Non-lawyers in companies who have worked with In-House lawyers complain that lawyers only point out legal arguments and risks. As a result, they allege that In-House lawyers merely delay the planning and execution of business goals, and fail to provide practical solutions that help mitigate the risk in making business decisions. They also complain about the delay in communication, the frequent turnover, and the lawyers’ unwillingness to integrate into the company’s culture.

On the other hand, In-House lawyers protest that their business colleagues lack understanding about the significance of legal risks and frequently ignore legal advice. They also lament that the business colleagues fail to share the rudimentary background knowledge necessary to conduct nuanced legal analyses and seek only simplistic yes or no answers. As such, lawyers find this atmosphere stifling to their growth as professionals.

With this broad gap of understanding and opinion about each others’ role amongst legal and non—legal employees, the company too often finds itself ineffective in anticipating and mitigating legal risks, receiving only a minimal return on its investment from In-House legal services, compounded by the lack of continuity in knowledge due to the lawyers’ turnovers or internal transfers.