The work of a Head of Legal Department.

The work of a Head of Legal Department.
Most

     The head of the legal department has an overview of the majority of a company's issues, and can effectively advise general management.
     It has the capacity to intervene before signing a contract, and intervenes in particular on compliance with the GDPR. He also organizes board meetings and his silence is therefore appreciated and, indirectly, remunerated.


The lessers

     The head of the legal department, despite his importance, does not occupy a position that arouses admiration. There are a lot of documents to manage, which is the least spectacular aspect of the job.
     As he often says “no?” to projects or aspects of a project that seemed promising, he does not always make friends.

The qualities and skills to become Head of Legal Department.

A head of legal department is a person who must have a complete profile and who must be able to manage many situations. He must know how to advise and always inform his management as well as possible, but also his teams. His area of expertise is vast: corporate law and case law, French and European regulations, use of internet tools and research on specialized databases. He must be organized and meticulous in handling his various files. He must also be diplomatic and know how to handle unforeseen events while maintaining his composure. He has a position of high responsibility and must make sacrifices or be very invested in his work. It is useful to be proficient in English and legal English.
The salary of a Head of Legal Department.

The salary of the head of the legal department often depends on the number of employees he will have to manage. In France, the median salary is around 50,000 euros gross per year over twelve months. This represents a monthly net salary of more than 3,200 euros.
The head of the legal department generally signs his first employment contract with a salary greater than 45,000 euros gross per year. This means that this type of professional will receive a salary of more than 3,800 euros gross per month, for nearly 3,000 euros net monthly. Depending on the experience of the department head, he will have the opportunity to negotiate his salary. If he has already served in the department he is heading, without experience in a specific field may be valued by the employer. There is no salary scale to predict the evolution of the salary of a head of legal department based on the number of years of experience. The fact remains that in France, it will be possible to expect a salary of more than 55,000 euros gross per year. The employee will then receive around 3,500 euros net per month. The head of the legal department is usually hired under executive status. Some companies plan to pay your salary over 13 or 14 months. It will also be possible to claim an incentive bonus or a participation bonus. This type of remuneration is often indicated on the employment contract or on the collective agreement on which it depends.
Calculate gross salary in net
The work environment.

Within the company's departments, the head of the legal department is close to general management. He has one or more assistants or works alongside corporate lawyers who specialize according to their field of intervention. A company executive, he works on a fixed-rate basis, generally in his office, and has numerous interactions with other departments and especially operational departments. Their hierarchical superior may be a financial and administrative director or the general manager. He travels relatively little, unless there are several establishments, and in the latter case, he goes around regularly.
Possible developments.

A head of legal department can progress to become human resources director or even general secretary in an SME. He can also join an expertise firm or even become a risk manager in order to change career paths. Finally, he can decide to teach at university or open his law office.
Companies recruiting a Head of Legal Department.

The head of the legal department is more likely to be found within large companies, but he can also work for professional organizations or consulting or auditing firms.