A chief legal officer is the highest-ranking corporate officer concerning legal affairs of a corporation

Corporation

A corporation is created under the laws of a state as a separate legal entity that has privileges and liabilities that are distinct from those of its members. There are many different forms of corporations, most of which are used to conduct business. Early corporations were established by charter...

 or agency. Chief legal officers typically hold the title of general counsel

General Counsel

A general counsel is the chief lawyer of a legal department, usually in a corporation or government department. The term is most used in the United States...

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Skill requirements

Though Chief Legal officers are certified lawyers, their aptitude should not be limited to the law. In addition to a high level of legal skill, CLOs of corporations should have leadership skills. They must be able to act decisively regarding legal challenges that face a corporation, and competently advise other C level officers. They make sure all actions by the company are legal and typically report to the Board of Directors in the annual meeting.