Glossary entry (derived from question below)
French term or phrase:
secrétaire général
English translation:
UK: Legal Practice Manager / Senior Clerk; USA: Legal Operations Manager
Added to glossary by
Adrian MM.
Jan 3, 2022 17:26
2 yrs ago
51 viewers *
French term
France
Excellence, Expertise & Experience
Native in: English (Variants: Irish, British, Wales / Welsh, UK, Scottish)
Works in: French to English, English
secrétaire général
French to English
Law/Patents
Human Resources
Job title
Job title of a person at a law firm that specialises in patents and trademarks.
The firm seems to have about 50 high-level staff, working in seven offices, some "abroad" (i.e. outside France).
On one of the company's letters to the European Patent Office, there is, in order from the top left:
"ASSOCIES [PARTNERS]
(list of names)
SECRETAIRE GENERAL
(one name, a common name that's not yielding a Linkedin profile, let's call him "Jacques Duval"!)
COLLABORATEURS"
My research has brought up the following:
"le secrétaire général peut aussi désigner un dirigeant administratif [...]"
https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Secrétaire_général#:~:text=Le ...
Administration Director?
Or "Company Secretary"?
"A Company Secretary is a senior position in a private sector company or public sector organisation. Also known as Compliance Officers, it is one of the positions that is a part of the key managerial personnel (which usually includes the CEO & CFO) of any company."
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Company_secretary
My thinking is that there may be a specific term for this position within law firms, hence my uncertainty.
The firm seems to have about 50 high-level staff, working in seven offices, some "abroad" (i.e. outside France).
On one of the company's letters to the European Patent Office, there is, in order from the top left:
"ASSOCIES [PARTNERS]
(list of names)
SECRETAIRE GENERAL
(one name, a common name that's not yielding a Linkedin profile, let's call him "Jacques Duval"!)
COLLABORATEURS"
My research has brought up the following:
"le secrétaire général peut aussi désigner un dirigeant administratif [...]"
https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Secrétaire_général#:~:text=Le ...
Administration Director?
Or "Company Secretary"?
"A Company Secretary is a senior position in a private sector company or public sector organisation. Also known as Compliance Officers, it is one of the positions that is a part of the key managerial personnel (which usually includes the CEO & CFO) of any company."
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Company_secretary
My thinking is that there may be a specific term for this position within law firms, hence my uncertainty.
Proposed translations
(English)
| 3 +4 | Practice Manager/ess, BrE & IrE |
Adrian MM.
|
| 4 -1 | company secretary |
Francois Boye
|
References
| Job descriptions |
Marco Solinas
|
| More background |
Julie Barber
|
Change log
Jan 3, 2022 17:42: Yolanda Broad changed "Term asked" from "SECRETAIRE GENERAL " to "secrétaire général"
Jan 10, 2022 08:26: Adrian MM. Created KOG entry
Proposed translations
+4
2 hrs
Adrian MM.
Austria
Austria
Native in English
Austria
Retd.T&I, Barrister & Austro-Advokat
Native in: English (Variants: British, Scottish) 
Works in: Spanish to English, English to Spanish, French to English, and 5 more.
Related KudoZ points
:
24
Selected
Practice Manager/ess, BrE & IrE
'Depends on the law firm and whether Anglo-Irish or other'.
General Secretary or Secrerary General connote a public orgnisation and Chief Adminitrative Officer is going to cause a double-up with the appointment of 'un dirigeant administratif'. Partnerships - even if LLPs as hybrid partnerships and companies- don't have a co. sec.
In my City of London law firm, an office manager/ess - often a very unpleasant individual - had been in charge of stationery supplies, the photocopying, telex then fax machines. Query: Managing Clerk or Partnership Secretary in the US of A.
The Managing Partner turned into the Staff Partner and, on expansion of the firm, into a CEO. Unlcear here whether the Secretary also has partner status.
The term of Practice Manager crept in later to Solicitors' Firms and also, latterly, Barrister's Chambers where recruits were unable or willing to take the demanding Barrsiter's Clerking Exam. 'Practice Manageress' - I'll leave to others to canvass.
Contrary to the first web ref., there was no registrar anywhere to be seen.
