Why does curiosity for in-house lawyers matter when legal teams are overloaded and expected to move fast? Because trusted advisers rarely get there by reciting rules. They get there by asking sharper questions, learning the business, and staying open to what they still need to understand.
That was the clearest lesson from guest speaker Shanti Ariker, a chief legal officer who has built teams inside major technology companies. Her point was simple: curiosity for in-house lawyers cannot be optional if you want real influence. You have to understand the product, the priorities, the risks, and the people making decisions before your advice can help.
Watch the full conversation with Shanti Ariker here:
Curiosity improves legal judgment
Many in-house counsel know the feeling of being pulled in when something is already smoking. A contract is stuck. A launch date is close. Sales wants approval yesterday. In those moments, it is easy to answer only the legal question in front of you. On top of that, fostering curiosity for in-house lawyers can help legal teams ask broader questions that lead to more meaningful solutions.
Shanti’s approach is stronger. She asks what the product does, how data moves, which markets are involved, and what the business is trying to achieve. That habit turns technical review into useful advice. So curiosity for in-house lawyers makes legal judgment more practical.
Curiosity builds business trust
In-house counsel do not earn influence by appearing only at the end of a process. They earn it by staying close enough to the business to see problems early. When lawyers join deal calls, product meetings, and planning discussions, they understand context sooner. Through this, business leaders see that curiosity for in-house lawyers leads to more proactive involvement.
That changes the relationship. Instead of sounding like a checkpoint, legal starts sounding like a partner. Moreover, people trust lawyers who understand their goals. That is why in-house counsel curiosity often becomes the difference between being tolerated and being invited back in.
Curiosity rewards honest learning
One of the most human parts of the conversation was Shanti’s willingness to admit what she did not know early in her career. She faced patents, trademarks, compliance issues, and other work far outside her original experience. Still, she did not pretend. Truly, the trait of curiosity for in-house lawyers helps drive honest growth and ongoing development.
Instead, she learned. That response matters because strong lawyers do not build trust by bluffing. They build it by saying they will find the answer and then doing the work. As a result, curiosity for in-house lawyers becomes a growth tool. It stretches careers, deepens confidence, and keeps development alive.
Curiosity improves timing and influence
Even smart legal advice can fail when it arrives too late. By then, the business may want a quick signoff, not a real conversation. However, curious lawyers enter earlier because they ask questions sooner and stay involved longer. By focusing on curiosity, in-house lawyers are able to influence outcomes before decisions are set in stone.
That is where influence starts. It does not come from sounding important. Instead, it comes from showing up early enough to shape the outcome. For that reason, curiosity for in-house lawyers improves timing, strengthens decisions, and gives legal professionals a real seat at the table.
Keep learning the business
The biggest takeaway is simple. Curiosity is not extra. It is a professional advantage. It helps lawyers give better advice, build stronger relationships, and contribute beyond analysis. Additionally, curiosity for in-house lawyers helps them continually adapt to evolving business needs.
So the in-house lawyers who keep learning, keep listening, and keep connecting legal judgment to business reality are the ones who earn lasting influence. In a fast-moving environment, curiosity for in-house lawyers is part of the job, and that reality is not changing anytime soon.
Watch the full conversation here: Notes to My (Legal) Self: Season 12, Episode 10 (ft.Shanti Ariker)
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