The Art of the In-House Lawyer

I’ve spoken to a lot of in-house lawyers lately, and one theme keeps coming up: everyone on the outside seems to think it’s easier. That moving in-house means less stress, fewer hours, and a bit more control.

But every in-house lawyer I know just laughs at that. The reality is, it’s not easier. It’s just different.

When you go in-house, the lines between law and business blur completely. You’re no longer advising the client; you are the client. You see the real-time impact of every decision you make.

It’s a role that demands a rare balance of confidence and calm. You have to know when to speak up and when to let things play out. You need the commercial instinct to say yes when it makes sense, and the courage to say no when it doesn’t. All while keeping the trust of the people you’re advising.

Most in-house lawyers I work with don’t shout about what they do. They’re the steady ones in the background, quietly fixing problems before they ever make headlines. They can take something complex and make it simple, translate legal language into business action, and get things done without fanfare.

That’s the art of it: knowing when to hold firm, when to adapt, and when to step back and let the business move forward. It’s part law, part psychology, part diplomacy.

And it’s why the best in-house lawyers are worth their weight in gold. They don’t just understand the law, they understand people.