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I’m currently in house at a Series A company, so really too early for a GC. I report directly to the CEO and have just been given the green light to hire a junior to start building out the legal function. It’s honestly a great fit for me because the business actually listens and the red tape isn’t so burdensome yet with a smaller team.
That said, it’s definitely a role where you’ll have to self advocate a lot and prove why you are important. Sometimes these smaller companies hire like this bc they don’t want to pay. And that’s fine for a bit, but if you get in and start building out the legal function, it’s important to stand up for yourself.
If you take the role, keep a good ticketing system or other record system in place so you can show when you’re overworked, need help, deserve a raise, need a promotion, etc.
I started at my current company as the sole in-house attorney and a “corporate counsel” equivalent title. Reported to the COO.
I thought it was great. I wasn’t experienced enough, particularly in my company’s industry, to justify a GC title, and having the “lower” title allowed me to build experience and internal credibility with relatively low pressure (yeah people joked I was overhead, but at least I wasn’t c-suite salary overhead). Far less imposter syndrome than I felt at my old firm.
Eventually got a promotion to a mid-tier title, and ultimately the GC title I have now. By the time I got this title, I had the experience, confidence, and internal credibility to own the role. And I got to build out the legal department along the way.
Just an n=1 example, but depending on your ultimate career goals this could be a great opportunity to make something your own.
Do you mind if I DM with questions?
I had a long stint as “corporate legal counsel” for a smaller company. When I started I was in my late 20s and still pretty green. The company wasn’t quite sure what it needed broadly it just knew some things it wanted done and didn’t want to pay a ton for a GC.
It made sense not to have a GC title because I did not have the experience needed or really need to do a lot of what a typical GC would.
It was a good experience though for sure. I think whether this title makes sense for a sole lawyer depends on experience and expectation.