Redefining Legal Leadership: What CLOs Expect From In-House Teams in 2025

The role of the Chief Legal Officer has never been more complex — or more central. CLOs are not simply the guardians of compliance anymore; they are strategic leaders tasked with guiding the business through uncertainty, shaping governance, and positioning the company for long-term success.

Technical skill in the law is assumed. What sets apart the best in-house lawyers today is their ability to act as risk managers, technology adopters, and operational partners — helping CLOs deliver value across the enterprise. As the demands on legal departments rise, the bar for excellence within in-house roles has been raised higher than ever.

So, what does today’s CLO prioritize when building and developing a legal team? The answer lies in five dimensions of modern in-house excellence.

1. Commercial and Risk-Oriented Thinking

CLOs expect in-house lawyers to see the bigger picture: how legal decisions affect revenue, brand, regulatory standing, and enterprise-wide exposure. Success means offering advice that balances opportunity with risk, framing guidance in terms that business colleagues can use, and knowing when “good enough” is the right call to keep the company moving forward.

2. Communicators Who Demystify the Law

Whether explaining data privacy risks to the board or unpacking regulatory issues for a product team, CLOs need in-house counsel who bring clarity, not confusion. The ability to translate complex risk into practical, actionable guidance is one of the most valuable skills in a corporate legal department. A reputation for making issues clear builds trust across the business.

3. Solution-Oriented Partners

Modern CLOs don’t want lawyers who only point out roadblocks; they need colleagues who chart a path through them. The strongest in-house lawyers demonstrate resilience under pressure, propose pragmatic options, and show judgment that goes beyond black-letter law. They are trusted for moving the business forward, even in uncharted territory.

4. Trusted Connectors

Authority in-house doesn’t come from hierarchy — it comes from relationships. CLOs look for legal professionals who can engage credibly with senior executives, operations leaders, and front-line teams alike. These individuals build networks of trust inside and outside the legal department, positioning themselves as go-to advisors early in the decision-making process, not after problems arise.

5. Operational and Technological Agility

In-house legal work is evolving rapidly thanks to new technologies and operational models. CLOs increasingly rely on legal operations professionals and flexible staffing solutions to optimize efficiency and scalability. Lawyers who understand legal tech, embrace process improvements, and collaborate with operations experts are invaluable. They make legal departments more adaptable and better aligned with the pace of business.

The CLO’s Lens on the Future of In-House Legal Teams

The modern in-house legal department is not just a service provider — it’s a strategic engine. CLOs are hiring and promoting based on more than just legal expertise. They are prioritizing professionals who can manage risk holistically, embrace technology, and partner with legal operations to ensure the department remains agile and cost-effective.

For in-house lawyers, this means sharpening skills that amplify traditional expertise: commercial awareness, risk judgment, operational fluency, and stakeholder management. For CLOs, it means shaping teams that are resilient, tech-enabled, and ready to steer the company through complexity.

The legal function that thrives in the future will be the one that adds measurable business value while safeguarding against risk. That’s the standard CLOs are setting — and the opportunity awaiting the next generation of in-house leaders.