General Secretary or Secrerary General connote a public orgnisation and Chief Adminitrative Officer is going to cause a double-up with the appointment of 'un dirigeant administratif'. Partnerships - even if LLPs as hybrid partnerships and companies- don't have a co. sec.
In my City of London law firm, an office manager/ess - often a very unpleasant individual - had been in charge of stationery supplies, the photocopying, telex then fax machines. Query: Managing Clerk or Partnership Secretary in the US of A.
The Managing Partner turned into the Staff Partner and, on expansion of the firm, into a CEO. Unlcear here whether the Secretary also has partner status.
The term of Practice Manager crept in later to Solicitors' Firms and also, latterly, Barrister's Chambers where recruits were unable or willing to take the demanding Barrsiter's Clerking Exam. 'Practice Manageress' - I'll leave to others to canvass.
Contrary to the first web ref., there was no registrar anywhere to be seen.
Example sentence:
USA: The Managing Clerk (“the Clerk”) is responsible for the daily activities of Docket and Court Services including all oversight of litigation deadlines, the filing, serving and retrieval of court documents either physically or electronically and th
A Practice Manager holds a range of office managerial responsibilities at a law firm, such as developing, implementing and maintaining resources, financial planning, and management processes. Establish and administer human resources processes and systems
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Daryo
: closest
1 hr
|
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Lepo hvala, merci and thanks.
|
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| agree |
Angelo Berbotto
: As Adrian has stated, the practice manager is the person that looks after the administrative side of the firm (annual leave, secretarial staff, suppliers, etc), but in my experience they are not usually listed on websites or stationary in ENG & AUS firms
5 hrs
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Thanks, Angelo. Only problem is it's (professionally examined) 'Senior Clerk' in a set of E& W and query: Aussie Barrister's Chambers.
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| agree |
Jennifer Levey
: Yes - and more likely a well-qualified accountant, rather than a lawyer.
5 hrs
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Thanks, Jennifer. The Practice Managers I've known have been a qualified Solicitor and legally unqualified French & Spanish language grad. who, as a London Inn of Court ex-secretary, happened to be 'in with the incrowd' of breakaway Barristers' Chambers.
|
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| neutral |
philgoddard
: I know your predilection for 19th-century English, but "manageress"?
10 hrs
|
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I've worked in Swinging Sixties' London with a hotel, restaurant, cinema and department store manageress. Think Women's Lib. and think women's rights !
|
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| agree |
Julie Barber
: Following on from Lara's comment, how about Operations Manager?
13 hrs
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Thanks, Julie. I'll include Legal Ops. Manager/ess for US Am. consumption.
|
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| neutral |
Lara Barnett
: For UK this is incorrect. Here, a "practice manager" is well known to be a role in healthcare only - although if you stressed "legal practice manager" it could be understood.// As I said, it makes a difference to stress "LEGAL practice Mgr."
16 hrs
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Thanks, Laura. I had been taught law at London Uni. by a Solicitor once appointed Practice Manager of a well-known firm on Picadilly, plus - as mentioned - know an Inn of Court secretary apptd. PrM to skip clerking exams// The former yes. The latter no.
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4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "I have to admit that I copped out a bit on this one. Given that the firm operates across several countries, I was tempted by "Group Manager", but in the end I went for just "Manager". "Group COO" as per Julie's comment probably fits better...but we translators get bogged down in these details...nobody is ready the document to see who is in charge, seriously! (Not in this case, anyway.) Thanks to all! "
-1
10 mins
Francois Boye
United States
United States
Native in French
United States
An economic geek with social skills
Native in: French 
Works in: English to French, French to English, Spanish to English, and 1 more.
Related KudoZ points
:
39
French term (edited):
SECRETAIRE GENERAL
company secretary
Company Secretary
A Company Secretary is a senior position in a private sector company or public sector organisation. Also known as Compliance Officers, it is one of the positions that is a part of the key managerial personnel (which usually includes the CEO & CFO) of any company. In large American and Canadian publicly listed corporations, a Company Secretary is typically named a Corporate Secretary. A Company Secretary is responsible for the efficient administration of a company, particularly with regard to ensuring compliance with statutory and regulatory requirements and for ensuring that decisions of the board of directors are implemented.
