An article by my friend Michael P. Maslanka, “Seven Mindsets of Effective General Counsel,” appeared recently in Texas Lawyer. It includes advice that I found useful, and I hope you will as well.

Riskin Amazing Firms Amazing PracticesIn the article Mike suggests that "How lawyers think determines how we act." With that in mind, he encourages general counsel to “seek useful mindsets” rather than looking for answers.

The seven top mindsets he recommends – each of which he relates with humour and the benefit of experience – draw from a range of sources, including the military (e.g., “Pick the hill you want to die on”) to literature and film (e.g., despite what a character in Dostoevsky’s Brothers Karamazov says, Mike proposes that “A general counsel is not a conscience for hire”).

I highly recommend Mike Maslanka’s article and, as always, I invite your comments – on his advice or any other matter  – either via this blog or by emailing me directly.

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