A thriving legal career in-house relies on more than knowing the law. To truly achieve excellence in-house, lawyers must bring commercial awareness, flexibility, and emotional intelligence into their work. These are no longer optional soft skills- they’re vital for long-term success.
Elle-Anne from Ashurst Reach shares practical insights drawn from her background in legal tech, business development, and flexible resourcing. Her message is clear: to achieve true excellence in-house, lawyers must embrace a broader skill set.
1. Be commercial and curious
To begin with, understanding how the business operates is crucial. Elle-Anne encourages in-house lawyers to act as “businesspeople with a legal hat.” This means aligning your legal input with broader commercial goals.
By approaching problems with curiosity and strategic thinking, you become a partner to the business—not just a legal advisor. Consequently, your credibility and impact increase.
2. Be adaptable
Moreover, in-house roles now cover a wide range of responsibilities—ESG, procurement, tech, and more. Lawyers who can pivot quickly and learn on the job are in high demand.
Instead of resisting change, embrace it. Adaptability allows you to contribute meaningfully and ensures your role evolves with the business. It’s a defining trait of excellence in-house.
3. Build relationships early
Finally, trust is everything. Elle-Anne shares a valuable insight: build relationships in “peace time”—not just when a deal is on fire. This proactive relationship-building sets the tone for collaboration and influence.
When lawyers speak the language of the business and remove legal jargon, they connect more effectively. That connection is where excellence in-house really comes to life.
Watch the full video on Crafty Counsel and explore our legal career content for more advice from in-house leaders and experts.
If you enjoyed this video, be sure to check out our previous video in the series, “Three things Tinder taught me about legal AI with LEGALFLY”. In this conversation, Ruben shares valuable insights about navigating AI in the world of dating apps. Watch the video here.