IP Litigator Makes a Move for Better Work-Life Balance

Cecilya Amorim

March 13, 2025

Candidate: IP Litigation Associate

Level: 3 PQE

Move: Magic Circle Firm to International Firm

Location: London

Background

In November, our London Legal Recruiter, Jeffrey Dunne, connected with a candidate who was exploring career options. As a litigator with a young family, he was seeking a better work-life balance and was considering an in-house move.

During their conversation, Jeffrey provided valuable insight, explaining that while in-house roles may seem like an escape from private practice, they come with unique challenges:

Increased Responsibilities – In many cases, moving in-house means becoming the sole legal resource for the company, rather than being part of a larger legal team.

Heavier Workloads – Legal departments are under increasing pressure due to rising risks and economic uncertainties, often with fewer resources.

Salary Adjustments – While compensation isn’t everything, many in-house roles come with a significant pay cut, which can be a tough adjustment.

Rather than rushing into an in-house move, Jeffrey introduced the candidate to boutique and international firms that could offer a better work-life balance without sacrificing pay.

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The Journey

Despite Jeffrey’s advice, the candidate initially chose to move in-house. However, he quickly realized that the transition was particularly challenging for litigators, as their skill set doesn’t always translate smoothly to an in-house environment.

Realizing private practice might still be the best fit, the candidate restarted his search. He had three top choices, one of which, an international firm, quickly invited him for an interview. Around the same time, he was also interviewing with another firm that, while unable to offer a higher salary, was considering him for a full transactional role, an area that intrigued him.

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The Outcome

Both firms aligned with his goals, but Jeffrey’s strong relationship with the international firm allowed him to negotiate a higher salary and a sign-on bonus for the candidate.

Meanwhile, the other firm was delaying the process, and the candidate knew their offer wouldn’t surpass the international firm’s. With a clear decision in front of him, he accepted the international firm’s offer and resigned the next day.

Thanks to Jeffrey’s guidance, the candidate not only secured a role that met his needs but also avoided a potentially limiting career move.

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Recruiter Insight:

“In-house is not the magic bullet that lawyers think it can be and there are plenty of alternatives. I would advise a lawyer considering the move to in-house to consider the international tier or boutique firms before committing to something which can be hard to return to private practice from”. - Jeffrey Dunne (London Legal recruiter)

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