How To Become An Associate General Counsel: What It Is and Career Path

What is an associate general counsel and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

An associate general counsel works in the legal department of a company or organization. They provide legal advice and guidance to the organization on contracts, employment law, regulatory compliance, and litigation. They may also manage outside counsel and represent the organization in legal proceedings. Associate general counsels have a law degree and experience practicing law, and they must keep up-to-date with legal changes. They ensure that the organization operates within legal boundaries while achieving business objectives.

ScoreAssociate General CounselUS Average

Salary

8.3

Avg. Salary $128,245

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level

10.0

Growth rate 10%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity

2.5

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.31%

Asian 6.25%

Black or African American 5.41%

Hispanic or Latino 7.63%

Unknown 4.36%

White 76.04%

Gender

female 37.88%

male 62.12%

Age - 45

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 45

Stress level

10.0

Stress level is very high

7.1 - high

Complexity level

10.0

Complexity level is advanced

7 - challenging

Work life balance

4.9

Work life balance is fair

6.4 - fair

What are the pros and cons of being an associate general counsel?

Pros

High salary and benefits
Potential for advancement within the company or in the legal field
Regularly engaging with external counsel and service providers
Chance to develop a broad network of professional contacts
Flexible work arrangements

Cons

High workload and long hours
Stressful environment with high pressure to deliver results
High expectations from senior management and board members
Limited autonomy as decisions may need to be approved by higher-ups
Limited opportunity for creativity or innovation in legal strategy

Key steps to become an associate general counsel

Explore associate general counsel education requirements

Most common associate general counsel degrees

Doctorate

49.5 %

Bachelor's

41.2 %

Master's

7.9 %

Start to develop specific associate general counsel skills

Skills	Percentages
Legal Advice	10.75%
Litigation	10.71%
Legal Issues	9.88%
Legal Support	6.41%
Risk Management	3.45%

Complete relevant associate general counsel training and internships

Accountants spend an average of 1-2 years on post-employment, on-the-job training. New associates general counsel learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as an associate general counsel based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real associate general counsel resumes.

Research associate general counsel duties and responsibilities

Manage patent infringement litigation and third-party patent assertions, including the defense of two Japanese infringement suits to favorable conclusions.
Assist in liaising with insurance authorities, responding to regulatory inquiries and managing relationship with region from legal and business perspective.
Research and provide guidance on issues such as the corporate practice of medicine and HIPAA regulations.
Draft contract language regarding HIPAA federal regulations.

Prepare your associate general counsel resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your associate general counsel resume.

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