Five Important Skills For The In-House Counsel Of The Future

For years, in-house lawyers, sometimes known as corporation counsels, were employed primarily based on their legal knowledge. The abilities required of in-house lawyers, however, are changing. What used to suffice in private practices is no longer sufficient in-house, as rapid changes, increasing business needs, remote workforces, worldwide regulatory concerns, and the pandemic all combine to bring about new and distinct issues.
The role of attorneys in companies’ legal departments has changed in recent years, particularly with the advent of digitalization. In-house attorneys who wish to flourish must go beyond their specializations. In these turbulent times, in-house counselling requires a new set of abilities that will allow lawyers to function as trusted consultants for their clients. To satisfy the evolving needs of the job, in-house counsel must stay adaptable. This post will also go over five critical abilities that in-house counsel must hone to be well-prepared to assist their firm in the future.

Humility

The most effective leaders recognize that there’s still more to learn. They embrace an attitude rooted in growth, constantly acquiring new substantive skills while remaining aware of how they present themselves and how their actions affect others. Leaders who see setbacks as learning opportunities and criticisms as gifts can inspire and encourage whole companies. As a leader, you require an ongoing virtuous cycle from your employer, essential stakeholders, and team members to attain a comprehensive picture of your leadership attributes. Uncertainty is a blind spot that undermines what you and your colleagues strive to accomplish.

Creativity

Lawyers aren’t often considered creative. Many in-house attorneys are hesitant to venture outside the box or suggest fresh ideas because they’ve been taught to follow tradition. As a result, young attorneys in corporate legal departments may be too afraid to propose new solutions to old problems. In certain circumstances, attorneys may be too busy to develop novel ideas or answers, so they return to tried-and-true ways.
In-house counsel must learn how to think in different ways, however, not simply approaching any problems linearly; this will assist their businesses in harnessing the potential of innovation effectively. They must challenge the way things have traditionally been done and seek out new approaches to completing tasks. They must also understand the importance of collaborations with individuals who process information differently, such as legal technologists and various legal service providers.

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Thinking creatively about the law is where legal innovation begins. In this highly interactive session by Tessa Manuello, you will understand the principles of creativity and innovation, as well as strategies for seizing new opportunities in our modern, fast-paced, and technological world.

Agility In Learning

As business is becoming further digitized, in-house counsel should anticipate these changes, incorporating the new technological, business, and legal approaches into their practices. Today, lawyers are not just expected to provide advice to safeguard the firm but also to develop new methods to produce value for the company. As the business changes, attorneys must adopt new skill sets. In-house lawyers must be able and willing to learn from experiences and apply what they’ve learned to new situations.

As legal work grows increasingly complicated and technologically intensive, in-house counsel should embrace learning opportunities rather than avoid them. Though it may be difficult for attorneys to step outside of their comfort zones, one method for becoming more agile is to view novel work as a positive reinforcer, self-reflect on any errors made, and course-correct deliberately to prepare for the next teachable moment.

Influencing Skills

This may be referred to as “political skills,” “emotional intelligence,” or “strong bargaining skills” by others. With limited funds and the significant obligation of controlling the entirety of a company’s risk, attorneys must persuade and leverage other leaders, departments, and, eventually, all workers to “get stuff done” and accomplish their mandates. People must trust you if you want to influence them, and they must believe two things to trust you: (1) that you care for them and (2) that you are receptive to their influence. Good listening skills, compassion, and curiosity are essential for in-house counsel to develop organizational influence.

Clear Communication

In-house counsel may confer with several audiences on any given day, ranging from C-suite managers and corporate boards to entry-level employees. There is a perpetual slew of fresh faces in the corporate legal department, including legal operations managers, project managers, and technical specialists. Lawyers must learn how to communicate their messages to these diverse groups while utilizing proper, understandable language. They must also decide how much information to share — and with whom and when and how to provide it.
To prepare for the future, in-house counsel should be developing new skills. The future may be unknown, though one thing is certain: the law profession is not becoming simpler. To practice law in a continuously changing environment, in-house attorneys must begin to develop the necessary skills — technological competency, interpersonal skills, clear communication, innovation, and learning agility. As technology continues to digitize the profession of law, in-house counsel must keep current on the latest and best technologies, assessing how to use them for their organizations in strategic and cost-effective ways.