What if becoming a more effective in-house lawyer has less to do with knowing every answer and more to do with understanding the people asking the questions? Becoming a strategic advisor for in-house lawyers means recognizing that legal expertise is essential, but knowing the law is only part of the job. Lawyers must also understand how their businesses operate, build meaningful relationships, and help teams make decisions that support broader business goals.
In a conversation on Notes to My Legal Self, attorney Kemi Ijitimehin shared a perspective that challenges the traditional view of legal practice: building trust and understanding the business can be just as important as getting the legal answer right.
Watch the full conversation with Kemi Ijitimehin here:
Understanding the Business Beyond the Legal Question
When business teams approach legal, they rarely provide the complete picture. They might ask whether a product can launch, a feature can be developed, or a particular business decision is legally permissible. But the question they ask may not be the question they actually need answered.
According to Ijitimehin, one of the most important ways lawyers can develop business acumen is by being curious. That means attending meetings with engineers, product managers, marketers, and other teams, even when the conversations involve unfamiliar terminology.
These discussions reveal what the business is building, what challenges teams face, and what they hope to accomplish. Over time, that context helps lawyers ask better follow-up questions and identify risks or opportunities that might otherwise go unnoticed.
Instead of waiting for a legal question to arrive, lawyers can become involved earlier in the decision-making process. They can understand the business objective, anticipate potential challenges, and offer guidance that considers both legal requirements and practical realities.
This is where legal advice becomes more strategic. The goal is not simply to explain what the law allows, but to help the business determine how to move forward responsibly.
How Strategic Advisors for In-House Lawyers Build Trust
Ijitimehin also highlighted something many lawyers may find difficult to accept: being right 100% of the time is not enough to build strong working relationships.
In-house lawyers often feel pressure to provide perfect answers. Yet business decisions frequently involve ambiguity, competing priorities, and circumstances where there is no straightforward solution.
Strong relationships make these situations easier to navigate. When colleagues trust their legal partners, difficult conversations become more productive, and disagreements do not automatically undermine the relationship.
Ijitimehin described authenticity as central to earning that trust. It means showing genuine interest in colleagues, following through on commitments, and caring about the people behind the business decisions. It also means communicating honestly, including when advice needs to be revisited.
These small, consistent actions can change how colleagues perceive the legal department. Rather than seeing legal as a final checkpoint that approves or blocks decisions, they begin to see lawyers as partners they can approach early and collaborate with throughout a project.
Becoming a Strategic Advisor for In-House Lawyers Means Helping Build the Business
The distinction between advising a business and helping build one is significant. Transactional advice addresses the immediate question. Strategic partnership considers why the decision matters, how it fits into long-term goals, and what consequences it may create down the road.
For lawyers who want to become a strategic advisor for in-house lawyers, developing this mindset starts with curiosity, relationships, and a willingness to engage beyond traditional legal responsibilities.
You do not need to know everything about every department. Start by asking better questions, listening closely, and learning what your colleagues are trying to achieve.
Ultimately, the most valuable in-house lawyers do more than interpret the law. They help people make better decisions. And that influence begins not with having every answer, but with earning the trust to be part of the conversation.
Watch the full conversation here: Notes to My (Legal) Self: Season 15, Episode 3 (ft. Kemi Ijitimehin)
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.
What’s been your biggest breakthrough moment in your legal career? Let’s talk about it—share your story.
