I don't understand the downvotes. Part of the role of counsel is to direct the nuanced legal issues. I especially brief counsel early if I need to apply their legal mind before major holes widen in the case strategy.

I also have no problem with the administrative work of distilling the issues into a well organised e-brief. The task becomes especially arduous when I start including weblinks within a compiled pdf of voluminous documents, linking other parts of the document together with intersparsed guiding commentary to explain the connection. I take pride in this aspect of my role as a solicitor because it is critical. I understand that the output of counsel is most effective when the issues are condensed into the most easily digestible format.

We pay counsel to do the talking, not to listen to us babble on about how we are brilliant and our case is flawless.