A common myth in legal careers—especially in-house—is that every lawyer needs to be skilled at everything. The reality? No one is. Many legal departments still believe that all lawyers should be equally good at writing, negotiating, analyzing, and advising. This often leads to frustration and burnout. To build a successful in-house legal team, it’s essential to focus on each lawyer’s strengths.
Some lawyers excel in high-pressure negotiations, while others focus well on legal research or solving complex compliance issues. The best teams create an environment where each lawyer can focus on what they do best, allowing in-house legal team strengths to drive success.
Why Focusing on In-House Legal Team Strengths Is Better Than Forcing Generalization
Frank Ramos, Managing Partner of Clarke Silverglate, has seen this mistake often. With years of experience in commercial litigation and mentoring, he’s witnessed lawyers struggle in roles that don’t match their strengths. A great legal writer may struggle in high-stakes dealmaking, and a skilled negotiator may be overwhelmed with research. Strengths-based leadership in an in-house legal team isn’t about ignoring weaknesses—it’s about aligning people with roles where they can excel.
Watch the full conversation with Frank Ramos here:
Growth is important, but it should build on existing strengths. For example, a hesitant speaker may gain confidence with small internal presentations before moving to big meetings. Pushing someone too far outside their comfort zone too quickly can cause stress, not growth.
In-House Legal Team Strengths as a Strategic Advantage
Beyond improving job satisfaction, playing to strengths is a smart business strategy. Lawyers who work in their zone of excellence produce better results, faster. They stay engaged longer. Retention improves because people feel valued. The in-house legal team earns more trust from leadership because work is handled efficiently by the right people. And perhaps most importantly, a well-balanced team naturally complements each other.
The big-picture strategist benefits from working with a meticulous drafter. The litigation expert brings something different to the table than the transactional lead. When each lawyer gets to focus on what they do best, the entire in-house legal team operates at a higher level.
How Great In-House Legal Teams Thrive by Playing to Strengths
The best leaders understand that their job isn’t to force lawyers into a mold. It’s to unlock their potential in a way that benefits both the individual and the company. Playing to strengths isn’t just a “nice to have.” It’s the difference between a legal team that struggles to keep up and one that consistently delivers.
Legal work will always be demanding, but when a team is structured around strengths, the work feels less like an uphill battle and more like a shared success. And in the end, that’s what makes a legal department not just functional, but truly great.
Watch the full conversation here: Notes to My (Legal) Self: Season 2, Episode 4 (ft. Frank Ramos)
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