Have you ever felt like your day as an in-house lawyer disappears into a blur of Slack messages, back-to-back meetings, and endless “quick questions”? You start the morning ready to draft, review, or strategize, only to realize at 6 p.m. that you’ve spent the whole day firefighting instead of focusing on meaningful work. For many in-house counsel, this is the reality. But what if the solution isn’t working harder or faster, but instead rethinking how we engage in asynchronous communication for in-house counsel?
In a recent episode of Notes to My Legal Self, host Olga Mack welcomed Laura Jeffords Greenberg, Senior Legal Director at Worksome, to explore how asynchronous communication can completely transform the way legal teams work. Drawing from her career as the “first lawyer” at multiple global tech companies, Laura shared practical strategies for reclaiming time, improving collaboration, and creating sustainable in-house legal practices.
Watch the full conversation with Laura Jeffords Greeenberg here:
Building Legal Operations Through Asynchronous Communication for In-House Counsel
At its core, asynchronous communication means you don’t have to respond in real time. Instead of frantic pings or rushed emails, you create structured documentation, clear processes, and thoughtful updates that colleagues can consume ,and respond to, on their own schedule. For legal teams stretched across time zones, this eliminates frustrating delays and ensures everyone has the information they need when they need it.
But the benefits go well beyond geography. Even if your company is in one office or one city, asynchronous communication helps lawyers set boundaries, prioritize deep work, and stop being defined as the “always-on” department. As Laura emphasized, this shift requires discipline: writing agendas before meetings, documenting outcomes, and creating knowledge repositories where the business can find answers without always leaning on legal.
From Firefighting to Future-Proofing
The shift from synchronous to asynchronous communication isn’t just about productivity; it’s about leadership. By modeling these practices, in-house counsel demonstrate that legal operations can be proactive rather than reactive. This future-oriented approach not only makes the legal department more efficient but also shows the business that the legal team understands modern ways of working.
And here’s where legal tech comes into play. With robust documentation in place, tools like AI and automation can be layered on top to handle routine queries or generate self-service templates, giving lawyers even more time to focus on strategic priorities. It’s a powerful combination of communication, culture, and technology that positions in-house counsel as forward-thinking leaders in their organizations. Indeed, adopting asynchronous communication for in-house counsel is pivotal.
Why Asynchronous Communication for In-House Counsel Supports Career Growth
For in-house lawyers at every stage of their career, mastering asynchronous communication isn’t just a productivity hack, it’s a professional development skill. It teaches you how to set boundaries, build trust with colleagues, and structure your legal work so it scales as your company grows. In fact, as Laura noted, it even protects your well-being: when you control how and when you respond, you avoid burnout and can show up as your best self.
The future of law belongs to in-house professionals who can blend legal knowledge with modern communication and leadership practices. Asynchronous communication may sound like a simple shift, but for legal teams ready to thrive, it’s nothing short of transformative.
Watch the full conversation here: Notes to My (Legal) Self: Season 8, Episode 5 (ftLaura Jeffords Greeenberg)
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