10 Attributes Found in Great In-House Lawyers
/Industry experience is important when considering candidates for in-house counsel, but it can only take you so far. These are the traits that separate adequate from great.
Recruiters tend to become excited when they come across a resume featuring a prestigious Ivy League law school and experience at a well-to-do law firm. But the fact of the matter is, you can’t base your hiring decisions on a candidate’s functional expertise or resume alone and expect them to be a natural fit for a company. This is because the attributes that make someone a stand-out general counsel or in-house lawyer are most often innate and not always acquired during time spent at school, previous firms, or other in-house positions.
So, how do you identify successful, long-term hires if you can’t rely on a resume?
Here are the top 10 attributes to look for when hiring in-house counsel:
Communication skills: Having good communication skills is imperative for a good attorney, and while the basis for these skills are generally instinctive, they should be actively practiced, honed, and tailored for a diverse audience. Remember, your in-house counsel will regularly interact with people across the entire organization – up, down, and across it – and they must be able to translate legal speak into plain words.
Values relationships: Your in-house counsel will depend on the knowledge of people throughout the organization, in a multitude of departments. Having strong working relationships will allow for a more thorough understanding of how the business works which will make it easier to advise on current and potential matters. It will also help to engender trust which is critical to being an effective counselor. Additionally, they must be able to treat everyone, from administrative personnel to high-level stakeholders, with dignity and respect.
Approachability: An effective in-house counsel contributes to or creates a culture that values honest, two-way communication. Clients cannot be afraid to raise legal issues and they must feel comfortable asking questions and communicating bad news to the in-house lawyer. If bad news isn't elevated to the attorney because of a fear of reprisal or another negative reaction, then it puts the company in jeopardy. An open-door policy that puts clients at ease is essential to the bottom line.
Proactive & Strategic: Truly great in-house lawyers are a valued part of the business team and are able to identify business opportunities using a legal lens. Lawyers who are proactive and strategic are able to preemptively anticipate issues before they arise, articulate potential risks to the business, and allow the business to make an informed judgment about how to handle a matter based on the risk. The ability to identify looming issues but design proactive solutions to help remove or mitigate risks are critical skills. In-house attorneys who lack them will miss opportunities because they tend to deal with issues as they arise – which is often too late.
Good business judgment: Not every attorney has great legal judgment but of course, many do. What sets excellent in-house counsel apart from other lawyers is the ability to frame their decisions within the context of what is good business for the company they represent. For example, smart business decisions may involve a degree of calculated and acceptable risk that an attorney might advise against in other settings; and in-house counsel must also be able to recognize risks that are unacceptable because they may have downstream business effects.
Works well under pressure: A lot of lawyers have a glamorous view of the in-house life, but as I like to remind them: “When you are at a firm, you are insulated from the client; when you are in-house, you share your office with the client. You must be able to think on your feet.” Moreover, the client is not looking for a detailed memo from the in-house lawyer, but rather actionable advice. The ability to handle a diverse number of highly complex, mission critical, and sensitive matters quickly and provide leadership on the direction to take are skills that separate the good lawyers from the great ones.
Natural leader (aka Executive Presence): The best in-house lawyers act with the highest levels of integrity, a key component to displaying dynamic leadership. They will be regularly faced with hard decisions and challenges, and people need to trust that the most ethical course of action will always be taken. In addition, good attorneys know how to command a room and the best of them can naturally motivate and inspire team members.
Decisiveness: Top-tier lawyers are able to cut through conversational clutter and implement a streamlined approach to decision-making. This allows them to avoid the stagnancy associated with too much analysis and act decisively. The ability to quickly make decisions with conviction, however, should not translate to cutting corners or being hasty. This skill should be built on a foundation of profound business knowledge and confidence in their ability to get to the meat of an issue, take action, and then move on.
Thoughtfully inquisitive: Critical thinking after asking the right questions and attentively considering each answer is a key skill for any lawyer. Whether it’s to gain a better understanding of a role or business practice, or when addressing a particular legal issue, thoughtful lines of questioning succinctly marry different perspectives and allow for holistic understanding.
Appetite for learning: While personal attributes are essential in making attorneys successful in in-house roles, it is just as important that they are acutely interested in learning about the inner workings of the company. Having a firm understanding of the business and how it operates is necessary to learn the language and provide tailored analyses and solutions.
If your company is considering candidates for in-house counsel, do your best to look beyond a prestigious education and work history – also evaluate the cultural fit. Keep these soft skills in mind and design interview questions to help you identify them. In doing so, you will vastly improve the chances of building a top-notch team of legal professionals that people in your company are excited to work alongside.
Carrington Legal Search is devoted to finding the ideal candidates for our clients’ recruitment needs. We have experience in all industries but particular expertise in the Financial Services (banking, insurance, investment management, etc.) and Technology verticals. To make our nationwide network work for you, get in touch at 512-627-7467 or email carrie@carringtonlegal.com
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