A recent report from Axiom sheds light on a paradox facing deputy general counsels: while a significant jump in job satisfaction is reported—rising from 70% in 2023 to 96% last year—many still feel constrained in their professional growth. Of the 200 deputy GCs from the U.S. and U.K. surveyed, 80% expressed concerns over encountering substantial barriers to advancing, potentially necessitating a move to a different organization to develop the skills requisite for assuming a general counsel role.
The study, titled “Becoming a General Counsel: A Career Guide for Upwardly Mobile Deputy GCs,” highlights how overwhelmed legal departments often prioritize completing tasks over facilitating opportunities for deputy GCs to interact with board members—a crucial step for grooming potential general counsel. As such, deputy GCs generally find themselves in a favorable yet stationary position, where upward mobility may be stunted unless strategic career changes are made.