To young professionals, lawyers can very well feel like walking, talking, Terms and Conditions—dense, cryptic, and cause for concern.
You know they’re important.
You know you’re supposed to “read” them.
But let’s be honest, if you could fast-forward those meetings the way you scroll to the bottom of that page and click ‘Accept,’ you would.
Learning how to work with lawyers is one of the most underrated professional skills you can develop early in your career. Whether you're a startup founder, marketing manager, data analyst, or first-time intern, this guide will help you bridge the business-legal gap so you can move projects forward, protect your interests, and maybe, just maybe, not lose your mind in the process.
Understand What Lawyers Actually Do
Before beginning your work with lawyers, it’s key to understand what they actually do—and what they do not. Pop culture would have you believe that lawyers exist to argue in court, write in all caps, or say “no” for a living. But in reality, most lawyers spend their time helping businesses move forward—not holding them back.
At their core, lawyers are professional risk managers. They’re trained to spot legal landmines before you step on them. That contract you want signed tomorrow? They’re not trying to stall it—they’re trying to make sure it doesn’t come back to haunt you a year from now. That sudden red flag about a marketing campaign? They may have seen a regulatory issue you didn’t even know existed.
But here’s the key: lawyers don’t run your business.
You do.
They advise; they don’t decide. And just like you wouldn’t expect your accountant to launch a product or your creative director to write HR policy, don’t expect a lawyer to move a deal forward without your input.
And speaking of input—knowing which kind of lawyer you’re working with makes a huge difference.
Most lawyers specialize in one of two arenas: transactional or litigation. Think of them as two sides of the same legal coin—one works to prevent problems, the other steps in when things go sideways.
Transactional attorneys help you build things: companies, deals, contracts, partnerships. They’re in the room when you’re making moves—not arguing about them later. If you're hiring employees, signing vendors, licensing software, or raising capital, it's a transactional lawyer making sure the paperwork protects your business and doesn't leave you exposed.
Litigators, on the other hand, enter the scene when there's a dispute. A vendor didn’t deliver? A client refuses to pay? Someone’s threatening to sue over that Instagram post from 2020? That’s litigation territory. These attorneys prepare arguments, manage court filings, and do everything in their power to either win the fight—or keep you out of it in the first place.
Your lawyer may not be wearing a cape, but if you’re working with the right one—and asking the right things—they can absolutely save the day. Just don’t hand the wrong hero the wrong mission.
Speak Their Language (But Don’t Try to Sound Like a Lawyer)
Clear communication is a universal professional skill, but when it comes to working with lawyers, it’s critical. Legal advice isn’t one-size-fits-all—it’s built on the details you provide. If your attorney doesn’t have a firm grasp of the situation, your goals, and the context behind your request, they’re essentially operating in the dark. A vague ask like “Can you look this over?” won’t get you far.
Instead, spell it out: What is this document? Why does it matter? What exactly are you worried about? And what level of input are you looking for—a quick gut check, or full legal approval?
The more specific you are, the more helpful and efficient your legal partner can be.
Just as important as being clear is being authentic. Resist the temptation to pepper your communications with legal buzzwords you don’t fully understand. Throwing around terms like “breach,” “indemnify,” or “waiver” without knowing exactly what they mean doesn’t make you look sharp—it just muddies the water. Lawyers are trained to pick up on misuse, and it can lead to confusion or wasted time. Your job isn’t to sound like a lawyer—it’s to communicate like a professional. Stick to plain language, and focus on what you know best: the business, the strategy, and the goal.
And if you’re unsure about something? Ask. There’s no shame in saying, “Can you walk me through what this clause actually means?” or “What happens if we leave this section out?” In fact, questions like these show that you’re engaged and willing to understand the legal side of your work. Good lawyers don’t expect you to know everything. What they appreciate is a thoughtful, curious partner who wants to get it right. Remember: asking a “dumb” question early is a whole lot cheaper than fixing a dumb mistake later.
Understand That Legal Work Takes Time
If you're used to fast-paced business cycles, looping in legal can feel like slamming the brakes. You send something over, expecting a quick review—and three days later, you're still refreshing your inbox. Frustrating? Sure. But before you assume your lawyer is just being slow or overly cautious, it's worth understanding why legal review often takes more time than expected.
Legal work isn’t just about reading through a document and giving it a thumbs-up. It’s about risk assessment, language precision, regulatory compliance, and worst-case-scenario planning—all rolled into one. That “simple” contract? It might have implications for liability, intellectual property, enforceability, and jurisdiction. And that’s before even considering whether your deal complies with state law, federal law, or your existing agreements. What feels like a delay is often due diligence at work.
Lawyers are trained to look at what could go wrong—not just what’s happening now. And that mindset takes time. You might be focused on closing a deal by Friday, but your attorney is thinking about what happens if the relationship sours next year. It’s not pessimism—it’s protection.
That said, legal teams work best when they’re brought in early. If you’re waiting until the eleventh hour to ask for a contract review, you’re setting both of you up for stress and shortcuts. The earlier legal is looped in, the more time they have to offer real value—not just emergency fixes.
So yes, legal work may take a little longer than you hoped. But most of the time, it’s because your lawyer is doing exactly what you hired them to do: protect your business before a problem becomes a headline. Set clear expectations up front, give them the time they need, and trust the process. It’s not a delay—it’s an investment in doing things right.
Click ‘Accept’—With Confidence
Lawyers might still feel like walking, talking Terms and Conditions—but now you know how to work with them without hitting ‘Accept’ in blind frustration. By understanding what lawyers actually do (and don’t), you’ll stop mistaking caution for obstruction. By speaking their language—clearly and authentically—you’ll get faster, more relevant advice. And by respecting the time and depth legal work requires, you’ll build smarter timelines and stronger outcomes. At the end of the day, working with lawyers isn’t about legalese or loopholes—it’s about partnership. And when you treat your legal team like a strategic ally instead of a last-minute hurdle, you won’t just keep your sanity—you’ll help your whole business move forward smarter, safer, and stronger.