OK to state "Corporate Counsel" of this startup on my resume? Forum

[Anonymous User]

So I founded a startup and incorporated it. We tried to develop a team and did some research but never got to do anything substantial.

I was working as a founder and corporate counsel (incorporation, employment law, etc) but I haven't been licensed yet. I looked up some laws online to figure out what the company should do. We had a few other people (engineers) but they all left eventually.

In this case, is it OK to state "Corporate Counsel" on my resume? If not, what title would be a better option?

Please focus on my question, rather than, say, why do you want to state a failed startup experience - type of question.
Thank you.

[Vincent Adultman]

lol I wouldn't represent that you did legal work prior to being licensed.

[blueapple]

lol I wouldn't represent that you did legal work prior to being licensed.

[North]

Please focus on my question, rather than, say, why do you want to state a failed startup experience - type of question.
Thank you.

I love when people asking for free advice on the internet have demands like this.

[malibustacy]

Why do you want to state a failed startup experience?

[jchiles]

Were you ever listed as corporate counsel on a website, document, or business card, or was it just a title you and your friends at the startup used.

[mjb447]

lol I wouldn't represent that you did legal work prior to being licensed.

and

Why do you want to state a failed startup experience?

Together at last!

I guess you could say founder, president, CEO, or something like that, but it doesn't seem to me that putting this on your resume makes a lot of sense.

[Nebby]

No. It's not okay

[pancakes3]

is OP a law student or someone who's failed the bar (or just never took it)?

[misterjames]

from what you've written here it sounds like you've been practicing law without a license. any response to that?

[SFSpartan]

Calling yourself corproate counsel when you don't have a license to practice law is a bad idea. Put Co-Founder, or whatever officer title you held

[Magic Hat]

unauthorized practice of law is actually a low felony in some states. I would certainly not indicate on any writing that you acted as "counsel" in any way, shape or form.

[negativefeedback]

n/a

[MKC]

Should probably just list "Practiced Law without a License" in the experience description for your startup.

[pancakes3]

the "don't associate yourself with a failed company" aspect takes a 3rd row back seat to "practicing without a license" and "did no substantive legal work" aspect

[MKC]

Also, "Soon to be disqualified from sitting for the bar due to C&F violations" would be fine to list as a bullet point.

[cron1834]

So I founded a startup and incorporated it. We tried to develop a team and did some research but never got to do anything substantial.

I was working as a founder and corporate counsel (incorporation, employment law, etc) but I haven't been licensed yet. I looked up some laws online to figure out what the company should do. We had a few other people (engineers) but they all left eventually.

In this case, is it OK to state "Corporate Counsel" on my resume? If not, what title would be a better option?

Please focus on my question, rather than, say, why do you want to state a failed startup experience - type of question.
Thank you.

Are you serious?

[Nebby]

So I founded a startup and incorporated it. We tried to develop a team and did some research but never got to do anything substantial.

I was working as a founder and corporate counsel (incorporation, employment law, etc) but I haven't been licensed yet. I looked up some laws online to figure out what the company should do. We had a few other people (engineers) but they all left eventually.

In this case, is it OK to state "Corporate Counsel" on my resume? If not, what title would be a better option?

Please focus on my question, rather than, say, why do you want to state a failed startup experience - type of question.
Thank you.

Are you serious?

Serious as unauthorized practice is law!

[North]

OP a lot of us ITT are barred lawyers and I think we now have an ethical duty to report you to your state bar. Can you PM us your contact info when you have a minute

[MKC]

OP a lot of us ITT are barred lawyers and I think we now have an ethical duty to report you to your state bar. Can you PM us your contact info when you have a minute

Good catch:

Rule 8.3 Reporting Professional Misconduct

(a) A lawyer who knows that another lawyer has committed a violation of the Rules of Professional Conduct that raises a substantial question as to that lawyer's honesty, trustworthiness or fitness as a lawyer in other respects, shall inform the appropriate professional authority.

[njdevils2626]

OP a lot of us ITT are barred lawyers and I think we now have an ethical duty to report you to your state bar. Can you PM us your contact info when you have a minute

Good catch:

Rule 8.3 Reporting Professional Misconduct

(a) A lawyer who knows that another lawyer has committed a violation of the Rules of Professional Conduct that raises a substantial question as to that lawyer's honesty, trustworthiness or fitness as a lawyer in other respects, shall inform the appropriate professional authority.

Looks like we only have to report actual lawyers so OP's good

[elendinel]