Candidates FAQs
Over the last decade, the role and profile of the in-house lawyer has increased significantly. A career in-house is now seen as a very real alternative to private practice. Some commonly cited reasons for wanting to make the switch follow:
Traditionally, most in-house lawyers would have described themselves as generalists rather than specialists. The key to a successful in-house career depended on being able to give pragmatic and commercial advice whilst also serving as a first port of call on almost any area of law.
In most cases, a solid law firm training and some post-qualification experience is preferred. Whilst typically 2 – 4 years PQE is seen as the optimum time to move, we do see opportunities for more junior candidates, including newly qualifieds. Generally speaking, the more senior you are, the greater the expectation that you will already have some previous in-house experience.
Whilst there are many benefits to working in-house, it is a totally different environment to private practice. You will be required to work in a very different way and will inevitably face new challenges and new pressures. Some points to consider follow:
If your aspiration is to become a General Counsel, you will need to be proactive in managing your career to ensure that you are developing new skills each time you take on a new role (whether internally or externally).