General counsel generally have strong access to the board but seldom get sufficient time to make their presentations, a new ALM Intelligence study of 93 U.S.-based senior in-house counsel revealed.

The survey found that four in five frequently attend or report to boards during regular meetings. But 96% of respondents get less than 20 minutes of agenda time to make presentations at board meetings, and 9% get less than five minutes.

University of Delaware professor and law firm consultant Charles Elson said the figures are worrisome.