If you haven't actually held a position as in-house legal counsel, it's hard to understand where the "tension" of this job comes from.
It is not physical labor, but it constantly wears on your nerves;
It doesn't require you to display your emotions, but demands that you remain alert under pressure;
It seldom stands in the spotlight, yet demands sound judgment at critical moments.
I have worked as corporate legal counsel in the United States for many years, serving companies of various sizes. I have also been involved in projects such as mergers and acquisitions, compliance restructurings, and internal investigations. Most of the time, I am not "debating issues", but rather bearing structural risk for the company.
In such work, the external aspects – including one's attire – are never just superficial issues.
The daily work of a corporate legal officer is much more complicated than just "reading contracts".
The actual working situation is usually like this:
The flight leaves at 6 a.m. After landing, we will immediately enter the meeting room.
The previous night, they were still working on the terms. By the morning, they already had to face the board of directors to explain the risks.
Video conferences can come up at any time, and the participants could be investment banks, external lawyers or regulatory advisors.
Within a single day, roles kept changing: internal advisor, risk controller, negotiation participant.
In these situations, your professionalism is not achieved through "performance", but rather through a stable and predictable sense of presence.
And clothing is the most tangible manifestation of this sense of presence.
Why is it particularly important for corporate legal departments to project stability?
I have seen too many intelligent people being underestimated at the conference table.
It wasn't because they said something wrong, but because the other person immediately developed a subtle sense of distrust – the creases on the sleeves, the distortion of the jacket, the unevenness of the shirt. These details would unconsciously diminish the weight of your words.
In a legal role, you are often not the one who offers suggestions, but the one who prevents problems from occurring.
And "preventing" in itself is not appealing.
If you still appear a bit sloppy in your appearance, the other party will be more likely to overlook your judgment.
Business trips are the norm, not the exception, for legal professionals in enterprises.
During the merger project, I spent several consecutive weeks traveling between different cities.
The suitcase was filled with documents, computers, power supplies, backup mobile phones — but still couldn't fit a traditional iron.
The ironing service provided by the hotel is unreliable, and this is a common experience shared by many people:
- The temperature is out of control.
- The equipment is old.
- Confusing usage environments.
Once, before a meeting, I noticed that my suit jacket had obvious creases. But I had no time to fix it. That meeting, my attention was completely distracted throughout, and I knew in my heart that I shouldn't have wasted my energy on such a trivial matter.
For me, a small steamer is not a symbol of "a refined lifestyle", but rather a work tool.
I started carrying a small steamer with me not because of any lifestyle considerations, but rather based on very practical professional judgment.
It doesn't address the issue of "whether it looks good or not", but rather several key questions:
▪ Reduce unnecessary decision-making costs
In high-intensity cognitive work, every additional judgment is a burden.
Taking a few minutes to get dressed with the help of a small steamer means I can fully focus on the contract structure and risk logic.
▪ Maintain consistency across different scenarios
Whether in a hotel, a client's office, or a temporary meeting room, a small steamer allows me to quickly return to an appearance that is "ready for professional engagement".
▪ Assist in completing the mental transition
The process of organizing my clothes with a small steamer is, for me, a kind of transitional ritual.
It signifies: I have moved from a state of motion to a state of reflection.
Fabric, steam, and practical use considerations
The dress code for legal affairs personnel in enterprises is usually conservative, but the fabrics used are not simple:
- Wool suit
- High-count cotton shirt
- Dark-colored fabrics are predominant.
Compared to traditional irons, the steam method used by a small steamer is more gentle on these materials and safer as well.
It leaves no obvious indentations and is less likely to damage the structure of the clothes.
Over time, I gradually developed a set of fixed habits:
I only deal with the key visible areas and achieve a "sufficiently professional" state in the shortest possible time — something a small steamer is particularly well-suited for.
As for Nesugar, my feelings are quite simple.
I'm not someone who frequently changes tools.
But in actual use, the design of Nesugar as a small steamer gave me a sense of "being understood".
That understanding does not come from the promotion, but from the details —
You can sense that this small steamer is designed for real usage scenarios, rather than just laboratory parameters.
For me, this is already sufficient.
The professionalism of corporate legal affairs often manifests itself in places where no one pays attention.
The truly mature professional state is not when one is praised, but when one is not questioned.
When you enter the meeting room, the other party is willing to listen quietly until you finish speaking;
When you point out potential risks, the focus of the discussion is on the content rather than on you personally;
When you oppose a certain decision, no one doubts the professionalism of your stance.
These results did not come about all at once.
It comes from the accumulation of countless details, including whether you can maintain your proper state in any situation — sometimes with the quiet assistance of a small steamer.
Final Note
A small steamer won't make you a smarter lawyer,but it can prevent you from being distracted by irrelevant matters.
In this profession that requires long-term alertness, self-restraint and self-discipline,this has already become a very practical assistance.
If you are working in a similar position, you will probably understand that:What truly matters is never the tool itself, but what it helps you preserve.
