As in house counsel, your client is “the company” — not the law, not the government, not regulators.
Sometimes in-house counsel forget that; for example, by sending emails that, though legally interesting, aren’t advising their client.
At its worst, in-house counsel can take positions that reduce or eliminate risk, but at the cost of far greater business opportunity.
As lawyers, we must always conduct ourselves ethically and professionally.
And, as lawyers, we owe a duty to represent our clients. That’s rule #1 in the American Bar Association’s Model Rules of Professional Conduct: “A lawyer shall provide competent representation to a client.”
To be an effective in-house counsel, you need to understand that mindset; and approach problems with that attitude.
You’re not advising “on the law.”
You are advising your client.
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