Why recognition still feels out of reach for in-house lawyers
When was the last time someone outside your legal team actually acknowledged the work you do? If you’re in-house, that moment might be hard to remember. Recognition for in-house lawyers is surprisingly rare—and that silence can hurt more than you think.
This isn’t just about wanting a pat on the back. It’s about visibility, influence, and growth. Without recognition, even the most impactful legal work can go unnoticed. And when no one sees your value, it’s harder to build trust, earn a seat at the table, or move forward in your career.
Recognition for In-House Lawyers Changes Everything
Lauren Zajac, Chief Legal Officer at WorkHuman, put it perfectly:
“We teach lawyers to measure success by disasters averted. But in the corporate world, what gets celebrated gets replicated—and what goes unnoticed gets undervalued.”
In other words, if no one’s talking about legal’s contributions, they’ll keep getting overlooked. And that’s a big problem—for the legal team and for the business.
Recognition for in-house lawyers isn’t about ego. It’s about showing the organization that legal is more than just a risk manager. Legal enables deals, drives compliance, protects innovation, and clears paths that others might not even see. But unless you shine a light on those wins, they stay hidden—and so do you.
Watch the full conversation with Lauren Zajac here:
Why Visibility Fuels Legal Career Growth
Here’s what I’ve seen: when legal teams start getting recognized for the value they bring, everything shifts. That junior lawyer who gets a shoutout for navigating a tough negotiation? Suddenly, they’re invited to the next big deal. That compliance lead who streamlined a reporting process? Now they’re leading broader efficiency projects.
These aren’t just feel-good moments—they’re stepping stones. Because recognition builds confidence. It creates momentum. And it opens doors that were once closed.
If you’re serious about in-house legal career development, visibility is essential. People need to see your impact to understand it. And once they understand it, they start including you earlier, trusting you more, and leaning on you as a strategic partner—not just someone to run things by at the last minute.
Make Your Work Matter—and Make It Seen
So how do you actually get recognized? It’s not about self-promotion—it’s about storytelling. Next time your team closes a deal, don’t just say, “We reviewed the contract.” Say, “Legal helped remove blockers so the deal closed two weeks early.” That’s how you show impact in a language the business understands.
Recognition for in-house lawyers isn’t a bonus—it’s a game changer. It drives visibility. It shapes careers. And it turns legal from a background player into a business leader.
Here’s the takeaway: You’re already doing valuable work. Now it’s time to make sure people see it—and understand just how much it matters.
Watch the full conversation here: Notes to My (Legal) Self: Season 1, Episode 7(ft.Lauren Zajac)
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