General Counsel

Tasks

• Analyze the probable outcomes of cases, using knowledge of legal precedents.

• Advise clients concerning business transactions, claim liability, advisability of prosecuting or defending lawsuits, or legal rights and obligations.

• Select jurors, argue motions, meet with judges, and question witnesses during the course of a trial.

• Interpret laws, rulings and regulations for individuals and businesses.

• Present evidence to defend clients or prosecute defendants in criminal or civil litigation.

• Represent clients in court or before government agencies.

• Present and summarize cases to judges and juries.

• Study Constitution, statutes, decisions, regulations, and ordinances of quasi-judicial bodies to determine ramifications for cases.

• Prepare, draft, and review legal documents, such as wills, deeds, patent applications, mortgages, leases, and contracts.

• Negotiate settlements of civil disputes.

• Supervise legal assistants.

• Examine legal data to determine advisability of defending or prosecuting lawsuit.

• Evaluate findings and develop strategies and arguments in preparation for presentation of cases.

• Gather evidence to formulate defense or to initiate legal actions, by such means as interviewing clients and witnesses to ascertain the facts of a case.

• Prepare legal briefs and opinions, and file appeals in state and federal courts of appeal.

• Search for and examine public and other legal records to write opinions or establish ownership.

• Confer with colleagues with specialties in appropriate areas of legal issue to establish and verify bases for legal proceedings.

• Perform administrative and management functions related to the practice of law.

• Work in environmental law, representing public interest groups, waste disposal companies, or construction firms in their dealings with state and federal agencies.

• Probate wills and represent and advise executors and administrators of estates.

• Act as agent, trustee, guardian, or executor for businesses or individuals.

• Help develop federal and state programs, draft and interpret laws and legislation, and establish enforcement procedures.

Skills

• Reading Comprehension - Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.

• Active Listening - Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.

• Writing - Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.

• Speaking - Talking to others to convey information effectively.

• Critical Thinking - Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.

• Active Learning - Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.

• Monitoring - Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.

• Social Perceptiveness - Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.

• Coordination - Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.

• Persuasion - Persuading others to change their minds or behavior.

• Negotiation - Bringing others together and trying to reconcile differences.

• Instructing - Teaching others how to do something.

• Service Orientation - Actively looking for ways to help people.

• Complex Problem Solving - Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.

• Judgment and Decision Making - Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.

• Systems Analysis - Determining how a system should work and how changes in conditions, operations, and the environment will affect outcomes.

• Time Management - Managing one's own time and the time of others.

Knowledge

• Administration and Management - Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.

• Customer and Personal Service - Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.

• Personnel and Human Resources - Knowledge of principles and procedures for personnel recruitment, selection, training, compensation and benefits, labor relations and negotiation, and personnel information systems.

• Computers and Electronics - Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.

• English Language - Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.

• Law and Government - Knowledge of laws, legal codes, court procedures, precedents, government regulations, executive orders, agency rules, and the democratic political process.