Related Posts
It’s worth a shot 😊
Anyone able to give me a referral for Facebook (Meta) or Google?
I am a paralegal with 8 years of experience in the legal industry (+ Fortune 500). I was just diagnosed with a serious health condition and I’m looking for new remote position, that is challenging and offering high pay and benefits. Facebook (Meta) & Google currently have openings for positions that align with my skills. I kind ask that you simply share some tips, if you are unable to offer a referral. THANKS!
More Posts
Tech startup or big tech company? And why?
Rising Star
Coach
How do y'all approach getting freelance gigs?
Bowl Leader
Subject Expert
Coach
Additional Posts in In-House Counsel
Conversation Starter
Conversation Starter
New to Fishbowl?
Download the Fishbowl app to
unlock all discussions on Fishbowl.
unlock all discussions on Fishbowl.
I was really glad I waited until having 6 years of law firm experience to go in house. I was able to go in at the Director rather than VP level and with a pretty decent comp package. In house jobs available with 1-2 years experience, with exceptions, will be low paying and probably not super interesting. Most importantly, you will have left law practice without fully developing a portable skill set.
I’m biased because I landed an in-house position with the same company that I interned with in law school, and I’ve never worked as an associate in a firm. My work is meaningful. I work for a $14+ billion company - I primary negotiate transactions between 5M and 50M, and assist with higher volumes. I think it just depends on whether you have or can make connections with different companies. Also, which industries would you like to practice in? For example, banking hires in house attorneys with 2 years of experience. I have friends in house at WF with just one year of firm experience and a gap year.
I had to read this twice to make sure I wasn’t reading my own post. Yeah, exact same boat here.
There are so many people who have never worked at law firms who are highly successful and competent as in house lawyers.
That’s awesome. I loved both responses. It really is about investment and where you land. I’m a 3rd year who feels I am also learning a lot but with the end goal being in house.
You can go, but expect to be treated as a first year and make next to nothing. Wait another year or two. Being in house you are expected to be able to handle matters with little oversight. If you know nothing then you create more work for your GC/DGC unless it’s specifically a role they are looking to teach you their way
I hear what you all are saying but law firms are so unbearable and if I know I want to end up in house why not go now?
One option is applying for contract review roles for younger/smaller companies. If you prove your value and the co is one that fosters career growth, you can expand your practice and eventually may be able to practice in the area/areas of law you like more.
IF it’s a company that hires young and baby lawyers, then they’ll replicate the training and mentoring of a firm without the firm’s culture.
But if it’s not, as a young attorney you often don’t have the skill set you need to do well in-house, may not receive training to further hone your skills, and your progress on your existing skills may wane.
Adobe comes to mind.
But as far as escaping the grind, there’s no real effective method. The first few years suck, it’s like law school all over again. But you put in your time, hopefully make a dent in your loans and put a down payment on a house, then take your hard earned skills to a lower paying but better work-life balance in-house gig.
Really depends on where you’re trying to go, type of role, and salary expectations. You can definitely get a job but maybe it’s not the one you want. I can also guarantee you those who went in house earlier have much lower salaries.
I know I’m right as someone who went in early. Even when I switched jobs I was at a disadvantage salary wise. I’m ok with it but sometimes it’s frustrating that people who have less years practicing but more big law years make so much more
Personal experience: left a AmLaw 200 firm in July for an established and rapidly growing company. I had just under 2 years of M&A experience. The job title was asking for 3-5 years experience. My boss told me I got hired because even with less experience, she liked my personality and eagerness and she and I seemed to click more than any other applicant. I have 0 regrets and my life is 100x better. I make great money and have great hours. If you find the right position, I would not suggest waiting!
Wow. Thank you for sharing this! This is really encouraging.
I went in-house after 2 years of big law practice. Career took off. Bigger deals, more cross border experience, and gaining project management experience. There are plenty of in-house department’s hiring associates with 2+ years of experience. Be mindful of the practice, ensure you’ll continue to be mentored and grow, and set goals for yourself so you don’t get lost in the sauce.
It’s an odd time to switch, IMHO - I definitely left it too late to go in-house but at 2yrs, you have little useful experience and it’s a harder sell to suggest to potential employers (all but the biggest of whom won’t even be looking at hiring at your level) that you bring something useful. Wait for 5-7…?
You can do it now, but the opportunities and the types of work you’ll be doing will likely not be fun/interesting, or you’ll be stuck doing the same types of agreements everyday. And the development pace/trajectory of anyone working in-house is significant lower than that of those working at firms.
I’d give it a year or two more and then start looking in earnest. You also might consider asking folks at your firm if they can help you find a placement. At some firms you’d be surprised at how helpful they’ll be in doing so
Speaking from my own experience, I left for in house after 3 + years at a big firm, and I do not think I would have been successful in house but for that experience. I believe most of my colleagues came with 5 + years of experience. Good luck, I was pretty burnt out in big law and knew I wanted to go in house, I just didn’t think I would have had the opportunity before the 5 year mark.
I went in-house after two years in PP. For me, the keys: (1) make sure the in-house position you are moving to has very good mentorship opportunities and supervising attorneys with an interest in helping you learn. Take initiative to ask lots of questions about this in the interview process and trust your gut. (2) make sure you are moving to a company with opportunities for growth long term rather than a flat org chart. You will likely start in a junior position and should make sure there is some room to advance your career without job hopping too much.
I went in-house right after I graduated at a state agency, then kept going in-house after that and absolutely love it. If you can’t find a private company in-house now, then working in a state agency is similar, and at least helps to get you started somewhere to pivot to corporate in-house later on.