Three tips to work with Legal
Step 1: Embrace Legal's Pessimistic Perspective
When working with legal teams, it's essential to understand that they have a unique role in the project. They are like the testers of the legal world, focused on identifying potential risks and pitfalls. Instead of being frustrated by their cautious approach, use it to your advantage. Gather your team and brainstorm every possible issue that could arise during your project. Imagine worst-case scenarios, from global telecom system collapses to unexpected team member absences. While you may not have solutions for all these problems, demonstrating that you've considered them is a significant step toward effective risk management. Remember, business is all about managing risks, and legal's role is to uncover and communicate those risks.
Step 2: Recognize Legal's Role
It's crucial to understand that legal teams aren't paid to fix the problems they identify. Their primary responsibility is to identify potential issues and provide legal guidance. Just as you wouldn't expect testers to write code, don't expect legal professionals to resolve technical challenges. While some lawyers may offer help with finding solutions, they often lack the expertise in areas like coding. Therefore, it's essential to have a clear division of responsibilities. Legal identifies the problems, and the technical team works on solutions.
Step 3: Communicate Effectively and Embrace Uncertainty
Legal professionals often operate in shades of gray, as the law rarely offers clear-cut answers. Instead of seeking black-and-white responses, inquire about the degree of uncertainty involved. Avoid yes-no questions for complex legal matters, as they can lead to overly cautious responses. Understand that legal decisions involve taking calculated risks, and the final responsibility for these decisions rests with you, not legal. Just as you wouldn't expect legal to take on your technical risks, don't expect them to decide whether you should proceed with a project. Accept that you'll need to weigh the risks and make informed choices.
Collaborating with legal teams can be more straightforward when you embrace their cautious mindset, understand their role, and communicate effectively. Remember that they are an essential part of the risk management process, and together, you can navigate complex legal challenges while achieving your project goals.