Where you are taking over your role from someone else and you are offered a handover, it is strongly recommended that you take the opportunity to speak to your predecessor, even if it is only a brief telephone call. This Checklist is intended for new in-house lawyers joining an organisation to replace the organisation’s previous in-house lawyer. It sets out some key areas you may want to cover in any handover with your predecessor, however short. It should be read in conjunction with Practice Note: Taking up a new role in-house—replacing a previous in-house lawyer.

Nevertheless, the role is now yours and you needn’t be influenced to carry on exactly as before. There are always many ways of doing things and you must stamp your own mark on your role. You should build on what was done well previously and, where it is clear that some things weren’t working as well as they should, be prepared to act quickly to change things. You may need to tread carefully if your predecessor is to remain in the business in a different