General Counsel Interview Questions
Landing a General Counsel interview is exciting, but preparation is key to success. This guide covers the most common questions asked in legal interviews for executive-level positions, along with tips to help you craft compelling answers that showcase your expertise in gc, chief legal officer, corporate counsel.
- Role
- General Counsel
- Industry
- Legal
- Experience Level
- Executive Level
- Key Skills
- gc, chief legal officer, corporate counsel
Behavioral Questions
These questions assess your past experiences and how you handle situations.
Tell me about a transformation you led at the organizational level.
Use the STAR method: describe the Situation, your Task, the Actions you took, and the Results. For legal roles, focus on outcomes relevant to gc.
Describe how you've aligned diverse stakeholders around a vision.
Choose an example that showcases collaboration and chief legal officer. Explain your specific contribution clearly.
Give an example of a difficult board-level decision.
Demonstrate time management and prioritization skills. As a executive-level professional, show mature judgment.
Tell me about building culture across a large organization.
Be honest about the mistake but focus 70% of your answer on the learning and improvement. Show growth mindset.
Describe how you've managed through a crisis.
Show you can receive feedback professionally and implement changes. This is especially important for legal roles.
Technical Questions
Questions specific to Legal skills and knowledge.
What experience do you have with gc?
Prepare specific examples of projects where you used gc. Quantify your impact whenever possible.
How do you stay current with legal trends and best practices?
Mention specific resources: industry publications, conferences, certifications, or communities you follow.
Describe your approach to case research.
Walk through your methodology step-by-step. Use a real example if possible.
How would you handle a situation involving contract analysis?
Demonstrate both technical knowledge and practical problem-solving skills.
What tools or technologies are you most proficient with for General Counsel work?
Be honest about your proficiency levels. Mention tools relevant to gc, chief legal officer, corporate counsel.
Situational Questions
How would you handle hypothetical scenarios in this role?
How would you approach your first 90 days as a General Counsel?
Show you've thought about onboarding: learning the team, understanding processes, identifying quick wins.
If you discovered a major issue in regulatory knowledge, how would you handle it?
Demonstrate your problem-solving process and communication skills.
How would you balance competing priorities from different stakeholders?
Show your ability to prioritize, communicate, and manage expectations.
Describe how you would improve litigation strategy in this role.
Research the company first. Propose improvements based on industry best practices.
Preparation Tips
Review your resume and be ready to discuss every gc-related experience
Practice the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) for behavioral questions
Prepare 3-5 thoughtful questions about the General Counsel role and team
Research salary ranges for similar positions in your area
Test your technology if it's a video interview
Prepare examples that demonstrate your skills in: gc, chief legal officer, corporate counsel, legal leadership
Complete Your General Counsel Application
General Counsel Interview FAQs
Common questions about interview preparation
To prepare for a General Counsel interview: 1) Research the company and their legal focus, 2) Practice answering common behavioral and technical questions, 3) Prepare examples that showcase gc, chief legal officer, corporate counsel skills, 4) Review your resume and be ready to discuss every point, 5) Prepare thoughtful questions to ask the interviewer.