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Sometimes I do and many times I do not. Its been a hard adjustment for me because I came from the public sector and I felt that my advice was generally valued there. It can be difficult when your client views legal as a roadblock rather than a partner. I’ve felt pressure to “find a way to yes” when sometimes you need to say no.
This 100%. I came from biglaw and I felt like my work was valued a lot more there. I also feel a lot of pressure to not even raise risks, even though the business can simply say "thanks but no".
I work in a highly regulated industry so, thankfully, leadership treats legal like a partner most of the time. I’ve definitely run into people who don’t, but they’re a minority - I’d say 80/20 split.
Seconding. This is why I stay where I am. I feel very respected and valued and know that’s rare. Also in a heavily regulated industry.
Kind of in the same boat. Big reason why I’ll likely move to the business side eventually. Work is easier, less hours, lower standards, and more respect.
I honestly would like to just have a business of my own but don't know what that would be like and cannot afford that right now.
However, I also really see no value in the work a lot of the companies put out, and as a consequence, my own too. But add to that the dismissiveness around any work I do, I'm suddenly questioning why I'm here and also what I'm doing.
Chief
Who cares. Just cash my checks
Pro
For M&A and securities corporate counsel, yes. Other legal functions are generally looked down on by biz counterparts/middle management.
Yes agreed re start-ups - that seems to be the general consensus. This company was a client of mine and they were amazing to work with. And yes, do have acquired other smaller companies. Start-up is perhaps a bit misleading as the term goes, they're more a large/ late stage private company. They do have certain reporting obligations at their size, while not public.
Rising Star
You’re at a start up. The North Star is “grow no matter what.” If they don’t grow rapidly enough, they die.
The business team isn’t mature and they all have short-timer syndrome: they want to go public or get acquired (and thus get paid). They’re not concerned about risk or the business as a going concern.
Which honestly can make life easier. You are only required to mitigate risk to acceptable levels (as defined by the execs). Put your concerns in writing, ask how they’d like to proceed, and if the answer is always “d*mn the torpedoes, full steam ahead”, you’ve done your job.
Rising Star
…so they can say “Legal’s reviewed”
I was at a place that was merged into another company, and the CEO of the resulting merged company was very anti-lawyer. A lawyer must have killed his dog, or maybe ran off with his wife then gave her back to ask for a divorce.
Fortunately, the Board eventually realized their error in selection, and shoved him out the door (with a significant Golden Parachute).
That sounds like a nightmare.. I personally think the lawyer hate is fairly baseless for most people. I also think tech folk tend to have an overinflated sense of impact. I've heard people question if the legal profession is meaningful in anyway while also being a tech bro in a company that sells SEO optimization software
I’m AGC, Securities at a company undergoing an IPO so yes, very well respected.
This makes sense. It would be seriously questionable if you weren't respected at this point.