{
  "format": "sf-skill-matrix",
  "version": 1,
  "name": "Legal Counsel Skill Matrix",
  "description": "Public example of a role-based matrix for in-house legal specialists working with product and operations teams.",
  "levels": [
    {
      "name": "Junior",
      "description": "Works on standard legal tasks with templates and review from more experienced colleagues."
    },
    {
      "name": "Middle",
      "description": "Owns legal support for business processes independently and manages risk in routine matters."
    },
    {
      "name": "Senior",
      "description": "Shapes legal policy, resolves complex matters, and aligns legal work with business strategy."
    }
  ],
  "groups": [
    {
      "name": "Business Legal Support",
      "rows": [
        {
          "name": "Contracts",
          "cells": [
            {
              "level": 1,
              "level_name": "Junior",
              "tasks": [
                {
                  "name": "Prepare standard agreements from templates",
                  "info": "Handles routine drafting with careful use of approved clauses and escalation points."
                }
              ]
            },
            {
              "level": 2,
              "level_name": "Middle",
              "tasks": [
                {
                  "name": "Negotiate and adapt non-standard terms",
                  "info": "Owns contract review, commercial redlines, and internal alignment on acceptable risk."
                }
              ]
            },
            {
              "level": 3,
              "level_name": "Senior",
              "tasks": [
                {
                  "name": "Set contract policy and fallback positions",
                  "info": "Defines risk thresholds and negotiation strategy for important business relationships."
                }
              ]
            }
          ]
        },
        {
          "name": "Compliance",
          "cells": [
            {
              "level": 1,
              "level_name": "Junior",
              "tasks": [
                {
                  "name": "Track standard compliance requirements",
                  "info": "Maintains checklists and follows approved procedures for recurring obligations."
                }
              ]
            },
            {
              "level": 2,
              "level_name": "Middle",
              "tasks": [
                {
                  "name": "Support audits and process changes",
                  "info": "Translates regulatory requirements into working controls for product and operations teams."
                }
              ]
            },
            {
              "level": 3,
              "level_name": "Senior",
              "tasks": [
                {
                  "name": "Define compliance approach for the company",
                  "info": "Builds sustainable legal controls that fit business scale and operating model."
                }
              ]
            }
          ]
        },
        {
          "name": "IP and data",
          "cells": [
            {
              "level": 1,
              "level_name": "Junior",
              "tasks": [
                {
                  "name": "Review standard data and IP clauses",
                  "info": "Checks ownership, licensing, and basic confidentiality provisions against templates."
                }
              ]
            },
            {
              "level": 2,
              "level_name": "Middle",
              "tasks": [
                {
                  "name": "Assess product and data risks",
                  "info": "Advises on privacy, IP use, and commercial restrictions in product initiatives."
                }
              ]
            },
            {
              "level": 3,
              "level_name": "Senior",
              "tasks": [
                {
                  "name": "Shape strategic policy on IP and data",
                  "info": "Defines company positions for licensing, data handling, and high-risk product decisions."
                }
              ]
            }
          ]
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "name": "Risk and Process",
      "rows": [
        {
          "name": "Risk review",
          "cells": [
            {
              "level": 1,
              "level_name": "Junior",
              "tasks": [
                {
                  "name": "Escalate non-standard legal issues correctly",
                  "info": "Recognizes when facts exceed the approved playbook and documents concerns clearly."
                }
              ]
            },
            {
              "level": 2,
              "level_name": "Middle",
              "tasks": [
                {
                  "name": "Own legal risk assessment for routine matters",
                  "info": "Explains material risk, possible mitigations, and implementation constraints to stakeholders."
                }
              ]
            },
            {
              "level": 3,
              "level_name": "Senior",
              "tasks": [
                {
                  "name": "Guide company-level legal risk decisions",
                  "info": "Balances legal exposure, commercial value, and practical execution across teams."
                }
              ]
            }
          ]
        },
        {
          "name": "Stakeholder communication",
          "cells": [
            {
              "level": 1,
              "level_name": "Junior",
              "tasks": [
                {
                  "name": "Explain legal comments clearly",
                  "info": "Communicates review results in plain language and keeps actions explicit."
                }
              ]
            },
            {
              "level": 2,
              "level_name": "Middle",
              "tasks": [
                {
                  "name": "Coordinate legal alignment across functions",
                  "info": "Works with sales, product, security, and finance to move issues to decision."
                }
              ]
            },
            {
              "level": 3,
              "level_name": "Senior",
              "tasks": [
                {
                  "name": "Represent legal position in strategic discussions",
                  "info": "Builds trust with leadership while keeping risk and decision paths transparent."
                }
              ]
            }
          ]
        },
        {
          "name": "Legal operations",
          "cells": [
            {
              "level": 1,
              "level_name": "Junior",
              "tasks": [
                {
                  "name": "Maintain organized legal records",
                  "info": "Keeps versioning, approvals, and source documents in order for daily work."
                }
              ]
            },
            {
              "level": 2,
              "level_name": "Middle",
              "tasks": [
                {
                  "name": "Improve repeatable legal workflows",
                  "info": "Builds templates, checklists, and review routes that reduce avoidable cycle time."
                }
              ]
            },
            {
              "level": 3,
              "level_name": "Senior",
              "tasks": [
                {
                  "name": "Design scalable legal operating model",
                  "info": "Creates processes that support growth without losing control over legal quality."
                }
              ]
            }
          ]
        }
      ]
    }
  ]
}