Is it your New Year's resolution to focus (finally!) on joining a corporate board? After all, you are a seasoned in-house lawyer who has a ton of industry-relevant business experience. So it makes sense to get out there and network. If the stars align, an interesting board position will surface. Before accepting, take a moment to step back and ask some key questions. Board service is like marriage: It's a great idea that can tragically turn into a nightmare if the wrong people are tied together for the wrong reasons.

Before joining a board, you might consider three categories of questions: 1) management-board dynamics, 2) board processes, and 3) board protections.

When it comes to management-board dynamics, one key concern is the nature of the CEO's relationship to the board. Are the other board members all social friends of the CEO? Will you be the first truly independent board member to join? That's fine, but it can also be lonely and difficult. Does the board have a lot of confidence in management or is CEO-succession planning about to become an urgent priority? Finally, is there alignment between management's view and the board's view of the company culture, especially concerning ethical behavior? Understanding the frequency and outcome of whistleblower-type complaints can be a way to unpack this tricky issue. The same can be said for understanding management's view of the board's role when it comes to enterprise risk management, including what type of information is given to the board to support this role.