what makes a good inhouse attorney

by Violette Weimann 10 min read

What Makes a Successful In-House Counsel?

  1. Join a business that you admire. Working as in-house counsel means that you not only need to know the law, but you...
  2. Don’t lose your credibility. Keep your credibility. The advice that you are giving can hold the fate of the company...
  3. Communicate. When people come to you with suggestions and requests, be sure to listen...

To equip themselves for the waves of change in the future, in-house counsel should develop five key skills: technological competence, emotional intelligence, communication skills, creativity, and learning agility.Jun 15, 2021

Full Answer

What do in-house lawyers need to be successful?

Looking from the outside in, it seems to me that good in-house counsel do two things: They’re good at applying the 80/20 rule. What I mean by that is for 80% of issues they’re helping their organisation by... They build strong internal relationships so have …

What are the benefits of having an in-house attorney?

What Makes a Successful In-House Counsel? 1. Join a business that you admire. Working as in-house counsel means that you not only need to know the law, but you... 2. Don’t lose your credibility. Keep your credibility. The advice that you are giving can hold the fate of the company... 3. Communicate. ...

What makes a good in-house counsel?

Sep 20, 2013 · Based on feedback from our clients, we developed a list of additional traits that in-house counsel must master to be considered a “charismatic” and respected in-house attorney: Show your enthusiasm for the company you are part of and the team you work with. This is the number one requirement for... ...

Does your company need in-house legal counsel?

Mar 28, 2017 · Here are the key skills and capabilities that an in-house attorney needs to be successful that doesn’t get taught in law school, or in most firms: Business comes first At a firm, you succeed by having a grasp on your clients’ businesses—now, you need to really to start soaking in a genuine understanding of the business.

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What Makes a Successful in-house lawyer?

The same things that make a good lawyer generally: a creative, problem-solving mindset, a drive to keep on learning and growing, good listening skills, empathy, and a willingness not only to question and challenge but also to take ownership. The most effective in-house lawyers I know have all these in spades.

How do I get better at in-house counsel?

Attorneys applying for an in-house role and preparing for the interview.Build Relationships. ... Ensure Clarity of Expectations. ... Understand Your Role. ... Learn the Business and Its Culture. ... Reset Your Perfectionist Tendencies. ... Be Practical, Creative and Clear. ... You Are Now Part of a Larger Team.More items...•Aug 12, 2021

What is expected from in-house counsel?

The ability to build and maintain strong professional relationships across the business. The ability to communicate complex legal issues and risks in terms that non-legal colleagues can understand. The ability to work in a highly autonomous role.Jul 21, 2021

What personality does a lawyer need to have?

Lawyers tend to be predominantly enterprising individuals, which means that they are usually quite natural leaders who thrive at influencing and persuading others. They also tend to be investigative, which means that they are quite inquisitive and curious people that often like to spend time alone with their thoughts.

What makes a great general counsel?

An effective general counsel is creative in identifying proactive solutions to eliminate or mitigate risks and advance the business. A non-strategic lawyer will make decisions too early or too late in the process and miss potential solutions. ... A general counsel must also be a leader and a visionary.

How do I succeed as general counsel?

Are you a new General Counsel? Top ten ways to succeed in your new roleGet to know your stakeholders. ... Get to know your internal clients and their teams. ... Know and assess your team. ... Look for ways to let your talent thrive. ... Learn your company's business. ... Understand your company's culture. ... Assess your law firm relationships.More items...

What does a in-house counsel do?

In an in-house role, you will be involved in transactions, compliance, systems and litigation. Though there may be different lawyers representing the company in the court, you will be involved in framing the litigation strategy and must therefore, understand how litigation works as well.Jan 24, 2021

What does a head of legal do?

The Head of Legal is tasked with analyzing and identifying the legal risks and implications of all of the business's transactions, keeping the senior management in all departments of the business informed of developments in laws and regulations that potentially affect the business.

What does an in-house legal team do?

At its heart, the in-house legal team is there to ensure that accountable decisions are taken at the right level and function in the organisation, and that the individual's making those decisions are suitably informed about the level of legal risk inherent in them.

How do you know if you'd make a good lawyer?

You work well with others. That's right—being a lawyer means working with people! ... You can persuade others. The ability to persuade=the practice of law. ... You are independent and self-disciplined. ... You can endure the grind. ... You don't take things at face value. ... You must be able to network.Sep 9, 2019

What are your strengths as a lawyer?

Below are ten traits that are common to the best lawyers in the United States.Passion for the Job. ... Compassion for Clients. ... Great Communication Skills. ... Willingness to Listen. ... Knowledge of the Law. ... Strong Writing Ability. ... Creativity. ... Good Judgment.More items...•Jun 17, 2019

What are the weaknesses of a lawyer?

Disadvantages of Being an AttorneyLawyers often work long hours.You will often no longer have a life apart from work.Clients can be quite demanding.Working climate may be rather bad.You may get sued.Law school can cost a fortune.Digitalization is a threat to lawyers.More items...