Key insights

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1. Legal advice only works if people trust the advisor
Matt emphasizes that technically correct advice is useless if it’s delivered without context or empathy. Business leaders act on advice they understand and trust. Lawyers who focus only on legal accuracy often miss how decisions are actually made inside companies.

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2. Law school trains risk spotting, not decision-making
One of Matt’s core critiques is that lawyers are trained to identify every possible risk, but not to help businesses choose between imperfect options. In practice, leaders need prioritization, trade-offs, and clear recommendations — not exhaustive issue lists.

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3. Communication is the real force multiplier
Matt argues that how legal advice is framed often matters more than the substance itself. Translating legal risk into business impact is what earns lawyers influence. This skill becomes increasingly important as legal teams are expected to move faster with fewer resources.

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4. Clients don’t want perfection — they want progress
Across engagements, Matt sees the same pattern: clients value speed, clarity, and momentum over flawless documentation. Over-lawyering slows deals and erodes trust. The most effective lawyers help the business move forward while managing risk proportionally.

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5. Pricing and efficiency are becoming competitive advantages
Matt discusses how traditional billing models often misalign incentives. As clients demand efficiency, lawyers who understand pricing, scope, and value creation will outperform those who rely solely on billable hours.

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6. Being human is not a liability in legal careers
Rather than diminishing credibility, authenticity increases it. Matt’s openness about stress, uncertainty, and imperfection resonates because it reflects reality. In a profession that often rewards opacity, honesty becomes differentiation.

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7. Closing insight

The modern GC isn’t measured by how many risks they identify, but by how effectively they guide decisions. Matt Margolis’ approach is a reminder that legal leadership today is as much about people and judgment as it is about the law.