Legal Advisor Onboarding Checklist

Legal Advisor Onboarding Process

Are you looking for help setting up a staff orientation process so that when your new Legal Advisor starts their role, they can learn about their responsibilities and your company as quickly as possible? Whether you’re keen to use buddy onboarding, want to automate your Law onboarding experience or just need an onboarding checklist for your new Legal Advisor, you’re in the right place. We’ve put together a sample Legal Advisor onboarding checklist below and have created onboarding templates & resources to help.

Legal Advisor Onboarding Checklist

1. Introduction to the company: The legal advisor should be introduced to the company’s structure, culture, and values. This task is typically performed by the HR department or a designated onboarding specialist who provides an overview of the organization’s history, mission, and vision.

2. Familiarization with company policies and procedures: The legal advisor needs to understand the company’s policies and procedures, including those related to legal matters, ethics, and compliance. This task is usually performed by the HR department or the legal department, where the legal advisor is provided with relevant documents and guidelines.

3. Introduction to the legal department: The legal advisor should be introduced to the legal department and its team members. This task is typically performed by the head of the legal department or a senior legal professional who provides an overview of the team’s roles, responsibilities, and ongoing projects.

4. Review of ongoing legal cases: The legal advisor should be briefed on any ongoing legal cases or matters that the company is involved in. This task is performed by the legal department, where the legal advisor is provided with relevant case files, documents, and updates to ensure they are up to speed with the current legal landscape.

5. Understanding the company’s business operations: The legal advisor should gain a comprehensive understanding of the company’s business operations, including its products, services, and target market. This task is typically performed through meetings with key stakeholders, such as department heads, executives, and relevant team members.

6. Review of contracts and legal documents: The legal advisor should review the company’s existing contracts, agreements, and legal documents to familiarize themselves with the terms, conditions, and obligations. This task is performed by the legal department, where the legal advisor is provided with access to relevant contract management systems or physical files.

7. Introduction to external legal partners: The legal advisor should be introduced to any external legal partners or law firms that the company works with. This task is typically performed by the legal department or the company’s procurement team, who arrange meetings or calls with the external legal partners to establish relationships and discuss ongoing or potential legal matters.

8. Training on legal software and tools: The legal advisor should receive training on any legal software, tools, or systems used by the company for legal research, document management, or case management. This task is performed by the IT department or the legal department, who provide access to relevant software and conduct training sessions.

9. Compliance training: The legal advisor should undergo compliance training to ensure they are aware of the company’s legal obligations, regulatory requirements, and industry-specific compliance standards. This task is typically performed by the legal department or the compliance team, who provide training materials, presentations, or online courses.

10. Introduction to key internal stakeholders: The legal advisor should be introduced to key internal stakeholders, such as executives, department heads, and managers, who may require legal advice or collaboration. This task is typically performed by the legal department or the HR department, who arrange meetings or introductions to facilitate networking and relationship-building.

11. Shadowing experienced legal professionals: The legal advisor should have the opportunity to shadow experienced legal professionals within the company to gain practical insights and learn about the company’s legal processes. This task is performed by the legal department, who assign mentors or arrange shadowing opportunities with senior legal professionals.

12. Review of company’s intellectual property portfolio: The legal advisor should review the company’s intellectual property portfolio, including trademarks, patents, copyrights, and trade secrets, to understand the company’s IP strategy and potential legal risks. This task is performed by the legal department, who provide access to relevant IP databases and documents.

13. Introduction to the company’s risk management framework: The legal advisor should be introduced to the company’s risk management framework, including risk assessment processes, mitigation strategies, and insurance coverage. This task is typically performed by the legal department or the risk management team, who provide relevant documents and conduct training sessions.

14. Understanding the company’s dispute resolution mechanisms: The legal advisor should understand the company’s dispute resolution mechanisms, such as negotiation, mediation, arbitration, or litigation, to effectively handle any legal disputes that may arise. This task is performed by the legal department, who provide guidance, case studies, or access to external legal experts if necessary.

15. Review of corporate governance practices: The legal advisor should review the company’s corporate governance practices, including board structures, shareholder rights, and compliance with applicable laws and regulations. This task is performed by the legal department or the corporate governance team, who provide relevant documents, policies, and guidelines.

16. Introduction to the company’s code of conduct and ethics: The legal advisor should be familiarized with the company’s code of conduct and ethics, including any specific legal obligations or ethical standards they need to adhere to. This task is typically performed by the legal department or the HR department, who provide relevant documents and conduct training sessions.

17. Understanding the company’s data protection and privacy policies: The legal advisor should understand the company’s data protection and privacy policies, including compliance with data protection laws and regulations. This task is performed by the legal department or the data protection officer, who provide relevant documents, policies, and guidelines.

18. Introduction to the company’s crisis management and emergency response procedures: The legal advisor should be introduced to the company’s crisis management and emergency response procedures, including legal considerations during crisis situations. This task is typically performed by the legal department or the crisis management team, who provide relevant documents, policies, and conduct training sessions.

19. Review of insurance policies and coverage: The legal advisor should review the company’s insurance policies and coverage to ensure adequate protection against legal risks and liabilities. This task is performed by the legal department or the risk management team, who provide access to relevant insurance documents and conduct discussions on coverage.

20. Ongoing professional development: The legal advisor should engage in ongoing professional development activities, such as attending legal seminars, webinars, or workshops, to stay updated with the latest legal developments and enhance their skills. This task is typically performed by the legal advisor themselves, who proactively seek out relevant professional development opportunities

Setting Up Your Employee Onboarding Process

From reading through the items in the example Legal Advisor checklist above, you’ll now have an idea of how you can apply best practices to getting your new Legal Advisor up to speed and working well in your Law team. Scroll up to see the link to our onboarding templates & resources or get in touch to discuss getting help setting up your systems and processes in this area.