Moving in-house: 5 skills of the successful in-house lawyer

About the Role of an In-House Lawyer

One of the key reasons lawyers in private practice wish to move in-house is to have a closer involvement with internal clients and the business. This role explores some of the key skills needed to successfully support the business.

Key Skills

Combining legal advice with company-specific know-how is crucial. Internal clients expect in-house lawyers to provide reliable and pragmatic legal advice and an exact understanding of company-specific know-how. Developing an understanding of the internal know-how accounts for a significant portion of the knowledge needed to effectively advise the business.

A successful in-house lawyer is a skilled synthesizer, translating and distilling multiple advice into clear, actionable, and unambiguous legal advice. They must also understand business priorities, combining specialist advice with being the first port of call for generalist advice.

In-house lawyers must speak the language of the business, adopting and mirroring the precise language of the business, and ensuring that the client feels understood. This includes being able to communicate complex ideas in a visually resonant manner, such as through PowerPoint and Excel.

Responsibilities

• Providing reliable and pragmatic legal advice
• Developing an understanding of company-specific know-how
• Translating and distilling multiple advice into clear, actionable legal advice
• Understanding business priorities and combining specialist advice with generalist advice
• Communicating complex ideas in a visually resonant manner

Qualifications and Skills

A successful in-house lawyer must have a deep understanding of the business and its priorities, as well as the ability to communicate complex ideas in a clear and concise manner. They must also be able to synthesize multiple advice and provide actionable legal advice.

In addition to legal expertise, in-house lawyers must have strong problem-solving skills, be able to work closely with internal clients, and have a strong understanding of the industry in which the organization operates.