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Chief Legal Officer

Chief Legal Officer job description

The chief legal officer (CLO) is the senior executive responsible for leading all legal functions within an organization. This role provides strategic counsel to executive leadership on regulatory compliance, corporate governance and risk management while ensuring the company’s legal interests are protected across all operations.The CLO oversees the legal department; manages outside counsel; and directs litigation, contract negotiations and intellectual property matters. This position also plays a critical role in shaping corporate policies, supporting mergers and acquisitions, and advising on employment law, regulatory changes and ethical standards. The CLO partners with business leaders to develop proactive strategies that minimize risk and drive organizational growth.

Typical chief legal officer duties:

Develop and implement comprehensive legal strategies that align with business objectives and regulatory requirementsAdvise executive leadership and the board on corporate governance, compliance and risk management issuesOversee litigation, contract negotiations, intellectual property protection and dispute resolution processesManage relationships with outside counsel and ensure cost-effective delivery of legal servicesMonitor changes in laws and regulations, providing guidance to maintain compliance and mitigate legal exposureEnsure adherence to ethical and legal standards across the organizationCollaborate with finance and operations teams on mergers, acquisitions and other strategic transactionsLead the development of policies and procedures to support compliance and operational efficiency

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National salary range for Chief Legal Officer

241750 - 293750

Low
241750
The candidate is new to the role or has limited experience and is still developing core skills.
Mid
262000
The candidate has moderate experience in the role or one similar, meets most requirements and may hold transferable skills or relevant certifications.
High
293750
The candidate has extensive experience in the role, demonstrates advanced skills and often brings specialized certifications or industry experience.
Projected salaries for related positions Job title Low Mid High General Counsel 226250 245750 275250 In-House Counsel/Associate General Counsel, 10+ Years' Experience 162500 190500 226000 In-House Counsel, 4-9 Years' Experience 109500 153750 183000 In-House Counsel, 0-3 Years' Experience 98750 117500 134750

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The salary benchmarks in the Salary Guide From Robert Half are the result of a rigorous, multistep process designed to reflect projected market trends for 2027. They are based on actual compensation for professionals Robert Half has placed nationwide, along with third-party job posting data from Textkernel that we use for independent validation. Learn more about our methodology.
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