The Multi-faceted Role of a Chief Legal Officer

The functions and the job description of a Chief Legal Officer are undergoing a transformation, faster than ever before. This article from Deloitte takes a look at the various facets of the changing role of the Chief Legal Officer (CLO) in keeping with the present times.

As per the article from Deloitte, the role of a Chief Legal Officer is no longer solely limited to the legal arena but has to transcend and fulfill multiple functionalities, as and when required. As a strategist, the CLO should make sure that the vision of the company remains aligned to the fulfillment of legal obligations even as the enterprise takes on new ventures and endeavors. The article designates that a Chief Legal Officer should also fulfill the role of a catalyst, simultaneously and thereby analyze associated risks and chart out the future trajectory of the organization. As the guardian of the business enterprise, the article recommends that a CLO must focus on the protection of the organization. The priority of a Chief Legal Officer should be to make sure that all issues related to compliance, regulations, and maintaining corporate ethics and integrity are duly catered to and resolved, along the way. Besides, as an operator, Chief Legal Officers should also implement steps to ameliorate the efficacy of the legal department. Identifying potential legal leadership, implementing technological initiatives, and boosting the overall performance of the legal department are the other areas that a CLO must devote due time and attention to. The creation of a strong legal network within the organization ensures that a CLO can function more optimally and prove to be far more efficient to the enterprise in the days to come, the article affirms.

The functionality of a Chief Legal Officer is continually transforming and requires consistent manoeuvering to keep with the changing demands. Only a due emphasis on all the facets is bound to ensure that CLOs succeed in fulfilling their role as a strategist and a catalyst.