There was a time not too long ago when managing the legal
department of a company was seen as different from manag-
ing other aspects of the business. Law departments often were not held to the same management standards, because, after all, how could you possibly budget for legal costs that were outside of your
control? But in the past few years all that has changed. Law departments are now responsible for meeting the same
rigorous standards in terms of controlling costs and showing value. At the same time, the business and regulatory environment has put even more work on the plates of in-house lawyers.
As a result, managing an in-house legal department has become an
increasingly complex job. We are now responsible for delivering legal advice, being effective managers, serving as the conscience of the corporation, and beyond that, giving strategic business advice.