The In-House Solution

In-house counsel swims in the same tank as their clients
and know what the water is like.

I once had a very esteemed corporate partner at the very esteemed law firm where I first cut my teeth practicing law tell me that, although he appreciated the positive effects that technology like computers, fax machines (this was back in 1996 or 97) and email were having on the practice of law, he was not so happy with the pressures the technology created.  Specifically, in his opinion technology had changed client expectations such that they expected answers almost immediately, or as they used to say in my hometown of Mobile, Alabama – “quick, fast and in a hurry.”  Most clients think that “quick, fast and in a hurry” is a great thing (i.e., cheaper legal bills).  The truth is – that’s not always the case.

While it is true that some legal work is routine and can be cranked out quickly and reliably by an efficient and knowledgeable attorney, there are those legal issues that require more cognitive time.   These issues are not black or white, but the grayest gray.  These are legal issues that are inextricably linked to important business issues and, thus, require more than a superficial understanding of the client’s business and strategic objectives.   An attorney with a deep understanding of a client’s business is able to give more informed legal counsel, which leads to better business decisions.   However, in order for an attorney to gain this knowledge he must spend costly billable time interacting with the client, which results in larger legal bills.    

Large corporations were the first to realize that legal expenses could be reduced and results improved (especially for those problems that require a thorough understanding of the corporation’s business) by hiring attorneys as full-time employees.  Often referred to as in-house or corporate counsel, these attorneys give large corporations a distinct competitive advantage.  In-house attorneys are able to develop knowledge about the business and goals of their employer that inevitably leads to better decisions.

Until recently, only large corporations were able to afford to hire dedicated in-house counsel.  However, the Lean Legal Team at Michael/Hutter offers an in-house solution for smaller companies that gives them this same competitive advantage at a reasonable cost.  Michael/Hutter is able to do this by utilizing the latest technology and lean methodologies to deliver its services.  The Lean Legal Team offers in-house counsel services for a fixed monthly amount tailored to the needs of the client.  Visit our website  (Michael/Hutter) to find out how The Lean Legal Team at Michael/Hutter can help improve your business.