First, demonstration of successful management experience is key. Management of an office or practice or service on the firm's executive committee will be favorably viewed, particularly if there has been true budget and profitability accountability. Second, references from CEOs of major clients will be important in validating the lawyer's excellent business judgment and contributions in providing cogent advice in difficult situations. Third, assessment of the individual's ability to act as a team player, mentor, and manager will be critical in overcoming the presumption that an in-house lawyer will be better suited to the position than one in private practice. However, the reservations expressed by CEOs are a reality of operating in a competitive, global business environment.
Top management recognizes and respects the technical abilities of private practice attorneys.
With exposure to the proper situations to gain the necessary experience and demonstrate abilities, law firm partners would be strong candidates for this position and probably become outstanding general counsels. As for all top management positions today, CEOs and boards are demanding that search firms present a diverse panel of well-qualified candidates. Executive search consultants see this issue even more intensely in the general counsel role, where many companies are now filling this position with women and people of color. In part, this is a reflection of the increasing candidate pool of lawyers, both in private practice and in the corporate setting, probably a higher percentage in this function than in most others. As a result, sitting general counsels of major companies who are women or minorities are always on target lists for any general counsel searches in the market.