Should pre-LS non legal work be counted towards work experience when applying for new jobs in the legal field? For 8 years pre-LS I worked in a job related to law (primary client for clients, managed expectations, negotiated agreements, executed budgets). It's been 1.5 years since passing bars and getting my JD/MBA, I'm a rising 2nd yr associate applying to jr in house roles (which req min 3 yoe) but I'm rejected and told I don't have enough experience. Should employers value my pre-LS work?

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It doesn't really matter what they should do. You are where you are.

Most in-house jobs you are treated as very independent, so you need to have enough time lawyering to know the law and how to handle myriad legal situations without much guidance.

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Most places don’t, particularly for in house work. You need to know how to be a lawyer, in house groups are lean and don’t have a lot of time to train.

Most jobs look at how long you’ve been a practicing lawyer and that’s what matters. Your pre law experience may be an added benefit, but it’s not a substitute for practicing under your license.

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Your job is to highlight via your resume, cover letter, and interviews how your combined experience makes you more experienced than someone with just 3 years of lawyer experience.

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Nope pre law experience rarely matters

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Typically it is not counted. They are referring to 3 full years of legal experience

Depends on the role. I only had “JD preferred” experience negotiating contracts before landing an in house role and the attorneys that hired me by wanted business sense and communication skills.

Not exactly the same as what you’re describing but I’d look favorably on years of negotiating if I was hiring for a commercial role.

No

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