Why Legal Needs Storytelling Skills to Influence the Business
The Challenge for Legal
Influencing Skills for Legal Teams
When you think about the hallmarks of a high-performing Legal function, what comes to mind? Knowledge? Thoroughness? Attention to detail?
But in today’s relationship-driven organizations, where influence matters as much as expertise, there’s another skill that makes all the difference: storytelling.
Technical accuracy is only part of the equation. Without the ability to influence senior stakeholders, Legal’s capacity to add value is severely limited.
Neuroscience shows that humans are wired to process stories more effectively than raw data.
Stories create context, emotion, and memory—all essential for better decision-making.
The ability to frame legal risk and advice within a compelling narrative makes it more likely to be heard, understood, and acted upon.
Why Legal Needs Storytelling Skills to Influence the Business
At Threshold, we help Legal professionals turn technically sound advice into influential messages—by tapping into the way in which the human brain actually responds to communication.
Why This Matters Now
In fast-moving, high-pressure environments, Legal’s window of influence is short.
Too often legal advice can sound and feel like a brake on momentum. But when Legal delivers advice in a way that encompasses the power of story—with stakes, consequences, and choices—the business starts to listen.
A Story That Brings This to Life
A team is closing a major deal.
The client demands immediate contractor deployment.
Legal spots a serious risk—no permits in place.
The client pushes back: “We’ll take responsibility.”
The business gets frustrated.
Legal starts quoting case law.
The result? Tension.
No shift in thinking.
No engagement.
So Legal tries something different.
They paint a concrete future scenario:
“Imagine this. Six weeks from now, a contractor is injured on-site. The press gets hold of the story. You’re asked to explain why we broke permit law. You say the client took responsibility. But the regulator says the law doesn’t work that way. Now consider another scenario. A similar accident happens/ But this time, we had taken a few small steps to protect ourselves in this eventuality.
Suddenly, the team sees themselves in the risk. It’s not just their reputation on the line, but a sizable fine, and potential loss of a client.
This is what cognitive scientists call mental simulation—when people imagine a situation, they engage emotionally, and are far more likely to act.
And the research backs it up. Studies from Stanford show that we remember information 22 times longer when it’s delivered through story, rather than as raw facts or bullet points.
Stories also activate the ventromedial prefrontal cortex—the part of the brain most directly involved in decision-making.
Put simply, you’re already a communicator. And as a communicator, you’re already a storyteller—whether you realize it or not.
Failing to embrace this role risks leaving Legal advice sidelined. Risk becomes invisible to decision-makers. And Legal is seen as technically sound, but commercially out of touch.
How Threshold Helps Legal Frame the Narrative
At Threshold, we help Legal professionals build storytelling skills they can use authentically and immediately.
Our approach combines behavioural science with hands-on storytelling practice, including:
- Immersive simulations — helping Legal teams reframe complex issues in emotionally credible ways.
- Cognitive framing techniques — adapted from journalism, social psychology, and behavioural economics.
- Live feedback loops — where Legal teams practise shaping narratives and see how they land in real time.
The Opportunity
Legal professionals who learn to shape the narrative become proactive advisors—trusted not just for what they know, but how they communicate it.
Practical Storytelling Tips for Legal Professionals
- Spot the story already in play — What’s the narrative your stakeholders are already telling themselves?
- Use “what if” scenarios — Help people mentally simulate the risks and outcomes.
- Anchor advice in real-world examples — Make it tangible and memorable.
- Feature relatable characters — Help the listener see themselves in the story.
- Show the journey from “problem to solution” — Paint both the risk and the safe path forward.
Threshold equips Legal teams with communication tools that reflect how real decisions are made.
Because people act on stories—not bullet points
At Threshold, we are helping our clients to ensure that their human workforce is committed, engaged and ready for the technology revolution. We do this by bringing about small shifts in line manager behaviour that make a big difference. To find out more visit www.threshold.co.uk
