New to In-House
ACC Charlotte’s New to In-House (NIH) group provides a safe place for in-house attorneys to ask questions, share wisdom, and build relationships through mentoring and meaningful events.
All ACC Charlotte members are encouraged to join. In-house attorneys who are experienced (5+ years in-house) and newer (< 5 years in-house), gather to get to know one another, create formal and informal mentoring, facilitate connectivity and deepen in-house relationships.
NIH’s flagship initiative is a mentoring program which pairs new to in-house attorneys with more seasoned in-house attorneys outside their own organization to help them develop skills, create action plans to reach their short and long-term career goals, receive wisdom from as well as exchange ideas with the more seasoned attorneys, achieve success within an internal legal department, expand networks, and strengthen relationships across ACC legal departments.
Additional NIH Mentorship Information:
Mentorship Kickoff Information
NIH Mentorship Guidelines
If you are interested in joining our mentoring program as either a mentor or mentee, please email Executive Director, Jane Nohr, at charlotte@accglobal.com.
REAL-LIFE NEW TO IN-HOUSE GROUP FEEDBACK:
“As a transplant to one of the fastest growing cities in the country, the ACC New-to-In-House Mentorship program has been fantastic for serving new in-house lawyers, the companies they serve, and the general Charlotte community. From leadership development opportunities to establishing professional and personal networks, I couldn’t think of a more welcoming and inclusive program to afford program participants a chance to establish and build upon their legal career.”
“I forced myself to leave the office last Thursday to attend the ACC event and found it to be fantastic. As someone who is not new to in-house, I wasn’t sure how relevant the event would be. It was perfect. Not only was it informative for attorneys new to the role, it was spot-on in content for those of us who are seasoned. Moreover, the conversations with fellow counsel before and after the program were stimulating. Nice job all around. I need to make it a point to attend more events.”
“Learning from someone with similar experience is invaluable. The mentorship program has had a significant impact on my self-confidence and the way I approach difficult situations. I appreciate the guidance and insights on the professional and personal side of things, but my biggest takeaway from the mentorship program has been my mentor’s incredible moral support. I leave our meetings with renewed strength and wisdom, and I hope to be as kind and impactful as she is.”
“I thoroughly enjoyed my time with my former Mentor. All the advice and insight I got from him are extremely valuable and played a critical role in my improvement as a new in-house attorney. We developed an everlasting friendship through this mentorship program, and I am very grateful for this wonderful opportunity!”
“My mentorship experience was transformative. My mentor provided offered valuable insights, helping me navigate challenges and hone my skills. We still stay connected because their guidance and friendship transcends the year-long mentorship program. We share mutual respect, encourage growth, and celebrate in each other’s achievements.”
RESOURCES
The ACC Docket Career Path articles are really applicable to our NIH community. Below are 4 of the latest articles that might be helpful resources to our NIH members:
Career Path: Why It’s So Hard Being a Good In-house Lawyer | ACC Docket
Career Path: Write Better Emails Today | ACC Docket
Career Path: Maybe Don’t Go to that Meeting | ACC Docket
Career Path: The Day You Became Smarter | ACC Docket
Top 10 Habits of Successful Corporate Counsel: #7 Being a Practical Lawyer and Moving Without the Ball | ACC Docket
MENTORSHIP DISCUSSION TOPICS
TOPIC 1: How Much Should New Hires Focus on Building Peer Relationships?
ARTICLE / DISCUSSION
TOPIC 2: 10 Things Your Corporate Culture Needs to Get Right
DISCUSSION (article linked within)
TOPIC 3: How to Become Your Own Career Coach
ARTICLE / DISCUSSION
TOPIC 4: How To Build a Culture that Attracts And Retains Talented Lawyers
ARTICLE / DISCUSSION
TOPIC 5: What I Wish I Knew Then: Robert Blecker and Julia Davis
ARTICLE / DISCUSSION
TOPIC 6: Success in Your Career Rests On a Three-Legged Stool
ARTICLE / DISCUSSION
TOPIC 7: Networking
ARTICLE / ARTICLE / DISCUSSION
TOPIC 8: Work-Life Balance
DISCUSSION (article linked within)
TOPIC 9: Mentorship vs. Sponsorship
ARTICLE / DISCUSSION
TOPIC 10: Defending Your Career
ARTICLE / DISCUSSION
TOPIC 11: Learning to Listen
ARTICLE / DISCUSSION
TOPIC 12: Goal Setting
DISCUSSION (article linked within)
Additional Information for NIH counsel:
New to In-House Resource Center | Association of Corporate Counsel (ACC)
Five Types of Questions Every Mentor Should Ask
Ten Things: Ten Habits of Highly Effective In-House Lawyers | Ten Things You Need to Know as In-House Counsel®
Ten Things: The “Strategic” In-House Lawyer | Ten Things You Need to Know as In-House Counsel®
Ten Things: How In-House Lawyers Can Survive and Thrive in Times of Uncertainty and Change | Ten Things You Need to Know as In-House Counsel®
Corporate America is Ready for a New Type of In-House Lawyer (bloomberglaw.com)
Are You General Counsel Ready? Strategies To Land Your First General Counsel Role - Above the Law (ampproject.org)
Listen Your Way to a Win | ACC Docket
Ten Ways In-House is Different from Being in a Firm
Tips and Tricks for Building Relationships and Thriving in the Workplace
