Entrepreneurs, business owners, and corporate leaders have one thing in common: they want their businesses to comply with the law. Companies that fail to comply with legal requirements risk penalties, fines, and lawsuits.
In fact, compliance and regulatory risk are among the top concerns for risk executives. According to a PwC Pulse survey, 35% of risk executives perceive compliance and regulatory risk as the primary obstacle to their company’s growth.
If you are considering a career in legal compliance, you are on the right track. As companies continue to prioritize compliance, the demand for experienced and knowledgeable compliance professionals is expected to grow significantly.
Let’s explore the specialized skills and knowledge required for a successful career in legal compliance.
What Legal Compliance Officer Does?
Legal compliance is a multifaceted and complex field. It is making sure that the operations, policies, and practices of a company follow pertinent laws and rules.
For most of us, compliance means working in the financial sector. Legal requirements are different for every type of business, though.
Some tasks that a legal compliance officer may be responsible for include.
- Conducting regular risk assessments to identify potential area of non-compliance.
- They develop and implement compliance policies and procedures.
- Training employees on compliance regulations and best practices.
- Conducting internal audits to monitor for any potential violations.
- Identifying and addressing potential compliance issues promptly.
The specific duties of a legal compliance officer depend on the industry, company size, and scope of responsibilities. One thing stays the same, though: legal compliance officers are very important for keeping their companies safe from legal and reputational risks.
Top 12 Specialized Skills for Legal Compliance Career
If you are considering a career in legal compliance, here are the top specialized skills that can set you apart and make you an invaluable asset to any company.
Risk Management is a Must-Have Skill
Risk management is at the core of legal compliance. Professionals able to identify possible risks, evaluate their effects on the business, and create mitigating plans are much sought for in the field.
Companies that have strong risk management protocols are more likely to follow the rules and avoid costly consequences. As a legal compliance officer, you need to be able to accurately evaluate risks and come up with ways to reduce them before they happen.
Risk Management Guidelines ISO 31000 is an international standard that gives you a way to handle risks in a good way. To show that you know a lot about risk management, you might want to get certified in this standard. You can learn how to manage risks in workshops, seminars, and online classes.
Litigations and Regulatory Matters Management
The term ‘legal compliance’ often brings to mind images of lawsuits, fines, and legal battles. These are not just figments of imagination; companies face legal and regulatory challenges regularly.
The process of going to court against someone is called litigation. Regulatory issues are about following the laws and rules that the government sets up. As a legal compliance officer, you need to be good at both of these things.
You need to know how the legal system works to be able to deal with lawsuits and government rules. You have to to give advice, look into things, write responses to regulators, and, if needed, manage outside counsel.
Knowledge of Laws and Regulations
Regarding specific skills, knowledge of laws and regulations is maybe the most clear one for a job in legal compliance. Businesses have to follow several rules about employment, contracts, environment, taxes, data privacy, and more.
Laws and rules that are specific to an industry may also apply. Health insurance companies should comply with the Health Insurance Portability & Accountability Act (HIPAA), and public companies have to follow the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (SOX).
You may need to specialize in a particular area of law, depending on the industry and company you work for. The ability to stay updated on changes in laws and regulations is critical. Joining professional organizations, attending seminars and conferences, and keeping up with industry news can help you stay informed.
Compliance Audits and Investigations
There is always something that can be done to make a company’s compliance program better. Compliance audits and investigations help find any holes or problems in the program and make sure the business is following all laws and rules.
If you want to be a legal compliance officer, you need to know how to do thorough audits and investigations. This could mean talking to employees, going over rules and policies, looking at data, and finding ways to make things better.
During investigations and audits, you may also need to work closely with HR or internal audit.
Legal Research and Analysis
Legal research is the process of gathering information about laws, cases, regulations and interpreting their applicability to a specific situation. You may have to conduct legal research on new laws or regulations that apply to your company, advise on the legality of a business decision, or support a legal case.
Now, NLP-based research platforms can help legal professionals access vast databases of legal information quickly. Data visualization tools, such as Tableau, can help you make sense of the data and show it in a way that makes it easy to analyze.
For a career in legal compliance, you need to be able to find and understand legal information. Legal compliance officers are trusted by businesses to give them correct and timely legal advice on a range of issues.
