What if the biggest threat to your in-house legal career is not artificial intelligence, budget pressure, or increasing workload, but staying comfortable with the way legal has always operated? Many in-house lawyers feel the pace of change accelerating around them, yet still hesitate to step into innovation conversations. Legal innovation, particularly in-house, is no longer optional. It has become a core part of how legal teams add value and remain credible inside modern organizations.
That reality came into sharp focus during a recent conversation with Harry Borovick, General Counsel at Luminance. As an in-house leader working inside a legal technology company, Harry brings a rare dual perspective. He sees legal both as a customer and as a builder. His insight was clear and refreshingly practical. Innovation is not about chasing shiny tools or reinventing yourself as an engineer. It is about ownership and responsibility for how legal work actually gets done.
Watch the full conversation with Harry Borovick here:
Innovation Starts with In-House Perspective
In-house legal teams sit closer to the business than anyone else in the legal ecosystem. They experience operational friction firsthand, whether it shows up as contract bottlenecks, unclear internal processes, or repeated questions from stakeholders. These moments are often treated as routine frustrations, but they are signals. They reveal where legal operations can be improved with in-house innovation.
Legal innovation for in-house lawyers starts with noticing those patterns and deciding they matter. It is less about adopting technology for its own sake and more about improving how legal supports the business. When in-house lawyers engage with legal tech thoughtfully, innovation becomes a practical tool rather than an abstract concept.
Ownership Is the Real Shift
One of the biggest differences between private practice and in-house roles is ownership. In private practice, responsibility often escalates to a partner. In-house, responsibility stays with the lawyer handling the matter, showing the importance of legal innovation in-house. That shift can feel uncomfortable, but it is also where growth happens.
Ownership means bringing solutions, not just identifying risks. It means understanding the business context and helping shape outcomes. In-house lawyers who embrace ownership tend to build stronger relationships with leadership because they demonstrate judgment, initiative, and commercial awareness.
Technology as a Career Multiplier
Technology is increasingly tied to career development for in-house legal professionals. Lawyers who understand how tools support legal operations gain credibility across the organization. They are seen as partners rather than blockers in the context of legal innovation in-house.
This does not replace traditional legal skills. Drafting, negotiation, and risk analysis remain essential. What changes is how those skills are applied. Reviewing AI-assisted outputs, improving workflows, and collaborating with operations teams allow in-house lawyers to scale their impact without sacrificing legal rigor.
Learning Never Stops
Legal education does not end at graduation, especially for in-house lawyers. The legal landscape evolves too quickly for static skill sets. Continuous learning is no longer a nice-to-have; it is part of the role, especially as it relates to fostering in-house legal innovation.
When in-house teams invest in legal innovation, they also influence the broader ecosystem. Their expectations shape how law firms operate, how vendors build products, and even how law schools prepare future lawyers. Legal innovation for in-house lawyers creates ripple effects beyond the department itself.
Quiet Leadership Inside Legal
The most effective in-house legal leaders rarely label themselves innovators. They quietly improve how work flows, reduce friction, and create space for higher-value thinking. By taking ownership of legal innovation, especially in-house, lawyers strengthen trust with the business and position themselves for long-term success.
In-house practice is no longer just about managing risk. It is about enabling better decisions. The lawyers who embrace that responsibility will help define the future of the profession from the inside.
Watch the full conversation here: Notes to My (Legal) Self: Season 8, Episode 8 (ft.Harry Borovick)
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At Notes to My (Legal) Self®, we’re dedicated to helping in-house legal professionals develop the skills, insights, and strategies needed to thrive in today’s evolving legal landscape. From leadership development to legal operations optimization and emerging technology, we provide the tools to help you stay ahead.
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