The New Legal Paradigm: The Business-Savvy Legal Adviser


Chief legal officers (CLOs) are increasingly expected to navigate diverse challenges, from budget cuts and regulatory enforcement to data management. At the same time, about 58% of CLOs are now overseeing three or more additional business functions beyond Legal, according to a recent Deloitte Legal survey. These multidisciplinary demands call for a new kind of legal professional who is not only an expert legally but also possess sharp business acumen. About 63% of CLOs agree, identifying business acumen as a skill they most wish to develop in their lawyers.

The future legal professional, therefore, will be a hybrid, adept in both legal matters and business problem-solving.