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Going In-House? Get a One-Way Ticket

News today from Corporate Counsel magazine that Robert Graham's work as an in-house lawyer at General Re Corp. could land him in jail for life should be reason enough to think twice before leaving a law firm and going in-house. But even if a move in-house is not likely to send you to the Big House, there may be more subtle career factors that you should consider before making the leap. At his blog Counsel to Counsel, Stephen Seckler points to an article by his colleague Gloria Cannon which "suggests that a ticket out of a law firm is likely to be a one way ticket -- so think long and hard before you attempt the move."

Indeed, in the article, "A View from the Other Side: My Life as an In-House Attorney," Cannon frankly addresses some of the downsides to going in-house. She had spent five years as a BigLaw associate in Los Angeles when she got an offer to join a client. It sounded like a dream job, one she readily accepted. And it was, she emphasizes, "very positive" overall. But her experience on the inside served to debunk various myths held by those on the outside, such as that in-house work promises a cushier lifestyle, more exciting work and comparable pay.

The myth Seckler points to in his blog post is the assumption that if going in-house doesn't work out, one can always retreat to private practice. Not so, says Cannon:

First, law firms will question your commitment to staying at the firm for the long term. After all, you have already indicated that your commitment level to private practice is questionable by leaving in the first place. Firms will seriously question whether you are simply returning to earn some quick money before leaving again for the next available in-house opportunity.

Second, law firms will assume that your lawyering skills have deteriorated while you have been in-house since they will assume that you have relied on outside counsel to a large extent to handle any sophisticated matters. This may not necessarily be the case, but it will be a hard assumption to overcome.

But what about that positive experience Cannon mentioned? Going in-house definitely has its benefits, she writes: no more tracking billable hours, no pressure to market, and being on the receiving end of law firm marketing largess. But before you make the leap, she urges, consider where you'll land. "Once you leave private practice, it may be extremely difficult to go back."

Posted by Robert J. Ambrogi on March 26, 2008 at 07:20 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Comments

Licensed 35 years my first in-house position was with one of the largest banks in the country with a small but growing in house department. I left on my own after a few years do to a reorganization leaving me reporting to a new mid level manager who recruited his own team. What I learned? No matter how much your business clients love you, you have to be one of your boss's guys. Next was a long stint at a large in-house depart for one of the top three companies in an international industry. Great experience, lots of collegiality. What I learned? When the rank and file go on strike or when the business cycle goes bust all employees suffer. Law departments are cost centers no matter how much the General Counsel can show the CEO what a value the department is. And again, no matter how well you do and how much you know, you are expendable in the eyes of a boss who just doesn't like your style. Next stops with a small in house department until the medium sized company got bought out and the whole department was laid off -oops the business cycle, next stop in house at a huge department in another top tier company where the money was good, the hours reasonable, the recognition nil (but by then it didn't matter as long as I could pay college tuitions)and the security seemingly very good. Of course when the number 3 company buys number 2 there's a lot of overlap and that's when I left in house. Lesson learned in-house lawyers are just like other employees in the corporate world when it comes to "permanent" employment.

Posted by: s.palace | Mar 28, 2008 6:58:25 PM

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