The chief legal officer and local management should combine to recruit a local lawyer

Int’l In-House Counsel J., Vol 2, Summer 2009 at 1301-02, argues that chief legal officers should lead recruitment even for lawyers based with business units and yet also involve the local executives the new lawyer will support.

“A first cut of interviews will be done with the head office legal department via videoconference. Second interviews are often done by head office legal in the market. Final interviews are often done at the head office location, flying one or two candidates in for meetings with senior legal department and business officials. Interviews with local management take place just before the final interview stage, but after the legal department has conducted second interviews.”

Hence, in this view, the legal team has a first crack at new hires. The managers who will rely on the new lawyer weigh in later.