic-thinking skills

Example:

"One compliance issue an organisation could face is failing to seek permission from another company before using a patent. I believe this issue can lead to financial implications for your manufacturing company. As your general counsel, I'd make sure you comply with all business laws and regulations. I'd love the opportunity to work here and lead your in-house legal department."

Why do you want to work as a lawyer in this organisation?

By asking this question, you can determine what attracted a general counsel candidate to your job opening. What to look for in an answer:

  • Enthusiasm for the general counsel position
  • Career goals that align with your organisation's goals
  • Suitability to your work culture

Example:

"I want to become your company's general counsel because I believe in your organisation's mission to stop global warming. I'm excited about your ongoing projects, and I'd love to ensure they comply with all laws and regulations. I also see this position as an opportunity to advance my career as a general counsel, while mentoring other legal officers."

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