During a recent BarkerGilmore panel discussion on how to become a general counsel, Laura Stevens, the first-time general counsel in 2018 at the Cengage Group, urged aspiring General Counsels (GC) not to be intimidated. Stevens raised a point that resonates with many aspiring legal professionals confronting extensive and sometimes seemingly insurmountable requirements of some job listings. As she jokingly pointed out, some roles demand a breadth of experience and qualities that would conceivably require one to be “250 years old.”
These remarks are a reminder that fulfilling every criterion in a job listing is not always necessary, and candidates shouldn’t feel deterred if they sometimes fall short of exhaustive job descriptions. It’s a valuable insight, particularly in the legal profession, where job descriptions can often include a daunting list of requirements.
For those aspiring to become GCs, the weight is often on soft skills and getting noticed by the right people, which is likely just as crucial, if not more so, than having a decades-spanning resume.
For more details on Laura Stevens’ advice and insights during the panel discussion, check this out.