General Counsel Interview Questions UK: 8 Real Questions and What Interviewers Want

Most General Counsel interviews in the UK follow a pattern, and knowing it beats guessing. Below are eight questions from our bank of 16, each with a note on what the interviewer is really after.

Eight General Counsel interview questions, and what the interviewer is thinking

1. How do you see the General Counsel's role on the executive team, and how do you balance being a trusted adviser with being a guardian of the company's legal position?

Why they ask: They want to understand your philosophy on influence, independence and commercial partnership at the top table.

2. How would you design a legal risk framework for the business and report it to the board?

Why they ask: A GC must convert diffuse legal exposure into something the board can oversee and act on.

3. Tell me about a time you had to advise a director or the board on their personal exposure, and they did not want to hear it.

Why they ask: They are testing courage, tact and professional independence at the most senior level.

4. How do directors' duties under the Companies Act 2006 shape the way you advise the board?

Why they ask: A GC must explain duties accurately and embed them in decision-making.

5. What role does the General Counsel play in corporate governance, and how does the UK Corporate Governance Code, including Provision 29, affect that?

Why they ask: They want to see that you understand governance frameworks and your part in assurance.

6. How would you run an internal investigation into suspected misconduct while preserving legal privilege?

Why they ask: Poorly run investigations can destroy privilege and damage the company's position with regulators.

7. What factors would you weigh in deciding whether the company should self-report a potential offence to a regulator or the SFO?

Why they ask: Self-reporting decisions are high-stakes and require strategic, legal and ethical judgement.

8. A whistleblower tells you the CEO has been inflating figures to the board. How do you proceed?

Why they ask: They are testing integrity, conflict handling and understanding that the client is the company.

A sample answer to question 1

How do you see the General Counsel's role on the executive team, and how do you balance being a trusted adviser with being a guardian of the company's legal position?

A General Counsel has to be both a commercial partner and the person who can say no when it matters. My approach is to be involved early, so the business sees me as a problem-solver rather than a roadblock. I sit with the executive team in strategy discussions, understand the P&L and translate legal risk into business terms such as probability, financial exposure and reputational impact, then offer options rather than a binary yes or no. Independence matters, though. I'm a solicitor regulated by the SRA, with duties to the court and the rule of law, and my client is the company, not the CEO. I'd agree upfront with the chair and CEO that I have a direct line to the board and audit committee, and that red lines on dishonesty or illegality are not negotiable. Credibility earned through helpfulness is what makes those red lines respected.

Common mistake to avoid: Presenting yourself only as a risk blocker; ignoring your regulatory duties

Want the rest?

Full model answers, key points and common mistakes for all 16 questions are on the General Counsel interview questions page. The first five are free, no sign-up needed.