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Big companies have a general counsel — a lawyer down the hall who knows the business, reviews the contracts, answers the “can we do this?” questions, and spots problems while they’re still small. Most small and mid-sized businesses can’t justify that salary. But they face the same legal questions, often weekly.
General legal counsel/CLO support from Compass Legal, PLLC closes that gap. We serve as your outside general legal counsel/CLO: an attorney who knows your business and is available when you need one, at a fraction of the cost of in-house counsel. From our office in Carrollton, we support business owners across Dallas, Denton, Collin, and Tarrant counties. Book a consultation or call (972) 292-8151 to see whether it fits your business.
Outside general legal counsel/CLO (Chief Legal Officer) is an ongoing relationship with a law firm that functions like your in-house legal department — without the in-house payroll. Instead of hiring a lawyer only when something has already gone wrong, you have continuing access to attorneys who already know your entity structure, your contracts, your people, and your plans.
That last part is the point. Legal advice is only as good as the lawyer’s understanding of your business. A lawyer seeing your company for the first time has to reconstruct context before they can help. Your general counsel already has it — so answers come faster, cost less, and fit your actual situation.
We tailor each engagement to the business, but the core of the role typically covers:
Because the timing of legal advice determines its cost. The same question — “Can I let this employee go?” “Should I sign this lease?” “What do I owe this vendor if I cancel?” — is inexpensive to answer before you act and expensive to litigate after.
Crisis-driven legal help has a built-in flaw: by the time you call, the options have narrowed and the price has gone up. Worse, owners who associate lawyers with emergencies tend to avoid calling at all — and small, fixable issues quietly compound into disputes.
General counsel support reverses that incentive. When asking your lawyer a question is easy and expected, you ask early. Most of what we do for general counsel clients is exactly this: ten-minute conversations that prevent ten-month problems. We don’t just handle cases. We help people move forward — and for a business, moving forward means most legal problems never happen.
The difference shows up in three places:
You’ll also work with a consistent team. Compass Legal’s attorneys — Angela McMurry, Magali Martinez, and Kelli Trujillo, supported by senior paralegal Ashtyn Anders-Tapp and paralegal Alejandra Alvarez — keep your matters with people who know you and your company, not whoever happens to be available.
When legal questions have become a regular feature of running the business rather than a rare event. Signals that you’re there:
If two or more of those sound familiar, the math has probably already tipped in favor of ongoing counsel.
No — that’s exactly the gap this model fills. Outside general legal counsel/CLO services scale to your actual needs: a few matters a month for a smaller business, a deeper ongoing role for a growing one. You get in-house-style access and familiarity without in-house overhead, and the engagement adjusts as the business does.
Many clients start with a single project — a formation, a contract stack review — and transition into general counsel support once they’ve seen how we work. Others start the relationship here. Either path begins the same way: a conversation about your business and what’s keeping you up at night.
The best time to build a relationship with a business attorney is before the crisis, not during it. Let’s talk about what general legal counsel/CLO support would look like for your company — what’s included, what it costs, and whether it makes sense for your stage.
A full-time in-house attorney means a six-figure salary plus benefits — far beyond what most small businesses can justify. Outside general legal counsel/CLO delivers the same kind of ongoing, business-aware legal support scaled to your actual volume of needs, typically at a small fraction of that cost. We structure each engagement around your business during a free consultation, so pricing is clear before you commit.
Almost anything touching your business: contracts you’re asked to sign, employment and contractor questions, compliance and entity filings, vendor disputes, payment problems, partnership issues, and strategic decisions like expansion or bringing in an investor. If a matter requires a specialist — say, a patent filing — we’ll tell you, and help you find and manage the right one.
Engagements are structured to give you predictable, built-in access rather than metering every question by the minute — the structure depends on your business’s size and legal volume. The goal is to remove the hesitation that keeps owners from calling early. We’ll walk through the options and recommend a structure in a free consultation.
We focus first on keeping you out of disputes — early intervention, demand letters, and negotiation resolve most issues before they escalate. When a conflict hardens, Compass Legal also offers mediation, which frequently resolves business disputes faster and at lower cost than litigation. And because we know your business and contracts already, any dispute response starts with full context instead of a learning curve.
The signal isn’t revenue; it’s frequency. If you’re regularly signing contracts, managing employees or contractors, or making decisions with legal consequences — and especially if you’ve skipped calling a lawyer because of cost — ongoing counsel likely already pays for itself in problems avoided. Many of our general legal counsel/CLO clients are small teams; what they share is recurring legal questions.
No. Many clients begin with a single project — an entity formation, a contract review, a cleanup of their core agreements — and move into ongoing general legal counsel/CLO support once the relationship proves its value. We’d rather earn the long-term role than require it. Start with a case review/consultation and we’ll recommend the right entry point.
