Article by Mafalda Cunha Luís  - Legal Manager at International Atlantic Services

Managing people’s inboxes may not sound glamorous, but it’s an essential part of what I do every day. As the legal manager of our firm, I’m often the link between many moving parts - teams, clients, and the unpredictable rhythms of legal work.

My days usually start early. On certain days, I catch the 7 a.m. flight to Porto and return to Lisbon by 6 p.m. - a full day of face-to-face time with our northern office, where I meet with colleagues, listen to their updates and concerns, and help them untangle the everyday complexities that come with working in law. The time in transit becomes my mobile office: email reviewing, call managing, and catching up on anything that needs my attention.

Back in Lisbon, the time doesn’t slow. I handle calls from both offices - Porto and Lisbon - keeping a pulse on team dynamics, client expectations, and internal challenges. I also review a high volume of emails and questions from our team. Each one matters because it reflects a doubt to be clarified, a task to be supported, or a situation that needs guidance.

And while management takes up a significant part of my time, I’ve made a clear decision to keep my own portfolio of clients. Having direct contact with them is important to me. It helps me stay grounded in the reality of client needs and the evolving challenges they face. It’s easy to lose that sensitivity when you're only looking at things from a management point of view. Remaining hands-on ensures that I keep perspective and empathy when guiding the rest of the team.

In this role, I’ve learned that listening is as important as leading. Whether it's replying to an email, taking a phone call, or sitting in a meeting, what people really want is someone to understand the context and help them move forward.

That’s what I aim to do every day.