Legal Writing and Document Review
Legal writing skills are essential for drafting policies, procedures, risk assessments, and other legal documents. These documents must be precise, unambiguous, and comply with legal drafting standards.
Your qualifications in legal writing can add considerable value to your resume if you are considering a career in legal compliance. You may also need to review legal documents drafted by others. With experience, you can develop the ability to identify potential legal issues and suggest changes or improvements.
As a legal compliance officer, you must also be proficient in document management systems and electronic discovery tools. These platforms help manage legal documents efficiently and aid in investigations or audits.
Intellectual Property Protection
Intellectual property (IP) refers to creations of the mind, such as inventions, literary and artistic works, designs, symbols, names or images used in commerce. To protect these creations, IP laws have been established globally. As a legal compliance officer, you must be aware of any potential IP infringements or violations that your company may be committing.
There are various types of IP, such as trademarks, patents, copyrights, and trade secrets. You may need to advise on securing or renewing these protections for your company’s intellectual property assets.
Along with compliance with IP laws, you must also be knowledgeable about licensing agreements, technology transfers, and data protection related to intellectual property.
Contract Management and Negotiation
Contracts are a fundamental aspect of business operations, and companies must comply with all contractual obligations. You might help write, review, and negotiate contracts for your company as a legal compliance officer.
You must have strong negotiation skills to ensure that the terms of a contract align with the company’s interests and comply with all applicable laws and regulations.
You may also have to make sure that the terms of the contract are followed and deal with any disagreements that come up. In this part of their job, legal compliance officers need to be good at managing projects and talking to people.
Anti Money Laundering and Fraud Prevention
Fraud and money laundering are more likely to happen in businesses that do a lot of different things. To keep their company from doing illegal financial things, legal compliance officers need to know a lot about anti-money laundering (AML) laws and rules.
As part of AML compliance, you may need to do background checks on clients or business partners. You should also keep an eye on transactions for anything that seems fishy, and report anything that you see to the right authorities as required by law.
Fraud prevention also falls under the purview of legal compliance, as companies must have systems and processes in place to prevent fraudulent activities. You may need to conduct internal investigations and implement fraud prevention policies and procedures.
Conflict Resolution and Negotiation
Disputes may arise within a company or between the company and external parties. As a legal compliance officer, you must have strong conflict resolution skills to help resolve these disputes effectively and efficiently.
You might need to be the go-between for different departments or people in the company. You may also have to negotiate with outside parties to solve legal or compliance problems. For this part of their job, legal compliance officers should know a lot about alternative dispute resolution methods like arbitration and mediation.
Critical Thinking and Problem Solving
Legal compliance officers must have strong critical thinking and problem-solving skills. You will often face complex situations that require careful analysis, sound judgement, and creative solutions.
If there are laws or rules that can be interpreted in different ways, you may need to look them over, figure out what the risks are, and come up with the right ways to follow the rules. When things go wrong, you might have to make tough choices that could affect how the business runs or its reputation. An important skill for people who want to work in legal compliance is the ability to think critically and solve problems.
Time Management and Organization
Legal compliance officers often have to manage multiple tasks and deadlines simultaneously. The ability to prioritize tasks and manage your time effectively is a big part of the job.
You must also be highly organized to keep track of legal documents that require review, compliance deadlines, and ongoing investigations or audits. Strong time management and organizational skills are critical to ensure legal compliance duties are fulfilled efficiently and on schedule.
Online courses and resources are available to improve these skills, but practical experience is often the best way to develop and enhance them.
How to Acquire the Necessary Skills for a Legal Compliance Career?
If you are a law student or recent graduate, you can acquire legal compliance skills through internships or externships with law firms, government agencies, or corporations. These opportunities can provide valuable practical experience and exposure to the legal compliance field.
Companies in search of an experienced legal compliance officer may check these skills when evaluating candidates for the role. There are also online platforms that help companies find talent with specific compliance skills and experience.
Syncuppro is one such platform that connects companies to qualified compliance professionals. The vetting process on Syncuppro ensures that professionals listed on the platform have the necessary skills and experience to excel in their roles.
Contact Syncuppro to learn more about how we can help you find the perfect fit for your legal compliance needs.