A Company Secretary is a senior position in a private sector company or public sector organisation. Also known as Compliance Officers, it is one of the positions that is a part of the key managerial personnel (which usually includes the CEO & CFO) of any company. In large American and Canadian publicly listed corporations, a Company Secretary is typically named a Corporate Secretary. A Company Secretary is responsible for the efficient administration of a company, particularly with regard to ensuring compliance with statutory and regulatory requirements and for ensuring that decisions of the board of directors are implemented.
Peer comment(s):
| neutral |
Barbara Carrara
: That's what Conor suggested himself, Wiki ref. included. So why offer it as an answer? Couldn't you have made your point in the Disc. box instead? Asking for a friend.
10 mins
|
| agree |
Bourth
: Often sharing a hat with General Counsel.
2 hrs
|
| disagree |
Daryo
: as per your own reference: "in a private sector company or public sector organisation" // a partnership is neither of them //"A law firm is a company in the US" THAT would be an astonishing piece of news for a lot of US law practices made of "partners"!!!
4 hrs
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A law firm is a company in the US.
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| disagree |
Angelo Berbotto
: This only works if the business structure of a law firm is a company. Careful with this!
7 hrs
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US law fims are companies
|
Reference comments
1 hr
Marco Solinas
Native in English
Accurate, professional translations
Native in: English , Italian
Works in: Italian to English, French to English
Related KudoZ points
:
19
Reference:
Job descriptions
Here are the links to two of many sites that describe the functions of a "secrétaire général" in a law firm: https://www.carrieres-juridiques.com/actualites-et-conseils-... , https://www.vindazo.fr/job/viewjob/20358241/secretaire-gener... .
Many more can be found by searching for "secrétaire général" + "cabinet d'avocats".
Some of these sites translate the title as "office manager", which I find unconvincing.
Many more can be found by searching for "secrétaire général" + "cabinet d'avocats".
Some of these sites translate the title as "office manager", which I find unconvincing.
Note from asker:
| Thanks Marco, that's a very straightforward but highly effective way of approaching the question. But, as far as I can see, this person is responsible for seven offices, one of which is very far away from France, so Office Manager doesn't work in that context. |
Peer comments on this reference comment:
| agree |
philgoddard
: I don't find "office manager" unconvincing - it's the person in charge of administration. "General secretary" is the other obvious choice.
2 mins
|
| agree |
writeaway
5 mins
|
16 hrs
Julie Barber
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
Native in English
Works in field
United Kingdom
Related KudoZ points
:
75
Reference:
More background
SECRÉTAIRE GÉNÉRAL DE CABINET D’AVOCATS : FOCUS SUR LE MÉTIER ET SON ÉVOLUTION.
Laurine Tavitian : En quoi consiste le métier de secrétaire général ou d’office manager de cabinet ? Existe-t-il une différence entre les deux ?
https://www.village-justice.com/articles/Secretaire-general-...
COM'SG
est un Cercle qui rassemble les Office Managers, Secrétaires Généraux et Directeurs Généraux des cabinets d’avocats.
COM’SG a vocation à être un espace d’échanges et de partage d’expérience.
https://comsg.eu/
Laurine Tavitian : En quoi consiste le métier de secrétaire général ou d’office manager de cabinet ? Existe-t-il une différence entre les deux ?
https://www.village-justice.com/articles/Secretaire-general-...
COM'SG
est un Cercle qui rassemble les Office Managers, Secrétaires Généraux et Directeurs Généraux des cabinets d’avocats.
COM’SG a vocation à être un espace d’échanges et de partage d’expérience.
https://comsg.eu/
Discussion
So why don't I cop out of the question too and just say "Manager"? (A friend in a completely different line of work used to have the single-word job title "Gérant".)
Thanks for your help, in any case.
Possibly about 100 "Collaborateurs" are listed, so I assume from that and from the names of the staff memebers and the locations of the seven offices that all the partnership's employees worldwide are listed, and that thus the "secrétaire général" is responsible for all of them.
***
I also found Chief Administrative Officer:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chief_administrative_officer#:...
"A CAO is responsible for administrative management of private, public or governmental organizations and the ***de facto head of the organization***."