For a growing number of corporate counsel, the line between the personal and professional has become as blurry as the answer to this seemingly straightforward question: Should in-house legal leaders take public stances on controversial social issues?

“The question itself reflects the changing nature of the general counsel role. It’s gone beyond legal advice and compliance to being really a broad counselor to the corporation and the CEO,” said Eric Greenberg, executive VP, general counsel and corporate secretary at Atlanta-based Cox Media Group.