Many lawyers practicing at law firms hope to move in-house in the coming year. “Practical Tips for Young Lawyers Going In-House“, published by the ABA, provides helpful tips for all lawyers (not just young ones) who will be making that transition. When I moved in-house after seven years of practicing with a large law firm, I learned to implement the strategies that this article mentions, including:  learn the business, add value, and try to get involved in projects early before problems arise.

The article also notes the importance of communicating well with clients and not using legalese.  To that I would stress the importance of learning–and using–any industry or company-specific jargon.  Regularly and appropriately using such terminology will help you to seem like a member of the team and help to integrate you into corporate culture.