The Association of Corporate Counsel (ACC) has introduced its new Career Advancement Toolkit for In-House Lawyers, which aims to help in-house legal professionals develop the skills needed for professional growth.
“The in-house role continues to evolve, from legal advisors to essential business partners,” said Veta Richardson, ACC’s president and CEO, in a news release. “As such, it is essential for in-house professionals to develop advanced law-department expertise with excellent business skills, including communication, leadership, and business acumen.”
The resource includes seven checklists that seek to offer practical strategies for lawyers at all stages of their in-house career paths, from entry-level counsel to more experienced legal professionals such as chief legal officers and general counsel.
“In this fast-paced environment, legal professionals crave practical advice and expert perspectives on how to advance their careers, and this toolkit does just that,” Richardson said in the news release.
The toolkit highlights that in-house lawyers serve as essential business partners who need to equip themselves with legal and business skills alike to grow professionally.
The toolkit consists of the seven checklists relevant to in-house legal professionals navigating their in-house career journeys amid the swiftly evolving and increasingly competitive job market. These checklists cover the following topics:
- building the essential skills to advance one’s career
- getting noticed
- developing business acumen
- building executive presence
- taking the next step to advance one’s career
- acing the transition to a new role
- taking on the general counsel role and beyond
In the ACC’s news release, Richardson expressed gratitude to the association’s global team for providing their personal insights to assist in the development of the toolkit for the benefit of the in-house community as a whole. Executive coaches as well as in-house professionals contributed to the toolkit.
The ACC also offers other resources for its members seeking guidance regarding their career trajectories. One such resource is the ACC Career Resource Center, which offers general career tips and tips more specifically tailored for those in transition, those new to in-house work, those who are mid-career, chief legal officers, and general counsel.
The ACC career community allows the association’s members to network and connect with their peers. Members are also eligible for a free, half-hour session with a career coach, the news release said.