By setting a good example, the general counsel also encourages the other attorneys and paralegals in the department to use a similar management style in their dealings with each other and with their support personnel. This further enhances the professionalism and unity of the legal department and improves the quality of service to the client. Choose personnel carefully. To achieve this, try to involve as many people as practical, including internal clients outside the department, when appropriate, to review r sum s and interview or meet potential hires in the department. This process is time-consuming but results in choices that make sense for the department and the client.
Regular meetings help everyone on the legal team keep the common goal of client service in focus.
For example, our attorneys meet once a week over a brown-bag lunch to discuss corporate decisions, objectives, politics and other news with our general counsel. We also use these meetings to coordinate our calendars so that we can anticipate and cover each other's absences. The agenda stays open to include whatever each attorney believes may be meaningful for the group. This kind of regular meeting allows members of a legal department to become well-acquainted with each other in a relaxed setting. Sharing approaches to legal issues also helps the attorneys give consistent advice to the client.