What if your legal career could grow beyond the work listed in your job description?
As in-house counsel, are you known only for reviewing contracts, managing risk, and giving legal advice, or are people beginning to recognize the wider value you bring to the business? Building a personal brand can help in-house counsel make that value more visible.
In a recent conversation, guest speakers Jessica Nguyen and Nada Alnajafi shared experiences showing how in-house counsel can create opportunities by sharing knowledge, building relationships, and developing a visible professional identity. Their stories offer an important reminder: an in-house legal career does not have to stay inside the boundaries of a job description.
Watch the full conversation with Jessica Nguyen and Nada Alnajafi here:
Why In-House Counsel Should Look Beyond the Job Title
Personal branding does not mean becoming an influencer or posting on LinkedIn every day. For in-house counsel, it means allowing people to understand what you know, what you care about, and how you think. This can be valuable because legal work often happens behind the scenes.
Nada Alnajafi, a senior corporate counsel and legal operations leader, began sharing contract tips online. What started as a passion project attracted questions and interest from other legal professionals. Jessica Nguyen also discovered that her experience could create value beyond traditional legal services. Speaking about regulations and giving practical advice helped her recognize that she could contribute to organizations in broader ways.
Their experiences show that in-house counsel often have skills that daily responsibilities do not fully reveal. An in-house lawyer’s ability to explain complex issues, understand business needs, communicate with executives, or make legal topics easier to understand can become part of a professional identity.
Start With Value, Not Visibility
The biggest mistake is treating personal branding as a competition for followers. A better question is: What can I offer that would genuinely help someone?
Nada’s experience shows the power of starting with value. Contract Nerds grew because people found the information useful and wanted more. The focus was not initially on becoming famous or making money. It was about sharing knowledge and helping a community.
For in-house counsel, that approach can be simple. A lawyer could share a lesson from a contract negotiation, explain a legal development in plain language, discuss legal tech trends for in-house teams, or write about improving legal department productivity. Other opportunities include joining a webinar, mentoring another lawyer, or contributing to a legal community.
You do not need a perfect strategy before starting. One thoughtful post or conversation can be enough. For an in-house lawyer, small steps can gradually create meaningful professional visibility.
Build a Career People Can See
A personal brand is not a replacement for excellent legal work. Instead, it makes an in-house lawyer’s expertise more visible. When people know what you are good at, they are more likely to think of you when opportunities arise.
The experiences of Jessica and Nada demonstrate how sharing knowledge and building genuine relationships can lead to professional opportunities. Their journeys also show that career growth is not always a straight path.
For today’s in-house counsel, professional growth can include Legal Leadership, Legal operations, legal tech, speaking, mentoring, community building, and broader business involvement.
Start with something you genuinely care about. Share what you know and help others. Your next opportunity may not come from applying for another job. It may come from someone who has seen your work and realized what you can bring to the table.
Watch the full conversation here: Notes to My (Legal) Self: Season 14, Episode 1 (ft.Jessica Nguyen, Nada Alnajafi)
Join the Conversation
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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