Chief Legal Officer: How to Become a CLO

A chief legal officer, or CLO, is the senior executive in charge of the legal department of a corporation. In addition to overseeing the in-house legal team, the CLO provides legal counsel to minimize litigation risks and help the company follow regulatory requirements. They may also participate in corporate governance as a business partner and represent the company in court.

As a CLO, you are part of the C-suite (a company’s executive team) and answer to the chief executive officer. The role should not be confused with the company’s general counsel, who reports directly to the more senior-level chief legal officer.

The chief legal officer’s duties extend beyond solely providing legal services. A CLO’s responsibilities include:

• Developing and implementing a corporate legal strategy to protect and bolster the company
• Ensuring the company complies with corporate regulations to avoid legal issues
• Informing senior management of any changes in the law that may affect the company or their industry
• Litigating on behalf of the company in court or providing oversight of general counsel litigation
• Overseeing and managing the legal department and legal services, specifically the general counsel team
• Participating in general corporate management as a legal executive and member of the C-suite
• Providing legal advice to the chief executive officer, board members, stakeholders, shareholders, and other senior executives

To become a chief legal officer, you’ll need a law degree, legal experience, business acumen, and an impressive resumé as a lawyer first. These steps can help you on your journey:

1. 1. Earn an undergraduate degree. Before applying to law school, you’ll need to earn an undergraduate degree. There are no specific pre-law degrees, so consider majoring in law-related fields that will contribute to your success in corporate law, such as business or communication.
2. 2. Become an intern at a law firm. Law school admission is competitive, so besides maintaining a high GPA, consider getting some work experience under your belt through an internship at a corporate law firm. Internships allow you to observe corporate counsel in action and learn about legal matters in the real world.
3. 3. Attend law school and earn your law degree. Before becoming a chief legal officer, you must first become an experienced lawyer, so you’ll need to earn a Juris Doctor (JD) or law degree. Law school takes three years to complete, and you’ll be asked to choose a specialization midway through. As your goal is to become a chief legal officer, you should opt to pursue corporate law.
4. 4. Pass the bar exam. To practice law legally, you’ll need to pass the bar exam administered by the American Bar Association. Be sure to take the exam in the state where you want to practice. After passing the exam, you’ll receive a state license which will allow you to practice law legally in the state.
5. 5. Start practicing law and work your way up. The chief legal officer is a senior-level position, so you’ll need significant experience as a practicing lawyer first. Prior experience as a partner at a law firm or first general counsel will make you an attractive CLO candidate to any human resources recruiter.

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