The
legal
world
is
rapidly
evolving,
and
staying
ahead
requires
more
than
just
traditional
legal
skills.
In
a
recent
discussion
with
Peter
Connor,
founder
&
CEO
of
AlternativelyLegal,
we
explored
his
innovative
concept
of
the
T-Shaped
Lawyer
—
a
framework
that
could
redefine
success
and
effectiveness
for
in-house
lawyers.
Peter’s
insights
offer
a
roadmap
for
becoming
a
more
versatile
and
valuable
legal
professional
in
an
increasingly
complex
corporate
environment.
Here
are
three
key
takeaways
from
our
conversation
that
highlight
why
embracing
the
T-Shaped
Lawyer
framework
is
crucial
for
today’s
legal
professionals.
1.
Understanding
The
T-Shaped
Lawyer:
It’s
More
Than
Just
Skills
The
T-Shaped
Lawyer
is
a
concept
borrowed
from
other
professional
fields
but
tailored
specifically
for
legal
professionals.
At
its
core,
this
framework
is
about
combining
deep
legal
expertise
(the
vertical
part
of
the
T)
with
a
broad
set
of
business
and
interpersonal
skills
(the
horizontal
part
of
the
T).
According
to
Peter,
a
T-Shaped
Lawyer
is
not
just
someone
who
knows
the
law
well
but
is
also
a
business
person
who
provides
business
input
and
advice
and
engages
in
business
work,
not
just
legal
work.
This
distinction
is
crucial
because
it
shifts
the
lawyer’s
role
from
being
solely
a
legal
advisor
to
becoming
a
strategic
partner
in
the
business.
This
approach
helps
lawyers
add
more
value
to
their
organizations
by
understanding
and
influencing
broader
business
objectives.
2.
The
Importance
Of
Business
Partnering
And
Leadership
Peter
introduces
two
critical
components
of
the
T-Shaped
Lawyer
framework:
business
partnering
and
business
leadership.
-
Business
Partnering:
This
involves
providing
business
advice
and
input
in
addition
to
legal
guidance.
It’s
about
being
proactive
in
identifying
business
risks,
suggesting
improvements,
and
helping
clients
achieve
their
goals.
This
can
be
done
informally
and
quickly,
making
it
accessible
to
all
lawyers,
regardless
of
their
seniority. -
Business
Leadership:
This
is
about
taking
on
roles
that
influence
broader
business
strategies.
It
involves
identifying
systemic
problems
within
the
organization,
driving
cross-functional
collaboration,
and
leading
projects
that
enhance
the
company’s
operations
and
outcomes.
Unlike
business
partnering,
which
is
more
immediate,
business
leadership
requires
a
longer-term
commitment
and
deeper
engagement
with
business
objectives.
By
engaging
in
both
business
partnering
and
leadership,
lawyers
can
transition
from
being
reactive
problem
solvers
to
proactive
business
leaders
who
drive
value
across
their
organizations.
3.
Why
Embrace
The
T-Shaped
Lawyer
Framework?
The
corporate
world
is
experiencing
what
Peter
describes
as
“discontinuous
change,”
where
past
experiences
no
longer
serve
as
reliable
predictors
of
the
future.
In
this
context,
lawyers
who
are
strictly
legal
experts
risk
becoming
obsolete
as
technologies
like
generative
AI
increasingly
automate
routine
legal
tasks.
The
T-Shaped
Lawyer
framework
offers
a
pathway
to
stay
relevant
and
thrive
amid
these
changes.
By
developing
a
broader
skill
set
that
includes
business
acumen,
leadership
abilities,
and
technological
savvy,
lawyers
can
enhance
their
adaptability
and
resilience.
This
not
only
makes
them
more
valuable
to
their
current
organizations
but
also
better
prepares
them
for
future
roles
in
a
rapidly
changing
legal
landscape.
Taking
The
First
Steps
To
Becoming
A
T-Shaped
Lawyer
Peter
suggests
several
practical
steps
for
lawyers
at
different
stages
of
their
careers:
-
Junior
Lawyers.
Start
by
adopting
a
businessperson
mindset.
Understand
your
organization’s
business
model,
goals,
and
challenges.
Begin
practicing
business
partnering
by
giving
business-oriented
advice
alongside
your
legal
guidance. -
Mid-Career
Lawyers.
Engage
in
internal
business
work
by
supporting
legal
operations
and
identifying
opportunities
for
process
improvements.
Begin
exploring
business
leadership
by
taking
on
projects
that
have
a
broader
impact
on
the
organization. -
Senior
Lawyers.
Focus
on
strategic
business
leadership.
Lead
cross-functional
teams,
drive
business
initiatives,
and
mentor
junior
lawyers
in
developing
a
T-shaped
skill
set.
Final
Thoughts
The
T-Shaped
Lawyer
framework
is
more
than
a
buzzword;
it’s
a
strategic
approach
to
legal
practice
that
aligns
legal
expertise
with
business
needs.
By
embracing
this
framework,
lawyers
can
enhance
their
career
prospects,
add
significant
value
to
their
organizations,
and
become
indispensable
business
leaders.
Whether
you’re
just
starting
your
career
or
are
a
seasoned
in-house
lawyer,
adopting
a
T-shaped
approach
can
help
you
navigate
the
complexities
of
today’s
corporate
environment
and
prepare
for
the
future
of
law.
For
more
insights
on
becoming
a
T-Shaped
Lawyer
and
advancing
your
career,
don’t
miss
our
full
episode
with
Peter
Connor.
Olga
V.
Mack
is
a
Fellow
at
CodeX,
The
Stanford
Center
for
Legal
Informatics,
and
a
Generative
AI
Editor
at
law.MIT.
Olga
embraces
legal
innovation
and
had
dedicated
her
career
to
improving
and
shaping
the
future
of
law.
She
is
convinced
that
the
legal
profession
will
emerge
even
stronger,
more
resilient,
and
more
inclusive
than
before
by
embracing
technology.
Olga
is
also
an
award-winning
general
counsel,
operations
professional,
startup
advisor,
public
speaker,
adjunct
professor,
and
entrepreneur.
She
authored Get
on
Board:
Earning
Your
Ticket
to
a
Corporate
Board
Seat, Fundamentals
of
Smart
Contract
Security,
and Blockchain
Value:
Transforming
Business
Models,
Society,
and
Communities. She
is
working
on
three
books:
Visual
IQ
for
Lawyers
(ABA
2024), The
Rise
of
Product
Lawyers:
An
Analytical
Framework
to
Systematically
Advise
Your
Clients
Throughout
the
Product
Lifecycle
(Globe
Law
and
Business
2024),
and
Legal
Operations
in
the
Age
of
AI
and
Data
(Globe
Law
and
Business
2024).
You
can
follow
Olga
on
LinkedIn
and
Twitter
@olgavmack.