Beyond Prestige: What Companies Really Want from Lawyers Today

Beyond Prestige: What Companies Really Want from Lawyers Today

In today’s challenging job market, have you ever wondered what kind of lawyers do the companies need? In the dynamic landscape of the legal profession, we often encounter stories that challenge conventional expectations. Today, we share an insightful story of a mid-level lawyer with an outstanding education background from top law schools in China and overseas, coupled with working experience at top-tier US law firms.

It was surprising that she was willing to accept a deep pay cut (60% reduction in salary) to explore in-house opportunities. Most HRs and GCs may be concerned that such a candidate wouldn’t stay long with the company, they tend to make pre-assumption that the candidate is just taking the current role as a stepping stone to move in-house and will leave very soon once they find another job with a matching or even higher salary. Being the middle party, we were transparent and shared the concerns of the client with the candidate, and this is what the candidate responded: “I think a very big part of my current pay is highly attributed to my eye-catching profile – top law schools and prestigious law firms. But does the value I create truly align with my income? Just like luxury items, the brand is the thing that makes its product look more valuable and luxurious than it should be. I believe enhancing technical skills is what I need to do at this stage to ensure sustainability.” One of our GC friends commented: “How rare, being sober in this world of mortals!”

Many businesses were willing to pay for appearances back in the prosperous era, but we’re now in a very challenging era where companies are being realistic and just striving to survive. People are now emphasizing “value creation” – can you provide equivalent or even higher value for the income you receive? From tangible assets like houses and cars to intangible ones like services, people started to wonder whether they were incurring an “unwise surcharge” or a “regrettable cost.” This shift in mindset is also reflected in the talent selection process where companies have started to weigh the maximum value that each candidate can create. All of us have no choice but to adapt to this trend and take it as an opportunity for personal growth.

So, back to our topic, what kind of lawyers does this era need?

A very experienced HR friend once shared this: “We’re looking for someone who knows how to appreciate wine and also able to enjoy a simple meal at McDonald’s; someone who can carry themselves well in a conversation with top management and also able to build a strong relationship with frontline workers; someone who is aware of the challenges in the society but still maintains a positive and optimistic mindset.” What does this mean? In essence, someone who has seen both the best and worst parts of the world, yet still working hard to be the best version of themselves and remain resilient to embrace the world. We acknowledge this is an exceptionally high expectation, but it serves as a direction for professionals in all fields to strive towards.

Recently, our Managing Director had an opportunity to meet a General Counsel (GC) whom she truly respects. The GC mentioned the importance of having “a sense of ownership” towards the company. Legal professionals should go beyond their day-to-day duties, treating the company as if it were their own, and do whatever is in the best interest of the company. Many people are aware of this concept and try to practice it, but there are only a few who turn it into their habits and integrate it into their lives. Any employer who has such employees in the company is truly blessed. If every leader possesses these qualities, it’s difficult for the company to not perform.

Achieving the two practices mentioned above is indeed very challenging, but not impossible. We have to develop a sense of “collectivism” and “empathy” – embracing the world and taking on collective responsibility are the qualities that require conscious practice so that we can transform them into habits and eventually they become a part of us. Sometimes, our self-centered ego may lead us to become a version that we don’t like, but we’ll find happiness naturally when we evolve into a “larger self”.  We sincerely hope these insights bring mutual encouragement effect for our readers.