What Does an In-House Attorney Do?
As stated, an in-house attorney still practices law. The difference is that now they have one client: the corporation that employs them. It may feel as if they have many different clients because of the numerous contacts within the organization. Ultimately, though, the corporation itself is the client. The legal issues handled by an in-house attorney or general counsel depend largely on what the corporation does. In addition to the laws and regulations that affect the business, you may also need to understand international law.
You will need a thorough understanding of the following: worker’s compensation in states where the company hires employees, contracts (including both non-compete and non-disclosure agreements as well as their limitations), some intellectual property knowledge (or knowledge of when it is should be outsourced), how to negotiate with vendors and prospective clients, and expert-level business advice for the CEO, CFO, shareholders, and the board of directors.
In-house counsel and general counsel are also hired by nonprofits. In addition to many of the activities listed in the previous paragraph, with a nonprofit, you should also expect to be part of fundraising efforts. This may include planning fundraising events. Counsel may help with lobbying efforts as well as completion of non-profit documents, policy reviews, and the creation of internal controls.
For new businesses, in-house or general counsel may help determine the business structure and choose the proper location for the business. They may also write policies and procedures, handle insurance matters, negotiate leases, and negotiate contracts with vendors.
If you’re looking for general counsel jobs, you can also expect litigation to be part of your job description. You should immediately become familiar with any active litigation the corporation is involved with. Remember that non-profits can be involved in litigation, too.
Another common requirement of general counsel jobs is the supervision of the legal department as well as human resources. As a department, HR is required to follow both state and federal law. It usually falls to the general counsel or the in-house attorney to supervise HR as well as the company’s document retention policies to ensure applicable laws are followed.
One reason so many lawyers are interested in how to find an in-house counsel job is because of the potential for a better work-life balance. On the plus side, there are no billable hours. The corporation is your only client since they are your employer. The hours for an in-house attorney are usually the same s the corporation itself, but there will still be times when you find yourself coming in earlier, staying later, or working on weekends. You’ll likely be salaried and exempt from overtime pay. There may or may not be a bonus at the end of the year.
Aside from the bonus and salary (without overtime), what about the pay? According to Payscale.com, an in-house attorney who is mid-career earns an average of $116,339. A more experienced in-house attorney earns an average of $132,627. While you may earn less than someone in a law firm with equal experience, you’ll have no billable hours. You’ll likely have better benefits. Your hours will be more predictable, you can focus more on the practice of law, you’ll have one client, and you’ll get to handle deals from start to finish.
Should You Use a Recruiter or a Job Board to Find an In-House Position?
If you’re wondering how to go in-house, the most logical question is should you use a recruiter or a job board? The answer is: it depends.
There are several factors to consider. Those factors include:
- Your years of experience as a lawyer
- Your specialty (if you have one)
- Which in-house openings are available that match your specialty
- Whether you have specific corporations in mind
- Your age (yes, we know that shouldn’t matter…and no, the corporations and legal recruiters will never tell you to your face that it matters…or how it matters, but that’s why you read our articles – for the truth).
Generally speaking, corporations post junior in-house positions on job boards. They rely on legal recruiters for senior in-house positions and general counsel jobs. However, no hard and fast rule determines which legal recruiter a corporation will use any time they have a senior opening. Despite this general rule, don’t be surprised to find legal recruiters hiring for junior in-house counsel jobs and general counsel positions on job boards or a corporation’s website.
Specialty areas are important as well. A corporation or non-profit may need a generalist. However, they may also want an in-house lawyer or general counsel who specializes in negotiations, litigation, tax work, technology, intellectual property, or in another area. If you have years of experience in a certain area, a corporation may be willing to pay you more or a legal recruiter may be able to negotiate a higher salary on your behalf.
If you have specific corporations or non-profits in mind, it’s important to complete a bit of research on their hiring practices. That is, to determine where they place most of their jobs. Are they using their website? Are they placing their in-house counsel jobs on job boards? Are they using a legal recruiter? The first two questions are easy to determine. You can visit their website and look for employment opportunities. You can also perform an internet search with the corporation or non-profit name and the word “jobs.” You could also use the corporation or non-profit name with the phrase “in-house counsel jobs.” You may be able to get the answer to the third question by searching online. If you can’t, you could call the corporation and ask to speak with human resources. They should be able to tell you which legal recruiting agency they use for hiring.
When it comes to finding an in-house job, age often does matter. This isn’t a matter of ageism, per se. Rather, it’s how corporations may decide to classify and hire you. From our experience as legal recruiters, lawyers with years of experience and who are older than their mid-40s are more likely to be hired for general counsel jobs. Lawyers who are in their mid-40s and younger are more likely to be hired for in-house counsel jobs. That is not to say that a lawyer who is older than 45 won’t be hired as a senior or even a junior in-house lawyer depending on their experience. The number of years as a practicing attorney is still very much a factor. This just happens to be a trend that we’ve noticed over the years.
4 Tips to Help You Go In-House
If you’re searching for an in-house job, here are some tips to help you with your search.
Networking is often an important factor in landing an in-house job. Find ways to meet and get to know other in-house counsel and general counsel at corporations and non-profits that interest you. Not only is this a great way to build professional relationships, you may become one of the first to know about an opening.
Set up job alerts that are delivered to your email account. For job boards, first, run an in-house job search. This can be done based on location, corporation or non-profit, years of experience (if you’re using a legal job board), or other factors. Then, save the job search. Choose to have the job alert emailed to you. Job alerts can save you a lot of time as you search for the right in-house position or general counsel job for you.
Update your resume to highlight the skills required for the in-house position you’re interested in. While your resume should include all of your legal skills, your years of experience, and your education, it’s important to ensure that it is written and styled in a way that shows the corporation or the non-profit that you have the skills they want or need. Show them that your legal skills are the solution to their problems.
Get help from an experienced legal recruiter. Even if you find an in-house counsel position from a corporation that isn’t using a legal recruiter, a legal recruiter can still provide valuable help. You’ll have a second set of eyes on your resume and your cover letter. They can even help you restyle your resume. A legal recruiter can help prepare you for your upcoming interview. They may also be able to help you by finding an in-house counsel or general counsel opportunity in your area that you didn’t know about. It certainly never hurts to consider all of your opportunities!
