Whether you’re the sole in-house counsel at an organization or part of a larger legal team, we are always looking for assistance when it comes to advising our clients. In-house counsel are in the unique position to develop strong relationships with senior executives, internal stakeholders, and decision makers, which is critical when you’re advising them about matters. Being in-house allows you to learn and understand the business, its culture, and its approach to risk. As in-house counsel, you are in the best position to identify potential risk, provide risk mitigation, identify lessons learned, and proactively seek to reduce or eliminate those risks going forward.
The daily exposure to legal issues, questions, risks, and challenges provides in-house counsel with a unique lens into the company that few others have. Seeing the big picture from a broad perspective allows the in-house lawyer to address trending issues and, if necessary, bring them to the attention of the C-suite.
My six-year-old grandson frequently greets complete strangers with a loud “hello” when we walk around our town. I think it’s awesome, and I like to see the reactions from the recipients of his enthusiast salutations. One day, I asked him why he does it, and his unassuming response was “everybody needs a hello.”
In a similar vein, we all need a little help once in a while – whether it’s as simple as an unsolicited “hello,” navigating the complexities of a transaction, handling the strategic decisions of a litigation matter, or any one of the myriad legal challenges each of you face as in-house counsel.
In-house counsel membership in DRI provides that help and has been a great benefit to me and my practice. Not only does it provide an opportunity to connect with other in-house counsel and share information, but it is also a forum by which to learn how other in-house counsel are addressing the challenges we all face. There are a variety of resources to assist in-house counsel on substantive legal issues as well as legal department operation through online education, webinars, seminars and meetings. Moreover, the networking opportunities provide real-time ability to connect and exchange information in practice areas or legal department operations from other in-house counsel. Membership also allows you the opportunity to stay up to date with the latest technology and trends in your industry.
The benefits easily outweigh the cost of admission. Are you making the most of your membership? Check out these key benefits:
Access to DRI’s Counsel Meeting Program
In most cases, DRI’s Counsel Meeting Program eliminates the costs of hosting these meetings and facilitates more consistent and timely communications between clients, counsel, and carriers. For outside counsel, attending meetings at DRI seminars provides enhanced networking opportunities, meeting time with clients, and access to gold-standard education – all in one trip.
Seminar Cost Savings
In-house counsel who are members of DRI and members of the DRI Corporate Counsel Committee are eligible for free registration to DRI seminars.
Opportunity to Join the Corporate Counsel Committee
The Corporate Counsel Committee ("C3") is comprised exclusively of in-house counsel. We work to help our members successfully meet the challenges unique to in-house practice.
Access to In-House Defense Quarterly
The In-House Defense Quarterly features in-depth reporting on topics relevant to in-house counsel.
Access to Numerous Discounts through the DRI Solutions Marketplace
The DRI Solutions Marketplace offers exclusive savings across a range of products and services. Including LawyerGuard, Clio, Constant Contact, Office Depot, and more!
Finally, DRI offers many opportunities for you to take a leadership role in a wide variety of areas while at the same time benefiting from the knowledge and experiences of other in-house attorneys. Maximize your DRI membership by taking advantage of all these opportunities in 2023.
Michael K. Callahan is assistant general counsel–litigation at Eversource Energy in Boston, Massachusetts. He is the Second Vice Chair of the DRI Corporate Counsel Committee.