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

General Item Description Purpose of meeting Introductory meeting between [insert your name], [insert your job title] and [insert name of CEO], CEO of [insert name of organisation] Date and time of meeting [Insert date] at [insert time of meeting] [am OR pm] Attendees [Insert name of CEO][Insert your name][[Insert names of any other invited attendees, eg your line manager]] Agenda Item Supporting documentation Person leading item Questions Introducing [insert name of organisation]’s in-house lawyer. N/A [Insert your initials] Explain

General Item Description Purpose of meeting Introductory meeting between [Insert your name], [insert your job title] and [insert name of CFO], CFO of [Insert name of organisation] Date and time of meeting [Insert date] at [insert time of meeting] [am OR pm] Attendees [Insert name of CFO][Insert your name][[Insert names of any other invited attendees, eg your line manager]] Agenda Item Supporting documentation Person leading item Questions Introducing [insert name of organisation]’s in-house lawyer. N/A [Insert

General Item Description Purpose of meeting Introductory meeting between [Insert your name], [insert your job title] and [insert name of Finance Director], Finance Director of [Insert name of organisation] Date and time of meeting [Insert date] at [insert time of meeting] [am OR pm] Attendees [Insert name of Finance Director][Insert your name][[Insert names of any other invited attendees, eg your line manager]] Agenda Item Supporting documentation Person leading item Questions Introducing [insert name of organisation]’s in-house lawyer. N/A [Insert your initials] Explain to the Finance Director who you are, where you were before, and why you joined this organisation. Structure and reporting Copies of:—departmental structure chart;—outsourcing agreements;—list of the organisation’s spend

General Item Description Purpose of meeting Introductory meeting between [Insert your name], [insert your job title] and [insert name of HR Director], HR Director of [Insert name of organisation] Date and time of meeting [Insert date] at [insert time of meeting] [am OR pm] Attendees [Insert name of HR Director][Insert your name][[Insert names of any other invited attendees, eg your line manager]] Agenda Item Supporting documentation Person leading item Questions Introducing [insert name of organisation]’s in-house lawyer. N/A [Insert your initials] Explain to the HR Director who you are, where you were before, and why you joined this organisation. Structure and reporting Copies

General Item Description Purpose of meeting Introductory meeting between [Insert your name], [insert your job title] and [insert name of IT Director], IT Director of [Insert name of organisation] Date and time of meeting [Insert date] at [insert time of meeting] [am OR pm] Attendees [Insert name of IT Director][Insert your name][[Insert names of any other invited attendees, eg your line manager]] Agenda Item Supporting documentation Person leading item Questions Introducing [insert name of organisation]’s in-house lawyer. N/A [Insert your initials] Explain to the IT Director who you are, where you were before, and why you joined this organisation. Structure and reporting Copies of:—departmental structure chart;—outsourcing

General Item Description Purpose of meeting Introductory meeting between [Insert your name], [insert your job title] and [insert name of Procurement Director], Procurement Director of [Insert name of organisation] Date and time of meeting [Insert date] at [insert time of meeting] [am OR pm] Attendees [Insert name of Procurement Director][Insert your name][[Insert names of any other invited attendees, eg your line manager]] Agenda Item Supporting documentation Person leading item Questions Introducing [insert name of organisation]’s in-house lawyer. N/A [Insert your initials] Explain to the Procurement Director who you are, where you were before, and why you joined this organisation. Structure

General Item Description Purpose of meeting Introductory meeting between [Insert your name], [insert your job title] and [insert name of Real Estate Director], Real Estate Director of [Insert name of organisation] Date and time of meeting [Insert date] at [insert time of meeting] [am OR pm] Attendees [Insert name of Real Estate Director][Insert your name][[Insert names of any other invited attendees, eg your line manager]] Agenda Item Supporting documentation Person leading item Questions Introducing [insert name of organisation]’s in-house lawyer. N/A [Insert your initials] Explain to the Real Estate Director who you are, where you were before, and why you joined this organisation. Structure and reporting Copies of:—departmental structure chart;—outsourcing

General Item Description Purpose of meeting Introductory meeting between [Insert your name], [insert your job title] and [insert name of Sales and Marketing Director], Sales and Marketing Director of [Insert name of organisation] Date and time of meeting [Insert date] at [insert time of meeting] [am OR pm] Attendees [Insert name of Sales and Marketing Director][Insert your name][[Insert names of any other invited attendees, eg your line manager]] Agenda Item Supporting documentation Person leading item Questions Introducing [insert name of organisation]’s in-house lawyer. N/A [Insert your initials] Explain to the Sales and Marketing Director who you are, where you were before, and why you joined this organisation. Structure and reporting Copies of:—departmental structure chart;—outsourcing agreements. [Insert Sales and Marketing Director’s initials] How

General Purpose of meeting Introductory meeting between [Insert your name], [insert your job title] and [insert name of head of function], head of [insert department] of [Insert name of organisation] Date and time of meeting [Insert date] at [insert time of meeting] [am OR pm] Attendees [Insert name of head of function][Insert your name][[Insert names of any other invited attendees, eg your line manager]] Agenda Item Supporting documentation Person leading item Questions Introducing [insert name of organisation]’s in-house lawyer. N/A [Insert your initials] Explain to the head of function, briefly, who you are, where you were before, why you have joined this organisation. Team structure Copies of:—departmental structure chart;—changes in structure in the last year/anticipated changes in the next six months;—outsourcing agreements. [Insert head of function’s initials] How is the head of function’s team structured? Ask for a structure chart.What changes have been made to the teams over the past year? Is any change or restructuring anticipated in the next six months? Regulation List of legislation and regulation that apply to [insert head of function’s initials]’s area of work.Details of specific training/qualification/expertise held by [insert head of function’s initials]

A meeting with your line manager on your first day in your new role is strongly recommended. Although at such an early stage it is likely only to be a ‘get to know you’ meeting, there will be a number of things that you can ask in order to feel more comfortable in your post. Where you are the only in-house lawyer or head of an in-house team, your line manager is likely to be the CEO/Finance Director, but may be any other director. If you are joining an existing team, your line manager may be in a legal, regulatory or compliance position, eg as Company Secretary, General Counsel, Senior Solicitor, Legal Director, Compliance Director or may hold a non-legal position, eg Finance Director or CEO. In a large team with layers to the reporting lines, your line manager may be someone within that structure. This Checklist sets out key areas to cover in a more structured meeting with your line manager soon after you take up your new role as an in-house

This Checklist sets out practical steps to take in your first week in a new role as an in-house lawyer. It signposts relevant Precedents you can use or adapt to help with these steps. There is a section for you to mark whether you have completed the action and also to insert comments. It should be read in conjunction with Practice Note: Finding your feet in-house—your first week. Day 1 Your first day is going to be dominated by practical matters. Start by thinking about your own needs, eg your health, safety and security, your contract, travel to the office, office access: Practical step Further details Comment/action ☐ Meet with your line manager This meeting should be fairly informal, but mention the need to set up a more structured meeting soon—perhaps in your second week with the organisation—see: New to role—meeting with your line manager—checklist.Explain that you will also be wanting to set up meetings with various key players in the organisation, eg the CFO, CEO, directors and heads of function—see: Day 2 below.Gain