Angela is an outstanding family law attorney. Not only does she really know the law inside out, she is compassionate and gets to know her clients intimately, to better be able to serve them. She is ethical and works diligently to achieve the best possible outcome for those she represents. I am grateful for Angela’s professionalism, swift responses, attention to details and being proactive in always communicating next steps in a clear and concise manner. She made a very stressful divorce process less daunting. She was collaborative, efficient and kinds throughout the process and her communication was stellar. Angela was a great recourse on questions pertaining not only to the divorce at hand, but the process as a whole. She took the time to explain the logistics of navigating the judicial system, in detail. This is a rare gift that eliminates stress, money waste and guess work. Angela did a fabulous job of understanding what my own priorities were and helping me find the best way to patiently work through the process to achieve those goals. I feel that with Angela as my attorney, I received excellent legal representation. Her professionalism is remarkable, along with her knowledge and execution of the law. This was an extremely sensitive and emotional time in my life and Angela handled this case from beginning to end with grace and professionalism in every aspect. I feel that when people are faced with the fear of the unknown and are then given a sense of peace throughout this unfamiliar legal process, then they have found the correct Legal Representation. I definitely found just that in Angela and for that I’m grateful. I’m moving forward with my new life on a very positive note, knowing that I was represented by the most professional and well-rounded attorney that anyone could ever ask for. You can take comfort in knowing that if you retain Angela for your legal needs, you have hired THE VERY BEST !! Angela projects a calm confidence in every situation and that’s clearly a result of the dedication, preparation, and experience that she put into representing her clients. She guided me through an extremely difficult and foreign process. She did not flinch when it was time to give me tough feedback and her advice and support has been right on the money. I feel blessed to be working with Angela as she had my back from day one. I would recommend Angela to people ready to be honest to themselves and to do what’s best for their families. Conscientious, smart, excellent trial lawyer. Ethical, honest and knowledgeable, Outstanding. Great advice. Informative, patient and transparent and keep me up to date on the process. Makes the process as stress-free and straightforward as possible. Thoughtful and detailed
Angela represented me in a very difficult and uncommon family case involving complex out-of-state issues. It was an emotionally challenging situation with many moving parts, and I truly appreciate the professionalism, dedication, and steady guidance she brought to the process. My case was not typical, and there were layers of complexity that I imagine are not encountered every day, yet she handled it with experience, composure, and persistence. I know that both Angela and Ashtyn worked extremely hard behind the scenes on my behalf. Their effort, preparation, and attention to detail did not go unnoticed, especially given how stressful and high-stakes the situation was for me and my family. Navigating a case like this requires not only legal skill but also patience and resilience, and I am grateful for the work they put in throughout the process. I was ultimately able to achieve the outcome I had hoped for, which meant a great deal to me. Having strong representation during such a vulnerable time made an important difference. Ashtyn was also an invaluable part of the team. This case was very emotionally taxing, and her support helped keep communication calm, organized, and manageable when things felt overwhelming. She was responsive, reassuring, and helped maintain a sense of stability during a very uncertain period. While no legal process is ever easy, I appreciate the professionalism, time, and effort both Angela and Ashtyn invested in my case. I am thankful for their work and the role they played in helping me move forward.
I highly recommend Angela for legal services. I’ve consulted with her on both family legal concerns and business-related matters, and each experience has strengthened my confidence in her professionalism and legal expertise. What stands out most about Angela is her honest, straightforward communication and practical approach. She takes the time to walk through realistic scenarios and potential outcomes so you fully understand your options before moving forward. That level of transparency earned my trust and appreciation for how she approaches her work. Angela strongly advocates for her clients’ best interests. She provides thoughtful, well-informed guidance and is responsive when questions arise, always following up with clear explanations and practical recommendations. If you’re looking for a knowledgeable, professional, and trustworthy attorney who communicates clearly and focuses on practical solutions, I confidently recommend Angela.
Angela at Compass Legal is not only an excellent attorney but also someone who genuinely cares about the people she serves. She listened carefully, and answered all my questions patiently. Her integrity and dedication truly stand out. I’m so grateful for her guidance and would trust her again without hesitation.
Magali has my full trust, and I wouldn’t want anyone else on my team. Her dedication and attention to detail in my case have gone far beyond my expectations. She took the time to walk me through every step of the process and has always been straightforward and honest.
I’ve had the privilege of seeing her in the courtroom, and all I can say is I’m grateful she’s on my side. She helped me set court ordered boundaries that keep my family safe and healthy, and she truly cares about the best interests of my daughter.
If you are thinking whether Compass Legal is the right fit for you, all I can say is they gave me peace of mind during one of the most difficult times in my life.
Angela is an amazing lawyer and has helped me with many legal matters. I trust her judgment and advice. She is easy to talk to and I always feel like she has my best interest at heart. I would recommend her to anyone that needs a great lawyer!!
Angela has proven to be very dedicated to her craft. She is knowledgeable and relates well with those she represents. I’d highly recommend her for her honesty and skillful representation.
Schedule a confidential consultation with Compass Legal, PLLC to discuss your family or business law matter and receive clear, strategic guidance tailored to your goals, challenges, and next steps.
(972) 292-8151