'Get in the game, not shout from the sideline' - Time to rethink becoming an in-house solicitor?

What is life like as an in-house solicitor? Victoria Marr, senior legal counsel in the Outsourcing, Technology and IP Team (OT&IP) at NatWest, gives us an insight into the many facets of this rewarding career.

An in-house lawyer does much more than just give legal advice. They are a strategic partner, risk manager and problem solver all rolled into one. ‘In-house’ is a catch-all term that covers a vast range of organisational set ups. There is so much variety within the in-house community and rarely are two in-house roles the same. However, what does unite most lawyers working in-house is our ability to understand the business we serve on a deep level, and to blend that commercial understanding with our unique legal skill sets. In doing this, we deliver pragmatic and innovative solutions to complex problems to help drive the business towards its vision. In-house lawyers do not just give legal advice, they get a seat at the table to help shape the business strategy.

In OT&IP we provide a broad spectrum of support, from transactional work (such as advising on technology and outsourcing agreements with the bank’s key strategic suppliers) to helping the business navigate developing regulations and emerging technology. We are also responsible for looking after the bank’s portfolio of intellectual property. In recent years, our team has been involved in projects relating to the metaverse, blockchain, non-fungible tokens (NFTs), open banking and, more recently, generative artificial intelligence (AI). When you are working in these emerging spaces, there is no playbook or precedent. You must be prepared to get off the fence, give your own view and operate in shades of grey.

Every day is different. One minute you are guiding the business through a high-stakes negotiation; the next, you’re decoding regulatory changes and empowering the business to thrive in a fast-changing world. You’re the go-to person for creative solutions and the calm in the storm when crises hit.

Culture and collaboration

I am one of those lucky people who gets to say I love my job. But what makes OP&IP at NatWest so great to work for? Underpinning everything we do in the team is our culture. Created by the team, and embedded within it over several years, it is split into three pillars:

(1) High performance

(2) Progressive mindset

(3) Teamship

Culture has become a bit of a buzzword, and if your culture consists of some words on a piece of paper that lives in a drawer or is written on the wall, that is all it will ever be. Our culture works because we live it and breathe it every day.

By blending high performance with teamship, I have the perfect balance of feeling challenged and supported. I am continually pushed beyond my comfort zone, which fosters my growth and development. But while the challenges can be demanding, I never feel overwhelmed; my colleagues provide the necessary support to navigate these hurdles, sharing their learnings, experience and points of view. This perfect balance keeps me engaged and motivated.

The bond within our team is palpable. Collaborating with exceptionally talented colleagues creates an environment where we inspire each other to elevate our performance. This sense of camaraderie not only makes work fun but also fosters an environment where everyone strives for excellence. We frequently call out each other’s successes and everyone is respected and valued for what they bring to the table. At the same time, the onus is on everyone in the team to help each other to grow and improve and we do this by providing regular, developmental feedback, which is a skill I have found really rewarding and empowering from a leadership perspective.

We are also aware of how privileged we are, and we try to recognise that by supporting charitable causes that are important to us. One charity we regularly support is Bethany Christian Trust. Every month a few members of our team will go out in the charity’s care van to help provide essential services to people affected by homelessness in Edinburgh. Having a collective sense of purpose strengthens and bonds the team.

Psychological safety isn’t created overnight. It is built by being consistent in the way we behave and show up every day and our team has worked hard to cultivate a psychologically safe environment. It allows us to be vulnerable, ask questions freely and own our mistakes as opportunities for learning. The focus on giving structured, well-considered coaching means we can give and receive developmental feedback comfortably, knowing the spirit in which it is given. It empowers us to express ourselves without fear and fosters an open dialogue that leads to innovation, improvement and quick resolution of any issues.

Having the freedom to experiment and bring fresh ideas to the table really enhances my job satisfaction. We are encouraged to go out and speak to interesting people in the bank, in the profession and in completely different industries and bring new ideas and perspectives back to the team. We can experiment and try new things – like using innovative technologies to improve our service delivery – without fear of failure. I’m able to use modern, developing technologies and the bank’s own generative AI tools to see if they can enhance the ways in which we can provide legal services – finding the balance between the benefit that these tools can bring and the potential risks they create is something I’ve really enjoyed. Just this week I was lucky enough to attend a legal hackathon, where I collaborated with a diverse group of people from across the industry and the globe to come up with (initially wacky, but later more refined) solutions to real-world legal problems.

Working within an organisation like NatWest opens up vast opportunities to connect with highly intelligent, experienced and innovative individuals with completely different skill sets and backgrounds. The potential for collaboration and learning is immense, allowing me to work alongside people who are experts in their field. For example, we have been working closely with colleagues in technology, data and analytics over the past few years to really understand generative AI, not only so we can understand how it will impact the bank and financial services as a whole, but also so we can understand how we can use it to optimise the legal services that we deliver.

Being an in-house lawyer involves much more than just legal work. It is about understanding the business from the inside out, building relationships across the teams and turning challenges into opportunities, all while working towards a collective goal with your stakeholders. You’re not shouting advice from the sidelines; you are in the game, driving decisions that make a real impact. It’s dynamic, fast-paced and rewarding – a career where no two days are ever the same. So, if you’re pondering your next career move then I’d encourage you to take a moment to explore the world of in-house. It might just surprise you.

Written by Victoria Marr, senior legal counsel in the Outsourcing, Technology and IP Team, NatWest