2023 General Counsel Succession Report

General Counsel succession plans ensure a smooth transition for when the GC departs the organization. BarkerGilmore’s Strategic Advisors and Coaches are succession planning experts. We put together this report to provide you with some of the top insights in GC succession planning.

1. Recruiting Externally vs. Promoting Internally

Seventy-one percent of General Counsel are recruited externally vs. 29% of people who are promoted from within the organization. Most external candidates held the position of sitting General Counsel prior to moving into their current position vs. internal candidates who held the role of Deputy General Counsel prior to their promotion.

2. Professional Development Insights

Promoted General Counsel typically receive more professional development than those recruited externally. This includes a broader scope of responsibilities for those already within the organization to prepare potential candidates for future leadership roles.

However, both groups received the same types of development once in the role: expanded scope of responsibilities (62% promoted, 55% recruited), increased C-suite and board exposure (59% promoted, 45% recruited), and more.

3. Role of Outgoing General Counsel

Outgoing General Counsel tend to stay in the organization for a period of time to overlap with the new hire. This provides the new GC with any guidance or assistance they may need before the outgoing GC exits. When the new GC is promoted, 15% of outgoing GC will remain in the role for a period versus recruited General Counsel, whose predecessors will stay on 10% of the time.

4. Recruited General Counsel

Twenty-nine percent of recruited General Counsel were likely to hear about the position from an executive recruiter, and 33% of GCs hired did not have industry experience in their current role prior to joining the organization.