Corporate Counsel Interview Questions

1.1In-house counsel vs private practice - the different skills, pressures, and priorities

1.2The corporate counsel mandate - legal risk management, commercial support, and protecting the company

1.3Building credibility as in-house counsel - the trusted adviser relationship with the business

1.4Privilege in an in-house context - when legal advice attracts privilege and the practical implications

2.1Contract fundamentals - offer, acceptance, consideration, and the elements of a binding agreement

2.2Commercial contract review - key clauses, risk allocation, and what to look for when reviewing an agreement

2.3Negotiating contracts - how in-house counsel negotiates commercial terms effectively

2.4Common contract types - supply agreements, service agreements, NDAs, and distribution agreements

3.1Company law fundamentals - the structure, governance, and statutory obligations of a company

3.2Corporate governance - board composition, director duties, and compliance with the Companies Act

3.3Shareholder matters - shareholder agreements, class rights, and managing the investor relationship legally

3.4M&A - the legal workstream in acquisitions, mergers, and disposals and the in-house counsel role

4.1Employment law basics for corporate counsel - the framework and when specialist advice is needed

4.2Senior executive employment - service agreements, restrictive covenants, and exits

4.3TUPE - the Transfer of Undertakings Regulations and their application in business transactions

4.4Whistleblowing and investigations - the legal framework and how corporate counsel manages them

5.1IP fundamentals - patents, trademarks, copyright, and trade secrets and how each is protected

5.2IP strategy - the corporate counsel role in protecting and exploiting the company IP portfolio

5.3IP in contracts - ownership, licences, and the IP clauses that matter in commercial agreements

5.4IP disputes - cease and desist letters, licensing disputes, and when to litigate

6.1GDPR for corporate counsel - the legal obligations, the risks, and the counsel role in managing them

6.2Data processing agreements - the legal requirements for controller-processor relationships

6.3Privacy by design - the legal input into product and system development

6.4Regulatory investigations - how to respond to an ICO or equivalent data protection authority investigation

7.1Regulatory landscape - the key regulators affecting the business and their enforcement powers

7.2Competition law - cartel conduct, abuse of dominance, and the corporate counsel compliance role

7.3Anti-bribery and corruption - the Bribery Act, the legal risks, and the counsel role in compliance

7.4Regulatory investigations - how to manage an investigation by a regulator and protect the company's position

8.1Dispute resolution options - litigation, arbitration, mediation, and how to choose

8.2Managing litigation - working with external counsel, controlling cost, and the in-house oversight role

8.3Settlement strategy - when to settle, how to assess the settlement value, and achieving a resolution

8.4Privilege and document preservation - the legal obligations during litigation and how to manage them

9.1Legal risk identification and assessment - how corporate counsel spots and quantifies legal risk

9.2Managing external law firms - briefing, cost management, and quality control

9.3Legal budget management - managing the legal cost base and driving value from external spend

9.4Building the in-house legal team - when to hire in-house vs instruct externally

10.1Technical questions - contract law, corporate governance, IP, data protection, and employment law

10.2Commercial questions - demonstrating business awareness and the ability to advise on complex transactions

10.3Scenario questions - managing a contract dispute, a regulatory inquiry, or a significant M&A transaction

10.4Salary negotiation for in-house roles, evaluating a legal team, and questions that reveal the scope and commercial culture of the in-house legal function