The Role of the In-house Lawyer
Table of contents
Duties, Tasks, Boundaries – and How the Professional Role is Changing
The corporate counsel is a key figure at the intersection of law, business, and corporate strategy. They do not act as external consultants, but as in-house legal advisors who ensure operational and strategic decisions are legally sound – and increasingly shape them as business partners.
But what exactly does a corporate counsel do? What are the legal particularities – and how has the professional role changed in recent years?
👩⚖️ What is a Syndicus Lawyer?
A Syndicus Lawyer is a fully qualified lawyer with the aptitude for judicial office, who works as an employed lawyer in a company, association, or organization – and is also admitted as a lawyer.
Since the Syndicus Lawyer Act (2016), this dual role has been legally regulated: syndici can remain members of the Bar Association under certain conditions and stay in the professional pension scheme (e.g., for retirement planning).
🧾 Typical Tasks
Syndicus lawyers take on versatile roles in companies, including:
- Contractual review & drafting (e.g., sales and employment contracts)
- Compliance consulting and internal policy development
- Assisting with M&A transactions, data protection, or IP issues
- Representing the company in out-of-court proceedings
- Interface to external law firms and authorities
- Strategic advice for management or departments
In short: They are internal advisors with a legal focus – and business understanding.
⚖️ Legal Status & Distinctions
- No representation in court, as they do not handle “foreign” legal affairs within the scope of their employment relations (§ 46 BRAO)
- Independence & confidentiality obligation apply analogously to freelance lawyers
- Pension fund: Admission as a syndicus lawyer provides access to the professional retirement provision
- Professional oversight by the Bar Associations
🔄 How is the Professional Role Changing?
Today, the syndicus is more than “just” a legal checkpoint – increasingly, they become:
- Business Partner: Early involvement in strategy and transformation
- Change Manager: Supports change processes with a focus on regulation & risks
- Communicator: Translates law into economic decision-making foundations
- Digitizer: Actively drives Legal Tech projects & process automation forward
At the same time, pressure is increasing: Legal issues are becoming faster, more technical, and more complex. The “generalist with depth” is in demand – legally competent, economically pragmatic.
🧭 Conclusion
The Syndicus Lawyer is a modern response to the growing legal and regulatory pressure in companies. As a bridge between law and business, they play an increasingly central role – advising, steering, shaping.
Today, working as a lawyer in a company means more than just reviewing paragraphs – they actively shape the business.