Connecting through shared language

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Hello Friends and Colleagues,

I mentioned in a recent post that I fully empathize with intelligent dogs like German Shepherds who have so much going on behind their eyes, yet no words to express themselves. It’s frustrating!

I know because for years I’d listen to conversations, fully understand the dialogue, and have so much to contribute, yet walk away without saying a word.

As a highly articulate speaker of my native Ukrainian language, the younger me was immobilized by my limited English language skills.

I didn’t want to feel the heat of all eyes burning through me while I struggled to pull the right words out of my meager grabbag. What if I said the wrong thing or was misunderstood? I was afraid I wouldn't be taken seriously or worse, be mocked.

Looking back, I held myself to a very high bar—too high. I wanted to be a perfect speaker and communicator, and I wanted it all at once. I was afraid that if I failed, it would be permanent.?

Eventually, I encountered the "public speaking" part of college. I had struggled mightily to get that far, and I had to dig deeper still to get beyond it. But I had to do it to graduate. Slowly, I started to speak more freely in school and in public.?

The best part about overcoming my fear of public speaking was how it helped me find my tribe: the law! Learning legalese felt like a moderate hill after conquering the English language mountain.?

Lawyers are uniquely situated to translate the law and explain its impact to clients and the public. Going beyond textbook definitions, connecting with others on a more personal level, and asking clients to share how they feel and what they think all help build better relationships that last a lifetime.?

People appreciate clarity into what’s at stake, but they cherish even more the feeling that they are understood. We crave feeling like others acknowledge our experiences and respect our thoughts.?

You won’t always have all the answers, and people won’t always have the exact words to articulate their needs. But I know that simply connecting through a shared language can be profoundly satisfying in itself.?

Do you have something you want to say, but don't know how to say it?

Have you ever felt like you were having a conversation with a wall? ??

How do you help clients understand the law?

Best wishes,

Olga

Asking for help can be difficult

How would you label this photo? How about: “New clients when they finally come to a lawyer for help.” One little bump could send the whole stack flying!

Success is a Team Effort. Who can you depend on?

Five Ways Leaders Can Help Avoid a Downfall. To make it to the top, you need more than just good ideas—you also need to be able to execute them flawlessly.

GCs and the Right Operations Leadership are a Match Made in Heaven. Half of the work of legal ops professionals helps their business partners obtain faster, more consistent, and simpler legal solutions.??

Empowering In-House Counsel to Become True Business and Innovation Enablers.? In-house legal teams are now more than legal protectors and perpetual cost centers, especially as technology opens more avenues for them to generate economic value.

AI Legal Assistant Will Help Defendant Fight a Speeding Case in Court. AI created by DoNotPay will provide a defendant with the appropriate lines to say in court through an earpiece in what is likely the first case defended by AI.

Web3: A New Era of Digital Law

“While critics race to dismiss the success of PFPs* and other NFTs as “money laundering,” those who understand the psychology of collecting recognize that, in a world where humans spend more time and money online than ever before, pricey NFTs are replacing physical luxury items as status symbols,” says lawyer Zach Lewis.?

*“PFPs” (or profile pictures) are computer-generated collectible avatars such as CryptoPunks, Cool Cats, and the Bored Ape Yacht Club.?

Lewis goes on to explain “why [NFTs are] here to stay long past the PFP craze (lovingly referred to by collectors as “jpeg summer”).? Read or listen Never Fear Technology: NFTs are Here to Stay.?

But remember, while virtual reality can offer a wealth of business opportunities, it also carries several risks, including IP theft, cybersecurity threats, and liability issues. Prepare Now!?

Notes to My (Legal) Self Corner:? We’re All on a Journey

Into the Fire: The Journey of a Corporate Legal Generalist: Stefanie Frank discusses her journey as an in-house attorney generalist navigating everyday problems, big projects, and a generalist legal team. She shares what inspires her and her latest journey into thought leadership.

The Art of Networking & How It Helped Me Become a GC. Many people advocate networking but rarely do they provide actionable advice on how to network well. Megan Lutes, General Counsel and author of The Art of Networking provides tools and resources for building an incredible network.

Coaching In-House Legal Leaders. Aparna Dasai Williams, a 20+ year veteran of in-house tech legal, reveals her trials, errors, and some successes in her journey to learn how to coach the next generation to become invaluable business partners and leaders in their organizations.

Last month’s NTMLS newsletter discussed “belonging” and asked “What communities are you involved in?” Here’s what you said:

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Olga V. Mack is the VP of LexisNexis and CEO and general counsel of Parley Pro, a next-generation contract management company that pioneered online negotiation technology. Mack shares her views in columns on ACC Docket, Newsweek, VentureBeat, Above the Law, and many other publications.

Mack is also an award-winning general counsel (including the prestigious ACC 2018 Top 10 30-Somethings and ABA 2022 Women of Legal Tech), operations professional, startup advisor, public speaker, adjunct professor, and entrepreneur. She co-founded SunLaw, an organization that prepares women in-house attorneys to become general counsels and legal leaders, and WISE, which helps female law firm partners become rainmakers.

She has authored numerous books, including 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 her next book, Visual IQ for Lawyers (ABA 2023).