Deep frustration among deputy general counsel over their career prospects stems in large part from the growing gulf between their day-to-day responsibilities and those of GC, many of whom now see business adviser as their primary role, consultants and in-house attorneys say.

A study released last week by the legal service provider Axiom and Wakefield Research threw a shocking spotlight on that dissatisfaction, finding that 94% of the 200 deputy GCs surveyed believe their current employer doesn’t provide them the opportunity to develop all the skills required to become a GCs. Twenty-seven percent of respondents said they were not satisfied with their current roles, and 65% said they were likely to look for new positions in the next year.