Legal ability assumed, understanding of the business distinguishes a corporate lawyer

I hadn’t appreciated the number of my entries that pound on the notion that in-house lawyers, especially senior lawyers, must grasp their company’s business if they are to succeed.

Legal skills are assumed at that level; hence the differentiator is the JD-to-MBA shift (Meta post: See my posts in 2005 of July 16 on “business acumen;” Aug. 3 on rotations through a business post; Oct. 23 on “corporate executive first” for GCs; Nov. 6 on CLE should be Continuing Business Education; Nov. 6 on GCs should broaden their business experience; and in 2006 of March 17 on “business aptitude;” and April 12 on university training for in-house lawyers.).