In-House Counsel

3 Must-Have Qualities For The Modern In-House Counsel

In-house counsel must remain flexible in order to meet the changing demands of the role.

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I am often asked: “What qualities describe a modern in-house lawyer?” If I were to answer honestly, I’d put on my lawyer hat and say “Well, it depends.” That’s because increasingly, many qualities are needed for an effective, modern in-house counsel, and they vary across industries, seniority, and geography. Below are just some of the qualities that, in my experience, have been most common.

Show Up As Your Authentic Self

A modern in-house counsel shows up authentically and encourages everyone around them to do the same.

“Don’t choose a company. Choose a manager that you will enjoy working with, who will develop you, and with whom you can show up authentically every day.” This is hands down among the best professional advice I have ever received.

Here are some qualities I look for in a manager:

  • She is trustworthy, honest, and open
  • She is transparent about who she is and what she cares about
  • She shares her gifts and strengths
  • She can be vulnerable
  • She knows herself well
  • She does not need to be — or try to be — someone she is not
  • She makes it safe for others to show up authentically at work

This “showing up authentically every day” part is critical. Working with someone who is clipping your wings daily is … well, painful!

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This is why I loved my conversation with Andrea Alexander. Her observations about “showing up authentically every day” are spot on.

Leverage Technology To Increase Impact And Have A Seat At The Table

A modern in-house counsel is tech competent, if not savvy. She leverages technology to work efficiently and to increase her impact. If and when she does, she’ll find that she’s that much more likely to have a seat at the table.

Current events have accelerated this trend.

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COVID-19 accelerated the reality of remote work arrangements abruptly and impatiently like a mother bird pushes a baby out of the nest. When employees crave order and consistency, tech provides dependable direction.

Project management tools support remote coordination of tasks. Automatic notifications inspire fast action and move projects along. Everyone stays in the loop through informative dashboards.

Digital frameworks can provide a strong sense of structure, inclusion, and consistency. That’s essential for any effective in-house counsel.

Build Modern Legal Departments

An investment — of time, energy, and resources — in yourself, your staff, and your tools will return the highest dividends. That’s why the increasingly complex and essential role of overseeing legal operations is critical.

Actively and intentionally building a legal operations function is a focus for many modern in-house counsels. Recently, I caught up with Rachita Maker of Tata Communications to talk about:

  • What role does tech play in the legal department?
  • How much should lawyers invest in legal tech?
  • How can legal operations facilitate better implementation?

The role of the in-house counsel is constantly changing, along with the workplace (and worldly) realities around it. It’s a flexible position in many ways, but it’s one that, if done right, can have a huge impact.

Olga V. Mack is the CEO of Parley Pro, a next-generation contract management company that has pioneered online negotiation technology. Olga embraces legal innovation and had dedicated her career to improving and shaping the future of law. She is convinced that the legal profession will emerge even stronger, more resilient, and more inclusive than before by embracing technology. Olga is also an award-winning general counsel, operations professional, startup advisor, public speaker, adjunct professor, and entrepreneur. She founded the Women Serve on Boards movement that advocates for women to participate on corporate boards of Fortune 500 companies. She authored Get on Board: Earning Your Ticket to a Corporate Board Seat and Fundamentals of Smart Contract Security. You can follow Olga on Twitter @olgavmack.

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