Working in-house can be very different than working at a law firm and can provide a more stable and less stressful working environment. Despite the current economic situation, with large corporations shutting down operations and cutting in staff altogether, in-house lawyers are still in high demand by a wide range of firms. Whether you are working for a large multi-national corporation, a blue chip financial institution or a boutique financial advisory you do not have to worry about recruiting new clients or working late nights or weekends to catch up with billable hours.
How do I find in-house legal jobs?
Choosing a career path as an in-house lawyer can be a daunting process and may require detailed planning. If you are a newly qualified lawyer looking to jumpstart your legal career you should gather as much information as possible for the companies you are looking to apply at. Furthermore, whenever possible try and approach current and past colleagues or your law school classmates who are willing to share information from their experiences, if any. For qualified lawyers with previous in-house experience or within a private law firm the options are wide open. There are many specialised agencies that offer in-house legal recruitment services and can provide excellent career advice.
Pros and cons of working in-house
In-house lawyers can benefit from the fact that not only they don’t have to worry about recruiting new clients but they only have one; the company they work for. Of course, working in a big corporation means that they have to deal with many different departments and colleagues but all procedures are internal and usually very well defined. Depending on the company’s operations, duties may vary but the common responsibilities focus around identifying legal issues within certain departments and business functions.What is really appealing about in-house legal jobs is the balance between work and personal life. For those looking for a more comfortable lifestyle where they can control their working hours choosing an in-house legal career can be the perfect outlet.There is of course a price for this comfort and this is the salary. Private law firms are willing to pay high salaries and very competitive bonuses to attract the best. Working in-house, means that you have to compromise with less compensation. On the positive side many companies offer stock options and bonuses that can balance the difference. Overall what you may lose in compensation you can expect to make up in personal time and quality in lifestyle.
Here is a list of the most important pros and cons of working in-house:
Pros:
• Working hours are usually shorter than working for a private law firm
• Quality of life can be better in terms of having more personal time
• No need for recruiting clients
• The learning curve is smoother
Cons
• Salary can be significantly less
• Might take a while until you deal with interesting cases that curry more responsibilities
• In small companies training could be insignificant
• The general approach in legal practice does not always allow to develop specialised knowledge
Is it for me?
Choosing a career path as an in-house lawyer is something that you should decide for yourself. Start looking for possible roles by approaching your personal connections first. They can give you a better insight about the nature and prospects of the job. Do some research on companies that you would potentially like to work for and send your application. If you are a private practice lawyer looking to move to in-house roles be realistic and try to weigh the pros and cons each position has to offer. Whichever path you choose, Barclay Simpson’s legal recruitment team can assist you in researching the companies or law firms that are closer to your skills and interests.
or You simply go and check LawCrossing.com
A best resource I used was LawCrossing.com, to look for a job because, unlike many of its competitor's sites, It hosts jobs from only employer websites and supports many more jobs than any other site I have ever used. But do not take my word for it, check out their website for yourself, they helped me find a job which eventually turned into my career.
Good Luck with the search..
Other Links :
LawCrossing is Not a Scam
LawCrossing Reviews
LawCrossing Review
LawCrossing Works
I Got a Job on LawCrossing
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment