7 Essential Soft Skills Every General Counsel Should Master

In-house counsel are caught up in a transformational wave, fueled by rapid innovations in AI, that could reshape the way they deliver legal services to their internal clients and manage work in partnership with their outside counsel. In this disruptive time, soft skills may well become the crucial differentiators for corporate legal executives, perhaps even surpassing technical abilities in determining professional success.

A study by Harvard Business Review found that leaders who exhibit empathy and emotional intelligence “significantly outperform their peers”―and that companies led by such individuals “saw a significant increase in employee engagement and productivity,” according to Forbes.

In fact, a recent LinkedIn survey found that nine out of 10 global executives consider soft skills more important than ever in evaluating people for senior leadership roles.

“A mastery of certain soft skills is key for in-house lawyers,” wrote Ashoo Sharma and Kimberly Lerman, in a February 2025 column for the Association of Corporate Counsel. “Soft skills are instrumental because they allow the in-house attorney to more effectively communicate risk and to have their opinions considered by business managers.”

7 Key Soft Skills for GCs

Douglas Brown, partner at Manatt, Phelps & Phillips LLP, recently authored an Expert Analysis column published in Law360® offering important insights into affirmative steps general counsel should take to make themselves more approachable as senior leaders in their organizations. Here are seven practical soft skills he advises all GCs to develop:

1. Show dispassion

Remember that your role is to advise, not decide. Organizational leaders value lawyers who do not push personal agendas but instead provide objective counsel. While offering your best judgment—even when it is not what people want to hear—demonstrate that you will support leadership decisions regardless of whether they align with your recommendation (barring illegal or unethical conduct). This objectivity builds trust with CEOs and board chairs.

2. Nurture self-awareness

As general counsel, you wield significant influence and power that can intimidate others. Being exposed to organizational dysfunction can lead to frustration that manifests as judgmental behavior, deterring colleagues from seeking your help. Take affirmative steps to be approachable, especially when leaders make mistakes. Show compassion and emphasize your role as a helper, not the "moral police."

3. Admit your mistakes

You are human and will make errors. When mistakes happen, acknowledge them immediately. Though taking this step is difficult, the vulnerability involved strengthens relationships with organizational colleagues. Taking responsibility demonstrates authenticity and builds deeper connections throughout the company.

4. Exhibit confidence, not certainty

While colleagues expect you to have answers, pretending to have certainty when you don't have it is dangerous. Develop the confidence to admit when you don't know something and assure others that you'll find the answer. This honest approach builds more trust than false certainty.

5. Remain curious

Don't limit your understanding of the organization to perspectives from the CEO and board chair. As Edgar Schein noted in Humble Inquiry, the best ideas emerge when you spend more time asking questions than giving answers. Leave your office regularly to learn about different aspects of your organization with an open, curious mindset.

6. Exhibit courage

Every general counsel eventually faces moments requiring them to speak truth to power—whether providing uncomfortable feedback to leadership or questioning a potentially problematic course of action during groupthink. Though uncomfortable, these moments often become career highlights, demonstrating your integrity and leadership.

7. Pick your battles

Perhaps the most common mistake in-house lawyers make is treating every issue with equal urgency. This approach quickly diminishes credibility. Instead, carefully discern different risk levels and provide pragmatic advice accordingly. By focusing your strongest advocacy on truly significant matters, you'll expand your influence and effectiveness.

By developing these soft skills alongside technical expertise, in-house counsel can maximize their positive impact on their organizations. The ability to navigate human dynamics effectively while providing sound legal guidance is what transforms good lawyers into exceptional general counsel who earn the trust and respect of leadership teams.

Top Soft Skills Resources for In-House Counsel to Lead and Succeed

LexisNexis® has created a Practical Guidance practice area called In-House Advisor, dedicated to assisting in-house counsel. It’s available in Lexis+® and Lexis+ AI® to provide a curated set of business and legal resources .

In-House Advisor contains more than two dozen practice notes, videos and other resources to help corporate legal professionals improve their soft skills, including:

• Building Genuine Personal Relationships Video
• Emotional Intelligence: How Working Better with Others Helps to Put You Ahead
• Professional Development, Practice Management and Soft Skills Resource Kit

In-House Advisor helps in-house counsel better manage risk, oversee legal operations, and cultivate the business skills to succeed as part of a broader organization. Experience the In-House Advisor practice area for yourself by signing up for a free 7-day trial of Lexis+ General Counsel Suite.