New to In-house Resource Center

Top Tip: “Spend the first 90 days meeting everyone you can at all levels of the organization. They will help you understand the culture and the state of engagement and provide you with intel on issues and topics that matter.” - Karen Alston, ACC Law Department Management Network Community

1. You may bring a lot of expertise, but your new colleagues know way more about the business you are joining. Actively seek their insight. Ask and listen, listen, listen!
2. Learn as much as you can about the business: priorities, strategy, and operations.  
3. Learn your main business stakeholders – goals, pain points, preferred communication channels, expectations, and perception of the Legal department.  
4. Identify your supervisor’s expectations and priorities. Schedule regular meetings.
5. Define a 30-60-90 day plan with your boss. Periodically assess your progress.  
6. Invest in building relationships. Schedule lunches. Get to know people personally.
7. Show initiative in learning what you need to advance projects and goals.
8. Quickly demonstrate value to the business through your contributions. Keep track and share during your periodic meetings with your supervisor.
9. Join the ACC New-to-In-house Network and get tips from peers.
10. Starting as a GC? The Essential Toolkit for New General Counsel is here to help.

Additional Resources:

• Career Advancement Toolkit for In-house Lawyers (2024)
• Career Path: Why It’s So Hard Being a Good In-house Lawyer, (ACC Docket, December 19, 2022)

Top Tip: "You can’t help the business until you understand the business." - Julia Hanft, ACC Law Department Management Network Community

• More tips from experienced peers  Wisdom of the Crowd: Top Tips for New In-house Counsel
• Career Advancement Toolkit for In-house Lawyers (2024)
• Quick Tips for Effective and Enforceable Contracts and License Agreements (2024)
• Corporate Transparency Act (CTA) Compliance: A Guide for In-House Legal Professionals (2024)
• A Business Perspective of In-house Counsel (ACC Docket, April 6, 2023)
• Top Ten Tips to be Successful as a New In-House Counsel (and Beyond), (2021)
• Are You A New General Counsel? Top Ten Actions to Ensure Your Success, (2021) 
• Managing Complex Risks Across Teams (ACC Docket, January 3, 2024)

Top Tip: “Don't overcomplicate things. Business partners do not want a CYA memo or a 5 page analysis with case law. They want to know high level what the issue is and whether or how they can proceed.” - Stephanie Reid, ACC Law Department Management Network Community

• More tips from experienced peers  Wisdom of the Crowd: Top Tips for New In-house Counsel
• Career Advancement Toolkit for In-house Lawyers (2024)
• M&A Due Diligence Checklist (2024)
• 10 Antitrust Compliance Tips for In-house Counsel (2025)
• Leverage 5 Traits to Strengthen Your Department, (ACC Docket, March 6, 2023)
• Listen Your Way to a Win, (ACC Docket, May 8, 2023)
• Top 10 Habits of Successful Corporate Counsel: #7 Being a Practical Lawyer and Moving Without the Ball, (ACC Docket, May 31, 2024)

Top Tip: "Be a partner first and a lawyer second. Remember that you are there to help the business.” - Julia Hanft, ACC Law Department Management Network Community

• More tips from experienced peers  Wisdom of the Crowd: Top Tips for New In-house Counsel
• Develop business acumen  Using Business Skills: A Necessary Tool to Advance Your In-House Career (Checklist), (2021)
• Adopt a generalist’s perspective  The T-Shaped Lawyer: To Thrive, Do More Business (ACC Docket, July 25, 2023)
• Be mindful of attorney ethics rules in the in-house context  Top Ten Tips for Protecting the Privilege, (2023) 

Top Tip: “Set boundaries – if you work 12-hour days 6 days a week, that will be expectation.” - Anonymous, ACC Law Department Management Network Community

• More tips from experienced peers  Wisdom of the Crowd: Top Tips for New In-house Counsel
• Write Plainly and Clearly  Career Path: The Day You Became Smarter, (ACC Docket, January 16, 2023)
• Avoid Time-wasting Meetings  Career Path: Maybe Don’t Go to that Meeting, (ACC Docket, January 9, 2023)
• Tame the Email Monster  Career Path: Write Better Emails Today, (ACC Docket, January 2, 2023)
• Well-being Toolkit for In-house Lawyers (2024)
• ACC Wellness Homepage
• Positively Legal: Feeling Overwhelmed? 4 Ways to Get Back on Track, (ACC Docket, December 2023)
• Positively Legal: The Art of Prioritizing What Matters Most, (ACC Docket, February 22, 2023)
• Positively Legal: Using Travel and Nature to Avoid Burnout (ACC Docket, August 26, 2022)
• Lead the Way: Mastering the Balancing Act of Work-Life Balance, (ACC Docket, November 1, 2019) 
• How to Save a Life (ACC Docket, June 4, 2024)

Top Tip: "Your effectiveness largely depends on your ability to influence people and decisions.” - The Essential Toolkit for New General Counsel

• Why In-house Counsel Need Executive Presence, (ACC Docket, September 5, 2022)
• Career Path: Persuade Like Aristotle, (ACC Docket, January 16, 2023)
• Top 10 Habits of Successful Corporate Counsel: #8 Being a Leader, Great Manager, and Better at Wordle, (ACC Docket, April 22, 2024)
• How to Gain Leadership Skills Inside and Outside Your Organization, (ACC Docket, September 20, 2023) 

• Seek feedback regarding your work and your communication  Career Path: Do You Want to Hear the Truth?, (ACC Docket, July 18, 2022) 
• Seek development opportunities  Personal and Career Development Tips for In-house Counsel, (2020)  
• Join one or more ACC Networks to connect with peers.
• Join the ACC Annual Meeting, the leading global gathering of in-house counsel.
• Get published  Author an ACC Docket article