The lobbying function and its oblique relation to law departments

Not uncommonly, a general counsel has responsibility for the government affairs – lobbying – functions of a company (See my post of Aug. 27, 2005 about Microsoft). So long as that GC has the time and ability to manage the function, perhaps it is fine.

Otherwise, or in any case, it seems to me that the function of bird-dogging and influencing legislation has less to do with legal prowess than with other skills. Hence, to the degree lawyers must participate, there is a risk that their efforts fall into the suspect category of quasi-legal work (See my post of July 21, 2005 about quasi-legal work.)