Have you ever opened a law firm invoice and wondered whether questioning it would somehow make you look difficult or out of your depth? That quiet hesitation sits at the heart of many in-house counsel experiences, especially when it comes to managing outside counsel. It shows up more often than most legal leaders want to admit. The work is high stakes, the pricing is premium, and yet the experience often feels harder and more frustrating than it should. That gap between cost and value is not a personal shortcoming. It is a signal that something structural needs to change.
That tension came through clearly in a recent conversation with Brent Dyer, Director of Legal Operations for employment law and litigation at Trend Micro. Brent has lived on both sides of the table, first as a long time law firm litigator and now as an in-house legal operations leader. His perspective reflects what many in-house legal professionals quietly experience. Expensive legal services are often assumed to equal high quality service, even when the day to day reality tells a different story.
Watch the full conversation with Brent Dyer here:
When Managing Outside Counsel Feels Harder Than It Should
Outside counsel frequently frames its offering as a luxury service. The rates, branding, and prestige all reinforce that idea. But from the in-house perspective, the experience often fails to match the promise. Late invoices, vague time entries, and work that drifts from business objectives are common frustrations. True luxury is not about appearances. It is about ease, clarity, and reliability. When managing outside counsel requires constant follow ups or time spent correcting preventable issues, the service has already missed its purpose.
Outside Counsel Management as a Core Legal Leadership Skill
Legal leadership today extends far beyond legal analysis. In-house counsel are expected to run efficient legal departments, manage spend responsibly, and align legal work with broader business goals. Outside counsel management has become central to that responsibility. When in-house counsel manages outside counsel effectively, it builds trust with executives and positions the legal team as a strategic partner rather than a cost center. Over time, this capability becomes a meaningful driver of legal career development.
The Vendor Mindset That Changes Everything
One of the most impactful shifts for in-house legal professionals is embracing the reality that outside counsel is a vendor. This does not diminish expertise or respect. It clarifies expectations. Vendors are accountable for accuracy, timeliness, and alignment with objectives. When legal teams manage outside counsel through this lens, feedback stops feeling personal and starts feeling routine. Accountability becomes part of normal law department management rather than a source of tension.
Assertiveness Without Apology in Legal Operations
Many in-house lawyers hesitate to push back because they fear damaging relationships or appearing unsophisticated. In practice, calm and consistent assertiveness improves outcomes. Clear expectations reduce friction and rework. Legal operations thrives on transparency, not intimidation. When managing outside counsel, stating expectations clearly reinforces what success looks like and encourages better alignment over time.
Redefining the Future of Law for In-House Teams
The future of law for legal leaders is not about accepting premium pricing without question. It is about redefining value in a way that supports modern legal departments. For in-house counsel managing outside counsel, this responsibility is now a core leadership skill, not a nice to have. When legal professionals let go of guilt and step confidently into their role as clients, legal operations becomes more strategic and far less reactive.
The real takeaway is simple. Expensive does not automatically mean valuable, and prestige does not replace accountability. When in-house counsel internalizes this shift, managing outside counsel stops feeling like a burden and starts becoming a true leadership advantage.
Watch the full conversation here: Notes to My (Legal) Self: Season 11, Episode 1 (ft.Brent Dyer)
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