What does an assistant corporation counsel do?
Assistant corporation counsel responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real assistant corporation counsel resumes:
- Garner significant employment-relate litigation experience, including civil defense, motion practice, discovery practice, legal research and persuasive writing.
- Draft depositions, petitions, subpoenas and motions.
- Investigate and litigate all grievance and arbitration matters.
- Type pleadings, motions, subpoenas and court documents for court filing.
- Engage in arbitration hearings and review depositions.
- Experience at handling large-scale and complex litigation with multiple defendants and plaintiffs in police misconduct and sexual harassment/pregnancy discrimination cases.
- Provide assistance to physician office staff and patients initiate prior authorizations and submit all necessary insurance forms and program applications.
- Litigate cases involving complex federal governmental statutory benefits programs such as ERISA and Medicare.
Assistant corporation counsel skills and personality traits
We calculated that 18% of Assistant Corporation Counsels are proficient in Litigation, Legal Research, and Administrative Hearings. They’re also known for soft skills such as Analytical skills, Interpersonal skills, and Problem-solving skills.
We break down the percentage of Assistant Corporation Counsels that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Litigation, 18%
Experienced at handling large-scale and complex litigation with multiple defendants and plaintiffs in police misconduct and sexual harassment/pregnancy discrimination cases.
- Legal Research, 7%
Conduct depositions and legal research.
- Administrative Hearings, 5%
Represented the Commissioner of Social Services in foster care and custody proceedings and administrative hearings involving child abuse and maltreatment.
- Bench Trials, 5%
Conducted approximately forty bench trials.
- Appeals, 4%
Defended City against administrative appeals in State Court including defending City s home rule authority when attacked by constitutional challenges.
- Federal Courts, 4%
Argued and won dispositive motions and special proceedings in state and federal courts.
"litigation," "legal research," and "administrative hearings" are among the most common skills that assistant corporation counsels use at work. You can find even more assistant corporation counsel responsibilities below, including:
Analytical skills. To carry out their duties, the most important skill for an assistant corporation counsel to have is analytical skills. Their role and responsibilities require that "lawyers interpret the law as it applies to their client’s case." Assistant corporation counsels often use analytical skills in their day-to-day job, as shown by this real resume: "conducted legal research, analyze and render legal advices on land use and government contract matters. "
Interpersonal skills. Many assistant corporation counsel duties rely on interpersonal skills. "lawyers must build relationships with current and prospective clients, as well as with their colleagues and other members of the legal community.," so an assistant corporation counsel will need this skill often in their role. This resume example is just one of many ways assistant corporation counsel responsibilities rely on interpersonal skills: "used interpersonal and persuasive skills in mediations, negotiations, and trials provided day-to-day legal advice department of human services"
Problem-solving skills. Another skill that relates to the job responsibilities of assistant corporation counsels is problem-solving skills. This skill is critical to many everyday assistant corporation counsel duties, as "lawyers must evaluate information to propose viable solutions, mediate disputes, and reach agreements or settlements for their clients." This example from a resume shows how this skill is used: "drafted complaints, notices of violation and resolution agreements in preparation for litigation in administrative review hearings. "
Research skills. assistant corporation counsel responsibilities often require "research skills." The duties that rely on this skill are shown by the fact that "lawyers need to find laws and regulations that apply to a specific matter in order to provide appropriate legal advice for their clients." This resume example shows what assistant corporation counsels do with research skills on a typical day: "garnered significant employment-related litigation experience, including civil defense, motion practice, discovery practice, legal research and persuasive writing. "
The three companies that hire the most assistant corporation counsels are:
- City of Detroit7 assistant corporation counsels jobs
- Wayne County, Michigan2 assistant corporation counsels jobs
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Assistant corporation counsel vs. Legal extern
Legal externs are law students who took the opportunity to do on-the-job training at a law firm. Instead of monetary compensation, they receive academic credits. Legal externs primarily engage in job shadowing. They are usually assigned mentors in the law firm, and they would shadow their mentors in their daily routines. Legal externs are exposed to the actual work done by lawyers. Legal externs are involved in cases, providing insights while building a solid case for their client, giving advice to clients, and representing clients under the supervision of the actual lawyers in the firm. They are usually not given administrative or clerical tasks since they are expected to do more tasks directly related to being a lawyer.
These skill sets are where the common ground ends though. The responsibilities of an assistant corporation counsel are more likely to require skills like "bench trials," "appeals," "federal courts," and "state courts." On the other hand, a job as a legal extern requires skills like "legal intern," "legal memos," "intellectual property," and "pre-trial motions." As you can see, what employees do in each career varies considerably.
Legal externs really shine in the professional industry with an average salary of $69,693. Comparatively, assistant corporation counsels tend to make the most money in the government industry with an average salary of $67,210.The education levels that legal externs earn slightly differ from assistant corporation counsels. In particular, legal externs are 3.4% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree than an assistant corporation counsel. Additionally, they're 41.2% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Assistant corporation counsel vs. Lawyer
A lawyer is a legal practitioner who specializes in understanding and interpreting laws and other legal matters. Their responsibilities revolve around providing legal counseling and advice, representing clients in different kinds of court proceedings, conducting research, collecting evidence, and coordinating with various experts. A lawyer must also manage and oversee the performance of assistants, paralegals, and other team members. Furthermore, there are instances when a lawyer must draft or manage documents such as contracts, trusts, deeds, and wills, assisting clients as needed.
While some skills are similar in these professions, other skills aren't so similar. For example, resumes show us that assistant corporation counsel responsibilities requires skills like "bench trials," "appeals," "state courts," and "civil rights." But a lawyer might use other skills in their typical duties, such as, "law firm," "civil law," "intellectual property," and "juris."
Average education levels between the two professions vary. Lawyers tend to reach higher levels of education than assistant corporation counsels. In fact, they're 11.6% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 41.2% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Assistant corporation counsel vs. Bankruptcy specialist
The bankruptcy specialist is responsible for filing and documentation loan bankruptcy materials with the appropriate attorneys. They ensure full compliance with loan bankruptcy regulations and monitor accounts throughout the loan bankruptcy process to contact the appropriate party when necessary. A bankruptcy specialist might be an administrator or lawyer in a bankruptcy office and supports bankruptcy law. They are likely to evaluate state declaration and affidavits for legal progression, interact with customers and outside counsel about bankruptcy proceedings through written and verbal communication, and work with local counsel and upper management in effectively reviewing client's files.
There are many key differences between these two careers, including some of the skills required to perform responsibilities within each role. For example, an assistant corporation counsel is likely to be skilled in "legal research," "administrative hearings," "bench trials," and "appeals," while a typical bankruptcy specialist is skilled in "relief," "pacer," "foreclosure," and "msp."
Bankruptcy specialists make a very good living in the finance industry with an average annual salary of $47,222. On the other hand, assistant corporation counsels are paid the highest salary in the government industry, with average annual pay of $67,210.Most bankruptcy specialists achieve a similar degree level compared to assistant corporation counsels. For example, they're 1.8% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 58.7% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Assistant corporation counsel vs. Council member
Types of assistant corporation counsel
Updated January 8, 2025











