This Tuesday, we had an enlightening discussion with 3x GC, 5x author, and creator of the award-winning Ten Things You Need to Know as In-House Counsel blog, Sterling Miller about how you can survive (and thrive!) as a legal department of one. Hereâs what we learned.
1. Clarify your Role
To put it lightly, starting as a solo GC can be, well, terrifying. Tight budgets, high expectations, and open-wide room for both success and failure can amass into an overwhelming scenario for anyone stepping into the role. You want to flesh things out with your employer so you can clarify what your role is, and whatâs expected of you before you even have your first day. It goes without sayingâŚany gets should be cemented in writing.
2. Befriend Risk
While the legal profession may be particularly dedicated to mitigating risk, a solo GC may have a bit of unlearning to do. You may be used to running decisions through a slew of associates, and taking generous time before making a decision. Thatâs all out the window in-house. Getting comfortable with risk is a must.
3. Stay Inventive
No matter how hard we try to change the dialogue, legal is still viewed as a cost center. Instead of lamenting that tight budget, get inventive! Pool your existing resources, reach out to your network, and engage yourself in community. Just because the moneyâs not there doesn't mean you canât build out a great legal infrastructure.
Oh, and if youâre looking to join an emerging legal communityâ join our own private community of in-house leaders! Itâs a place to network, share ideas, and meet other like-minded professionals.
4. Learn the Business
Letâs face it, as a companyâs first GC, youâre thrown into a chaotic environment with many fires to put out. Start with the basics: learn how the moneyâs spent, get up to speed with the product, and pinpoint any pain points. Reach out to your team, and try to connect with someone in each department (yes, even sales!). Work to adjust your mentality to the risk profile of the company, and balance the tight line of both value creation and risk destruction. It doesnât hurt to pick up a bit of the financial basicsâ itâll paint a much clearer picture of the biz.
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5. Plan Ahead
Chances are, youâre not always going to be a legal department of one. Think early about who youâll hire down the road when the opportunity opens up. Will your first hire be a paralegal? Legal ops role? Attorney? Keep notes on the issues the company is facing, and keep track of the money youâre currently spending. A hot tip? Note the value that bringing that spend in-house will bring, and speak up about it.
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đ Coming Up
If you loved this panel and canât wait to see moreâŚ
Join us as we speak to sustainability in legal expert Christine Uri to learn why sustainability matters, what legal can do about it, & take away some tips to get started.
đ Resources Mentioned
Whew, there were SO many great resources mentioned during this panel. Here are Sterlingâs top recommendations:
If youâd like the full pitch deck from this discussion, click here!