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CCCA62_011,013.qxd:CCCA_V1No2_Dept-MgLaw-V1.qxd 09/14/2007 02:17 PM Page 13 Metrics to working as corporate counsel: recruitment/retention, regulatory/ a business environment, and en-“ five criteria more important compliance and cost management, Corporate counsel noted being an active part of business and the relationship with external decisions, applying legal training to studies would do well to include hancing their business skills. Job than billing rates when counsel. Surveys and benchmark satisfaction remains at 72%, while selecting a firm. segments on performance manage- 90% of respondents believe their performance across the firm. The survey” ment and best practices to add value company values their work. to the survey participants. The top job challenges, in order, are: staying on top of the volume of work, carefully points out that the importance of Richard G. Stock, keeping overall costs down, and finding/ the criteria varies greatly by industry sector. M.A., FCIS, CMC is keeping adequate resources to deal with The general counsel’s most valuable a partner with Catalyst responsibilities. Both law departments and advisory skills are to perform as a business Consulting. The firm law firms are feeling the effects of interna- lawyer (37%), advise on legal services has been designated by tional recruiting and normal work weeks (31%), and accomplish business strategies the Canadian topping 50 hours — results consistent with (29%). The most valuable management Corporate Counsel Association as a the Australian findings. skill is to handle special projects with Recognized Supplier for the provision of Corporate counsel noted five criteria important legal ramifications. Regulatory Legal Services Consulting. It also collabo- more important than billing rates when compliance and enterprise risk manage- rates with the Australian Corporate Lawyers selecting a firm: responsiveness, specializa- ment were stated as top issues. Association. Richard can be contacted at tion, prior experience/results, existing There are common themes running (416) 367-4447 or through the website at relationships/referrals, and consistency of through the three surveys: workloads, http://www.catalystlegal.com. AUTOMNE 2007 CCCA Canadian Corporate Counsel Association 13