There’s
a
saying
I
first
heard
from
Robert
Hanna,
a
legal
recruiter
and
LinkedIn
influencer,
that
has
stuck
with
me:
“It’s
not
who
you
know,
it’s
who
knows
you.”
And,
let
me
tell
you,
he’s
absolutely
right.
As
an
in-house
lawyer,
relationships
are
everything
—
but
it’s
not
just
about
collecting
connections.
It’s
about
building
your
brand
and
reputation,
both
online
and
offline,
so
when
opportunities
arise,
people
think
of
you
first.
It’s
about
staying
top
of
mind,
becoming
that
trusted
person
to
whom
others
will
reach
out
because
they
know
you
bring
value,
integrity,
and
solutions
to
the
table.
I’ve
learned
over
time
that
this
reputation
isn’t
something
you
can
just
create
overnight
—
it’s
built
in
the
small,
consistent
actions
you
take
in
your
daily
interactions.
This
means
showing
up,
delivering
on
promises,
and
being
intentional
about
how
you
handle
challenges,
whether
they
come
from
colleagues,
clients,
or
even
the
competition.
The
legal
profession
is
a
surprisingly
small
world,
so
burning
bridges
is
never
a
good
strategy.
Trust
me
on
this:
no
matter
how
tempting
it
may
be
to
walk
away
from
a
role
or
a
relationship
in
frustration,
how
you
transition
out
of
a
situation
often
speaks
louder
than
how
you
entered
it.
Taking
the
time
to
leave
gracefully,
no
matter
the
circumstances,
leaves
a
lasting
impression.
It’s
not
easy,
but
the
legal
community
has
a
long
memory,
and
how
you
manage
those
tricky
exits
will
be
remembered.
One
of
the
biggest
challenges
I’ve
faced
is
learning
to
say
no
—
and
doing
so
with
grace.
As
in-house
counsel,
we
often
wear
many
hats,
and
the
ability
to
set
boundaries
is
critical
to
maintaining
focus
and
sanity,
but
“no”
doesn’t
have
to
be
a
door
slam.
I’ve
come
to
appreciate
that
saying
“no”
professionally,
respectfully,
and
with
gratitude
often
leaves
more
doors
open
than
it
closes.
Don’t
get
me
wrong.
I
have
not
always
done
this
as
well
as
I
should
have.
I
have
made
mistakes.
I
have
fumbled
through
awkward
transitions.
I
have
been
less
diplomatic
than
I
should’ve
been.
I
am
learning
and
I
am
improving
—
and
that’s
the
real
lesson
here.
I
am
not
perfect,
but
I
do
know
that
I
am
capable
of
getting
better.
Along
the
way,
I’ve
also
learned
the
importance
of
owning
my
own
mistakes.
We
are
all
going
to
slip
up
from
time
to
time
—
what
matters
is
how
we
respond
to
those
slip
ups.
Don’t
try
to
bury
the
mistakes
you
make.
Acknowledge
them
and
use
them
as
a
chance
to
grow
and
develop.
The
truth
is,
you
can
turn
something
you’re
less
than
proud
of
into
something
you
can
be
proud
of.
It’s
not
about
the
mistake
you
make,
it’s
about
how
you
handle
what
happens
afterward.
People
are
far
less
likely
to
remember
the
mistake
and
far
more
likely
to
remember
your
integrity
in
addressing
it.
Handling
a
mistake
with
transparency
and
accountability
can
actually
strengthen
your
reputation
and
turn
a
negative
into
a
positive.
The
key
to
long-term
success
in
the
legal
profession
isn’t
just
knowing
the
law
or
being
great
at
what
you
do
—
it’s
also
about
being
remembered
for
how
you
handle
yourself.
Build
your
reputation,
nurture
relationships,
and
aim
to
leave
every
place
you
go
better
than
you
found
it.
Whether
you
are
engaging
online
or
in-person,
you
want
to
make
sure
that
these
actions
accurately
reflect
who
you
are
personally
and
who
you
are
professionally.
As
I
head
into
2025,
that’s
the
biggest
takeaway
for
me:
that
reputation
matters.
It’s
not
just
who
you
know
—
it’s
who
knows
you.
How
do
you
want
to
be
known?
Lisa
Lang
is
an
in-house
lawyer
and
thought
leader
who
is
passionate
about
all
things
in-house.
She
has
recently
launched
a
website
and
blog
Why
This,
Not
That™
(www.lawyerlisalang.com
)
to
serve
as
a
resource
for
in-house
lawyers.
You
can
e-mail
her
at
[email protected]
,
connect
with
her
on
LinkedIn
(https://www.linkedin.com/in/lawyerlisalang/)
or
follow
her
on
Twitter
(@lang_lawyer).