As automotive suppliers continue to add employees to keep up with industry growth, legal departments or top management may desire to hire experienced in-house counsel to support the business. To ensure the right fit, suppliers should not rely solely on legal recruiters or human resources. For example, candidates likely will be able to explain common industry acronyms, such as OEMs, POs and Tier 1 supplier. But what about PPAP, DV testing and PV testing? Can the candidate explain what accommodation agreements and access agreements are and when they should be used? What about identifying some common provisions for tooling agreements?

While the specific need, nature and level of experience required for the legal role will vary, the company likely will benefit more by hiring an attorney who truly understands the automotive industry and key areas of the supplier’s business. Therefore, in addition to evaluating potential fit for the organization, a key objective during the interview should be to probe the nature and extent of the candidate’s automotive experience.

Foley’s Automotive Industry Team has prepared a list of questions for suppliers to reference when interviewing potential in-house counsel candidates. Thinking about the key areas of risk to the business prior to the interview also will help the supplier to more fully evaluate the candidate’s fit for the position. View the questions.

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