Tired of law firm hours and demands? If you are willing to earn a little less, consider being an in-house counsel. You will have your weekends, you will have more control over your schedule, and you may still have quite an exciting career.
Of course, expectations vary depending on where you work, but not only will you have your weekends, but there won't be a partner telling you at the last minute to work overtime.
In-house counsel averaged $107,000 last year. Demand is improving lately.
If you love high pressure and high volume output - and be honest, some love law firm pressure despite their complaints - then stay in a firm where you can be justly compensated for your type-A personality.
If, however, you have paid your dues and would like to focus on your family, consider working as an in-house counsel.
This job also comes with its foibles. Many businesses merge or go out of business for this reason or that, and an in-house counsel is hit hard in those instances. Job security may or may not be an issue.
You will also have a different approach to the law. You must take the time to know how the whole business works, getting a sense for how sales, manufacturing, development, and all other teams work. Communication is more important. You won't be working, probably, with a team of lawyers, but with a smaller set of legal help. So you must learn to speak the language of the business you work with.
This could be the career change you've been itching for. Consider it, and take the time to discover what your heart and soul really want, as well as what your agenda and pocket book want. This could be the career change that lets you be the mother or father you always wanted to be, to make time for your spouse, and also to practice law in a different and exciting manner.
LawCrossing offers a good listing of what in-house jobs are out there, and who is hiring. Click here to browse in-house jobs on LawCrossing.
