Advice to Young Attorneys from a New In-House Lawyer

Ever since I entered the ranks of in-house counsel last fall, many of my attorney friends have requested my advice on client service. I have thought a great deal about this question, and I believe I have learned enough over the past few months to provide some helpful thoughts going forward. My overarching advice can probably be summed up in a recent quote I read from Albert Einstein: “Strive not to be a success, but rather to be of value.” Amen. Consistent with that theme, this article provides five items of advice in two categories—namely, enhancing your communication quality and demonstrating your value. I am confident that by following these tips, you will go a long way to being of value to your clients and success will follow.