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The path the in-house counsel?

Posted: Tue Mar 27, 2012 11:34 am
by coocookuhchoo
0L here. I've recently been thinking, naively probably, that I want to work as an in-house counsel after law school. In my head, (based on zero facts), I've decided that it is a nice balance in that it pays okay and doesn't have the grueling hours of biglaw. I have it in my head that I can go to my TBD DC-area top 30 school, get out, and get an okay paying job as an in-house counsel in the DC area.

I realize that I am probably very wrong on many counts. Please enlighten me.

Re: The path the in-house counsel?

Posted: Tue Mar 27, 2012 12:08 pm
by target
First count: http://www.top-law-schools.com/forums/v ... 3&t=170600
Second count: use the search function

Re: The path the in-house counsel?

Posted: Tue Mar 27, 2012 12:14 pm
by coocookuhchoo
target wrote:First count: http://www.top-law-schools.com/forums/v ... 3&t=170600
Second count: use the search function
I read that before posting, and decided that I didn't necessarily want to only ask current students. I realize I could have searched for people with similar questions, but I don't think this is posted in the wrong forum, unless that is saying no 0L's allowed. If that is the case, sorry I misread.

Re: The path the in-house counsel?

Posted: Tue Mar 27, 2012 12:23 pm
by bk1
coocookuhchoo wrote:I read that before posting, and decided that I didn't necessarily want to only ask current students. I realize I could have searched for people with similar questions, but I don't think this is posted in the wrong forum, unless that is saying no 0L's allowed. If that is the case, sorry I misread.
The forum is for asking students as well as grads (I've updated that sticky to reflect that). And I've moved this thread to the more appropriate forum.

The Student/Grad forums are generally for students/grads to discuss things since they have perspective that 0L's do not because they are discussing things that are more specific (like OCI bidding tips, choosing which firms, applying to clerkships, etc) whereas posts by 0L's are more hypothetical. While it is not completely forbidden for 0L's to post there, generally posts by 0L's fit in the pre-law forums.

Re: The path the in-house counsel?

Posted: Tue Mar 27, 2012 12:38 pm
by coocookuhchoo
bk187 wrote: The Student/Grad forums are generally for students/grads to discuss things since they have perspective that 0L's do not because they are discussing things that are more specific (like OCI bidding tips, choosing which firms, applying to clerkships, etc) whereas posts by 0L's are more hypothetical. While it is not completely forbidden for 0L's to post there, generally posts by 0L's fit in the pre-law forums.
Thanks for the clarification.

Re: The path the in-house counsel?

Posted: Tue Mar 27, 2012 12:44 pm
by ajr
coocookuhchoo wrote:0L here. I've recently been thinking, naively probably, that I want to work as an in-house counsel after law school. In my head, (based on zero facts), I've decided that it is a nice balance in that it pays okay and doesn't have the grueling hours of biglaw. I have it in my head that I can go to my TBD DC-area top 30 school, get out, and get an okay paying job as an in-house counsel in the DC area.

I realize that I am probably very wrong on many counts. Please enlighten me.
Don't be that specific in your goals. You will be surprised. In-house positions are very few and vary greatly. The skills and background they look for are different. More team-work and experience. Less prestige. You shouldn't count on an in-house position when you graduate unless you have one lined up.

Re: The path the in-house counsel?

Posted: Tue Mar 27, 2012 12:50 pm
by hurldes
I'm a 1L also looking into the "in-house" career. From what I've gathered, companies like to hire in-house attorneys from the law firms they've used in the past. They will hire the exceptional 5th or 6th year associate that has consistently produced good work for them.

I haven't seen or heard of any law students going straight to in-house without time in a law firm. I would shoot for a biglaw job for a few years and then moving in-house.

Re: The path the in-house counsel?

Posted: Tue Mar 27, 2012 10:01 pm
by coocookuhchoo
hurldes wrote:I'm a 1L also looking into the "in-house" career. From what I've gathered, companies like to hire in-house attorneys from the law firms they've used in the past. They will hire the exceptional 5th or 6th year associate that has consistently produced good work for them.

I haven't seen or heard of any law students going straight to in-house without time in a law firm. I would shoot for a biglaw job for a few years and then moving in-house.
Thanks for the info. I figured something like that may be the case.