Moving In-House: Is It Worth It And What If It's Not For Me?

When the time comes that you are faced with the decision between staying in private practice and going in-house, several factors should and need to be considered. One of the scariest parts of that decision is that once you make this choice, you’re stuck there FOREVER! ……. Or maybe not. 

Before we look into your reality as an in-house associate, let’s talk about the decision that precludes it. Going in-house is no small step in your legal career. Not to say that it isn’t a good decision for some. It’s just not the universal “solve all my problems” move that many people might think it to be. Several factors must be considered, and I’m here to ensure you weigh these options before making a move that could leave you regretting leaving your private practice life behind.
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Work-Life Balance

One of the biggest reasons people want to consider transitioning to an in-house role from their Big Law practice is because of the hours. It is no secret that being a Big Law attorney can be difficult, and given the scope of the work, long hours and unpredictable schedules are just the nature of the beast. But is a move in-house a quick fix to that issue?
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The truth is, this is only sometimes the case, and this has especially come to light in the last year or two. A career decision that once promised more predictability, might be losing one of its biggest selling points. In the wake of the pandemic, legal departments have significantly increased workload due to the need to manage increased risk and the economic uncertainties that have yielded a decrease in headcount. In a lot of cases, considering a move to a mid-tier firm could be an ideal alternative!

Salary

Any lawyer thinking about making this career move knows that going in-house means you are leaving some money on the table. It may seem like an easy pill to swallow, but the salary void can be felt in a short amount of time.

Although money isn’t everything, a salary decrease is hard for many people to manage and get used to. Many of my colleagues, who were once former Big Law associates, often talk about the challenges they faced when trying to compensate for a new salary that they weren’t used to!

Type of Work

Going in-house, in most cases, doesn’t mean that you are just joining a new legal team; you now are the legal team. This may excite some, but to others, this could drastically differ from the type of work that suits you best.

In private practice, especially in the world of BigLaw, the scope of work for which you’re responsible is very much focused on one area of the law. As an in-house attorney, this work becomes more generalized (in most cases). 

Whether you are the lone representative of the legal team or one of a small group, the work that you will now be asked to do will have your attention in a number of different directions. 

Additionally, being an in-house attorney means you are now a “cost” to the business and not a source of income as you would be in a firm.

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As I said before, this is not a 'dangers of going in-house' piece – the decision to go in-house could be an excellent option for some, and it is important to understand what you are walking away from to ensure that it is the right option for you.

Now, let’s say you have weighed the options and decided to give this in-house route a shot. The old-school way of thinking would suggest that if it doesn’t work out, a move back to private practice would be virtually impossible.

But not so fast!

In 2023, it is becoming increasingly common for in-house lawyers to consider and be considered for roles in private practice. The ideal candidate looking to move back into private practice will have about 2-3 years of in-house experience with prior private practice experience.

A recent study showed that 70% of in-house lawyers are considering leaving their positions due to the effects of the pandemic and economic uncertainty. 

Partners are beginning to realize that, although the scope of work for in-house lawyers is much different than that of a lawyer in private practice, the skills that they can bring to a firm are incredibly valuable. On top of this, the idea that you would not have a “portable book” to move in with is not as much of an issue as it once was. Firms understand that, although you may not have a tangible book of clients to bring with you, the network you have built up during your time in-house could be just as valuable in bringing new business to the firm.

No matter how much career advice I give you, only one person knows if you are better suited for a life in private practice or in-house, and that’s you! The important thing is to weigh all options and trust your gut.

For any advice regarding your next career move, feel free to reach out, and I’d be happy to help weigh your options.

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