A chief legal officer is in charge of overseeing a company’s legal affairs. In most cases, this person advises the company on any changes in the law and, when necessary, arranges educational opportunities for employee legal training. When non-compliance becomes a major problem, the officer may investigate the situation and recommend oversight measures. In cases where lawsuits are filed, the head legal officer may also serve as the chief litigator.
The chief legal officer’s job is to manage legal paperwork in the majority of cases. The officer should ensure that all regulatory codes are followed, which primarily entails ensuring that all necessary filings are submitted on time to the appropriate agencies and that they are completed correctly. These filings may be prepared by a different member of the legal team or by a different department entirely, but they will almost always be signed off by the chief lawyer.
The chief legal officer must also stay current on any changes in the laws that affect his or her industry. This can be accomplished by subscribing to industry alerts or reading specific trade publications. Most lawyers also have a network of legal professionals with whom they freely share relevant information on a regular basis. If the proposed law is still being considered, the chief legal officer may try to offer advice to the decision-makers.
The chief legal officer may decide to hold an educational outreach event after a new law is passed or when a noncompliance issue is discovered. This could be as simple as creating a document that explains the problem, the possible outcomes, and offers a solution to the problem. It could also entail holding classes or assemblies for all affected employees to attend and ask any questions they may have.
When a lawsuit is filed, whether the company is the plaintiff or the defendant, the chief legal officer may be a key player in the case. The officer will be in charge of filing any pre-trial motions, deposing witnesses, and, if necessary, taking the case to trial. The head legal officer may also delegate the role of chief litigant to another attorney, who will advise on strategy throughout the process. This is especially true for larger corporations, which may be involved in a number of lawsuits at any given time.