In-House Counsel

How Can You Tell Someone's An Attorney? Don't Worry, We'll Let You Know

Do we as attorneys play the "I'm a lawyer" card too often, in a way that alienates our colleagues?

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‘Did I mention that I’m an attorney?’

The following are direct quotes from recent meetings I have attended within my company:

“Well, it’s been awhile since my last Torts Class, but…”

“I haven’t cracked open my Federal Rules of Evidence in a couple years, but I recall…”

“That reminds me of this one time in law school when…”

“Great point, I’d gladly argue it to a judge.”

Each of these statements were offered in company meetings in the presence of legal and non-legal colleagues alike. I’ll refrain from admitting which one of the above statements I made, but I will say it’s tough to remember all of the exceptions to the rule against hearsay.

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Whether we were not hugged enough as children, or we feel inferior to that sister of ours who went on to get her medical degree, by and large most attorneys I have encountered have no problem letting you know they went to law school within minutes of meeting them. This is especially apparent working in-house, where attorneys may often bear titles that do not immediately denote their legal training.

From Director of Risk to the ubiquitous Compliance Officer, such titles do not immediately denote our legal pedigree. Which is where our pride steps in to ensure we inform the public at large of our accomplishments.

If you are scratching your head asking why it is a problem to remind people you went to law school every once in a while, I don’t blame you. In fact, until recently, I was a guilty culprit myself. That is, until a non-legal colleague of mine bluntly said, “I get it, you went to law school,” after yet another one of my thinly veiled references to being an attorney.

You see, where I thought the references to my education helped bolster my credentials on a particular issue, he thought they made me sound arrogant and pompous. Fair point. After all, those who work with or around me likely knew I was an attorney. For Pete’s sake, we hang our diplomas on the wall.

Although working in-house is not some sort of a popularity contest where it is necessary to be liked by everyone, it is important to be respected and trusted by your colleagues. If you appear to be driven by ego and self-promotion in every encounter, your non-legal colleagues will be far less likely to approach you for your counsel in the future. And if your colleagues are not willing to approach you about an issue of potential legal import, what value can you really add as in-house?

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Think I am exaggerating? Ask yourself, when is the last time you reached out to the gunner in your class? Exactly.

I admit it is difficult to not want to assert a bit of dominance over a non-legal colleague in a meeting when discussing a legal issue. And yes, the easiest way to do that is to play your lawyer card right out of the gate — but it certainly does not engender any goodwill from your colleagues.

Instead, try persuading those colleagues with the merits of your own argument without immediately defaulting to your credentials. Your non-legal colleagues will appreciate being treated like equals and may just seek you out for future counsel on a more frequent basis.

And if you don’t succeed at convincing your colleagues when they are clearly in the wrong, then, and only then, should you play that magic lawyer card.

Stephen R. Williams is in-house counsel with a multi-facility hospital network in the Midwest. His column focuses on a little talked about area of the in-house life, management. You can reach Stephen at stephenwilliamsjd@gmail.com.

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