Why are in-house lawyers well-placed to drive change in their organisations?

With a deep understanding of internal customer and business values, in-house lawyers use observation and active listening skills; and, as members of multidisciplinary teams, they have a 360-degree view of the organisation and access to information that enables them to identify areas for improvement or innovation. This promotes the implementation of internal policy improvements, the development of training processes or the identification of the need for new technologies. Finally, in-house counsel can facilitate continuous updating and integration of emerging trends that affect and transform the organisation.

How important is choosing to work with external lawyers who align with your company’s values? Are you likely to reconsider what firms you work with based on this?

It is crucial to collaborate with outside attorneys who comprehend, adopt and implement the corporate values of their clients. External attorneys participate in extremely intricate proceedings, not just because of the economic ramifications they bring, but also due to the impact on their client’s image and the dependability of their guidance. Accordingly, they must have the capacity to integrate their client’s principles into the management of the issues they handle. Their voice and opinion directly impact decision making and the definition of strategies to resolve consulted matters that necessitates sensitivity in their advice. Involvement based on values creates a network of trust that aids in-house counsel management and ultimately benefits their clients. This plays a crucial role in hiring decisions.