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Building out the legal function can be a daunting task. Where do you start, which roles do you hire for,
and how do you gauge capabilities and progression? This team structure example should help.
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Contracts NegotiatorSenior Contracts NegotiatorCorporate Counsel / Legal CounselSenior Corporate Counsel /
Senior Legal Counsel / Director		Assistant General CounselAssociate General CounselDeputy General Counsel /
General Counsel business unit
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AnalogyClimbs the mountain solo. Takes the
easy climbs.		Climbs the mountain solo. Can handle the
easy-to-medium difficulty climbs.		Climbs the mountain solo. Can handle the
medium-to-hard difficulty climbs.		Climbs the mountain solo. Can handle
all clearly-marked climbs. Can also
climb on easy, unmarked paths.		Guides team while rock-climbing. Pilots
the expedition, helping to resolve any
unforseen issues along the way.		Guides team while rock-climbing. Pilots
the expedition, controls efforts to find
missing hikers, directs operational
units, etc.		Responsible for multiple teams
while rock-climbing. Handles all
complex search and rescue efforts.
Identifies new paths for climbers to
try, coaching them along the way.
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KnowledgeContracts are assigned by the manager
depending on contract type and
complexity. Negotiations with customers
happen only in writing, and for certain
business lines / clauses.

Discretion is minimal and negotiating
positions are subject to the playbook. For
items that are outside of the standard or
that require live discussions with the
customer, escalate to superiors.		Contracts are assigned by manager based
on complexity, but for all business lines, and
all clauses. Discretion is moderate and
negotiating positions are still subject to the
playbook.

Negotiations happen in writing and live with
customers. Required to escalate anything
that exists outside the playbook.		Contracts and other work is assigned by
the manager based on the team's
workload. Discretion is moderate to high.
Expected to lead in a negotiation or project
end-to-end with minimal to moderate
support.

Required to escalate anything outside of
the playbook, but with a recommended
approach or solution. 		Contracts and other work is assigned
by the manager based on the most
complex or challenging environments.

Discretion is high. Expected to lead all
projects and negotiations, of any type,
with minimal support.		Determines the optimal way to distribute
work amongst the team. Fluent in at
least 1-2 areas of law. 		Determines the optimal way to distribute
work amongst the team. Fluent in at
least 2-3 areas of law. 		Determines the optimal way to distribute
work amongst the team. Fluent in at 3+
areas of law.
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