General corporate practice is where many corporate lawyers begin, and it is the broad base from which specialised practices grow. But “general corporate” can sound vague, so what do these lawyers actually do? Let me give you an honest look at general corporate practice and why it is such a valuable foundation.
Quick answer
General corporate practice involves the broad, everyday corporate and commercial legal work of advising businesses and handling their corporate and commercial matters, rather than a single narrow specialisation. In general terms, lawyers in general corporate practice advise companies and businesses on legal and commercial matters; work on transactions and corporate matters, including a range of deals and corporate work; draft and review documents, including agreements, corporate documents and more; handle corporate, commercial and contract-related work; and generally support the legal needs of businesses across a broad range of matters.
Because it is broad rather than narrowly specialised, general corporate practice builds a wide foundation of skills and knowledge, including drafting, attention to detail, commercial awareness, and an understanding of companies, deals, documents and corporate and commercial law. This is exactly why it is such a valuable base for a corporate career and for later specialising.
General corporate practice suits lawyers who enjoy broad corporate and commercial work advising businesses, and it is where many corporate lawyers build their foundation before, often, moving toward a specialisation. The keys are to understand that general corporate practice is the broad, everyday corporate and commercial work of advising businesses and handling their matters, including advising, transactions, drafting, and corporate, commercial and contract work, and that it builds a wide, valuable foundation for a corporate career and for later specialising. General overview; scope varies by firm and role; no figures.
What lawyers in general corporate practice do
In general terms, lawyers in general corporate practice:
- Advise companies and businesses. On legal and commercial matters.
- Work on transactions and corporate matters. A range of deals and corporate work.
- Draft and review documents. Agreements, corporate documents and more.
- Handle corporate, commercial and contract-related work.
- Support the broad legal needs of businesses. Across a range of matters.
So it is broad corporate and commercial work advising businesses, rather than a single narrow specialisation. The exact scope varies by firm and role.
Why it’s such a valuable foundation
Because general corporate practice is broad rather than narrowly specialised, it builds a wide foundation of skills and knowledge: strong drafting, attention to detail, commercial awareness, and an understanding of companies, deals, documents and corporate and commercial law.
This wide foundation is exactly why general corporate practice is so valuable. It gives you broad, transferable corporate skills and knowledge, and it is the base from which specialised practices grow. Many corporate lawyers build this general foundation before moving toward a specialisation, and the foundation serves them throughout their careers.
Who it suits
General corporate practice suits lawyers who enjoy broad corporate and commercial work advising businesses, working across a range of matters rather than in a single narrow specialisation. It is also where many corporate lawyers build their foundation before, often, specialising.
So whether you want to remain in broad general corporate work or use it as a base for specialising later, general corporate practice is a natural and valuable place to build.
YLCC ACTION STEP: Understand general corporate practice as the broad, everyday corporate and commercial work of advising businesses and handling their matters, advising companies, working on transactions and corporate matters, drafting and reviewing documents, and handling corporate, commercial and contract work. Recognise that it builds a wide, valuable foundation of skills and knowledge, including drafting, detail, commercial awareness, and understanding of companies, deals and documents, that serves a corporate career and later specialising. If you enjoy broad corporate and commercial work advising businesses, it is a natural, valuable place to build.
If this is you
If you are starting in corporate law: general corporate practice is a natural, valuable place to build your foundation, broad corporate and commercial work that develops wide, transferable skills.
If you enjoy broad, varied corporate work: general corporate practice may suit you well, working across a range of matters advising businesses.
If you plan to specialise later: general corporate practice is an ideal base. It builds the broad foundation that specialised practices grow from.
FAQs
- What do lawyers in general corporate practice actually do? Broad corporate and commercial work advising businesses: advising companies, working on transactions and corporate matters, drafting and reviewing documents, and handling corporate, commercial and contract-related work.
- How is it different from a specialised practice? General corporate practice is broad rather than narrowly specialised. It covers a wide range of corporate and commercial matters, whereas specialised practices focus on a particular area, such as M&A or finance.
- Why is it a valuable foundation? Because it builds a wide foundation of transferable skills and knowledge, including drafting, detail, commercial awareness, and understanding of companies, deals and documents, that serves a corporate career and later specialising.
- Who does it suit? Lawyers who enjoy broad corporate and commercial work advising businesses, and those building a foundation before, often, specialising.
- Do I have to specialise after it? No. You can remain in broad general corporate work or use it as a base for specialising later. It works both ways.
