Deep Dive

Building strong relationships at work and having work friends makes work more fun. It also makes you a more effective in-house lawyer.

Over a decade into my legal career, I’ve built a growing list of non-negotiables for any role I’d be excited to take on: work that challenges me and feels meaningful, an environment that allows me to prioritize my health and relationships, fair compensation, etc.

High on that list is working with people I like and respect. People with whom I can build strong professional relationships and some real friendships.

If I’m going to spend 50+ hours a week working—which I often do—I want to do it alongside great people.

If I’m going to spend nights away from my family because of my career, I want it to be because I’m building alongside people who also matter to me.

I can’t imagine what my first General Counsel role would have been like without the incredible legal team and leadership colleagues I’ve had. I know for certain it would have been a lot less fun.

But strong relationships do more than make work enjoyable.

They also make in-house lawyers much more effective.

So even if you’re an introvert,

Or even if you feel like your wonderful friends outside of work are all you need (I love my friends, too!),

Developing solid relationships at work is worth your time and effort.

Here are five specific benefits of developing solid relationships at work.

5 important ways strong relationships can make you a more effective in-house lawyer.

1. Information sharing.

Information moves faster between people who trust each other. This applies both within teams and across departments.

Regular conversations with colleagues help you stay informed and anticipate legal needs before they arise.

A quick, five-minute call to a trusted contact can save hours of searching through files or chasing down details over email.

And when colleagues feel comfortable calling you for a gut check, you might save them hours or even weeks of work while steering them toward a legally sound solution.

Personally, I can think of at least a dozen times over my career when a quick phone call saved me or a colleague hours of work because the call uncovered a fundamental misunderstanding or misalignment.

2. Goal alignment.

Want to know and understand each other’s goals?

Great. Talk to each other.

Yes, there should be processes in place to everyone across the company understands company, team, and individual goals. But goal alignment also happens naturally and easily when you have a strong relationship and communicate regularly.

3. Leveraging each other’s strengths.

Different people in the legal department likely have different strengths.

Members of the legal and finance teams, or legal and operations teams, almost certainly do.

When you have strong relationships, collaboration happens naturally. You know who to call when you need a quick gut check, deeper analysis, or a fresh perspective. You can lean on each other’s expertise instead of trying to figure everything out alone.

Great working relationships turn colleagues into partners. They make problem-solving faster, decisions sharper, and the business stronger.

4. Trust and empowerment.

When people trust you, they don’t just come to you with problems; they come to you with opportunities.

For in-house lawyers, that is a game changer.

Colleagues who trust you and your business mindset know you’ll help them move faster, not slow them down. They trust that you’ll provide guidance, not roadblocks.

That trust gives you a seat at the table before decisions are made, not just after problems arise.

Having that seat is necessary if you want to maximize your impact as a true partner.

5. Psychological safety.

Every in-house lawyer has had that moment when a snippet of conversation stops them in their tracks.

“I don’t need a license to post that photo because I downloaded it from Google.”

“That contract isn’t a rush. The vendor is already doing the work.”

These are the situations where relationships matter. If you’ve built trust, you can step into the conversation without being seen as the department of ‘no.’ Instead of shutting things down, you’re guiding your colleagues toward a smarter, legally sound approach.

And when people feel comfortable talking to you, they’ll be more honest. They’ll share the full picture, not just the polished version.

That’s how real partnership works.

Sold on the value of strong relationships for in-house lawyers? Great. Check your inbox next Wednesday morning for specific steps you can take to develop stronger relationships with your colleagues.