Here’s a brief list of what Legal Counsels do:

• Legal Advice: Provides legal advice and guidance to clients, organizations, or departments within a company on various legal matters and issues.

• Contract Review and Drafting: Reviews, drafts, and negotiates contracts, agreements, and legal documents to protect the client's interests and ensure compliance with laws and regulations.

• Compliance Monitoring: Monitors regulatory developments and changes in laws affecting the client's operations or business activities to ensure compliance with legal requirements.

• Risk Management: Assesses legal risks and liabilities associated with business decisions, transactions, or policies, and develops strategies to minimize or mitigate potential risks.

• Dispute Resolution: Represents clients in legal disputes, negotiations, mediations, and settlement discussions to achieve favorable outcomes and resolve conflicts efficiently.

• Policy Development: Develops and implements corporate policies, procedures, and guidelines to ensure legal compliance and mitigate legal risks across the organization.

• Corporate Governance: Advises on corporate governance matters, board of directors' responsibilities, shareholder rights, and regulatory compliance for publicly traded or private companies.

Here’s how YOU can become one:

1. Educational Foundation:

• Undergraduate Education: Obtain a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university. While there is no specific major required for law school, it is advisable to choose a field that develops critical thinking, analytical reasoning, and writing skills. Common majors include political science, history, English, economics, or any other liberal arts discipline.

• Law School: Complete a Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree program at an accredited law school. Law school typically takes three years of full-time study or four years of part-time study. During law school, focus on courses relevant to corporate law, contracts, business law, tax law, and any other areas related to the field you wish to specialize in as a legal counsel.

2. Pass the Bar Exam:

• After graduating from law school, you must pass the bar examination in the state where you plan to practice law. Each state has its own bar exam, which tests your knowledge of state-specific laws and legal principles. Some states also require a separate ethics exam.

3. Gain Legal Experience:

• Gain practical legal experience by working as an attorney. Depending on your career goals, seek employment in law firms, corporate legal departments, government agencies, or nonprofit organizations. Relevant experience may include drafting legal documents, conducting legal research, negotiating contracts, and providing legal advice to clients.

4. Develop Skills and Specialize:

• Develop strong analytical, problem-solving, and communication skills, which are essential for providing effective legal counsel. Specialize in areas of law relevant to your career goals, such as corporate law, employment law, intellectual property law, or regulatory compliance.

5. Build a Professional Network:

• Join professional organizations related to your area of practice, such as the American Bar Association (ABA) or industry-specific legal associations. Networking with other attorneys, legal professionals, and potential clients can provide opportunities for career advancement and professional development.

  This is a very brief and general plan. To know your specific academic path for this career please talk to an advisor at the college or program you plan on attending!