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Hey Guys,

I know this thread tends to focus on big law employment but I had a quick question. Can anyone refer me to resources (i.e websites) about in-house employment at a fortune 500? What is required? Is it like getting a big law job? Easier or harder?

This summer (1L) I will be interning at a large fortune 500 company and based on what I have gathered ( especially in regards to the hours) I'd rather work in-house than do big law.

Let me know if you guys now any good threads on this topic or if you just have general advice.

I'll be doing the same this summer and would like to pursue the in-house path after LS. The one thing i've been told by mentors who are currently in-house is that there is an unanimous belief that you should do 2-3 years of firm work (not always big law but that helps) before going in-house. If you don't, your chances of moving up (if its a F-500 company) are slim.

At the risk of sounding like a traditionalist, I agree that the best path to an in-house job is to work at a firm for a few years. While most in-house lawyers (like me) ultimately go in-house because of the lifestyle/work environment tradeoff, as a general rule work at a firm will give you a broader foundation more quickly than entry-level in-house work. In-house legal departments typically prefer hiring lawyers with firm experience for that very reason: they require less on-the-job training and can be more self-sufficient from day one. From my own experience, what the previous poster said about promotion potential is also generally true: you're more likely to advance within a legal department if you entered with a firm background.

Exceptions prove the rule, of course, and very large companies will sometimes hire entry-level attorneys with no firm experience. But the broadest set of in-house opportunities is open to lawyers who pay their dues at a firm for a few years.

I see.

Do any of you know whether 1L internships at corporations can lead to a 2L internship at the same corporation?

In addition, are we talking solely BigLaw experience? Thanks a lot for the insights.

TLSUSER22 wrote:I see.

Do any of you know whether 1L internships at corporations can lead to a 2L internship at the same corporation?

In addition, are we talking solely BigLaw experience? Thanks a lot for the insights.

I'm doing 1L internship this summer in a big corporation - think Fortune 20 co. Don't plan on being offered to come back, and frankly want to try big law for a summer. I have family that was in-house at F20 and mentors who are doing the same right now - all have told me to take the firm route then go in-house. More portable skills that way. Plus, an ideal route is Firm--> in house and be of counsel to a firm at the same time.

UMich11 wrote:

TLSUSER22 wrote:I see.

Do any of you know whether 1L internships at corporations can lead to a 2L internship at the same corporation?

In addition, are we talking solely BigLaw experience? Thanks a lot for the insights.

I'm doing 1L internship this summer in a big corporation - think Fortune 20 co. Don't plan on being offered to come back, and frankly want to try big law for a summer. I have family that was in-house at F20 and mentors who are doing the same right now - all have told me to take the firm route then go in-house. More portable skills that way. Plus, an ideal route is Firm--> in house and be of counsel to a firm at the same time.

Telecom?

Edit: my guess at your 1L f20

banana$$stand wrote:

UMich11 wrote:

TLSUSER22 wrote:I see.

Do any of you know whether 1L internships at corporations can lead to a 2L internship at the same corporation?

In addition, are we talking solely BigLaw experience? Thanks a lot for the insights.

I'm doing 1L internship this summer in a big corporation - think Fortune 20 co. Don't plan on being offered to come back, and frankly want to try big law for a summer. I have family that was in-house at F20 and mentors who are doing the same right now - all have told me to take the firm route then go in-house. More portable skills that way. Plus, an ideal route is Firm--> in house and be of counsel to a firm at the same time.

Telecom?

Edit: my guess at your 1L f20

No. Don't want to say the name on here now.

TLSUSER22 wrote:I see.

Do any of you know whether 1L internships at corporations can lead to a 2L internship at the same corporation?

In addition, are we talking solely BigLaw experience? Thanks a lot for the insights.

I worked at a v100 company in their legal department after 1L. 2L internships were not discussed, but we did have a 2L working there that had done so after 1L. I am not sure if he/she was a special circumstance or what, but I don't think its out of the question. It depends on the company. If they hire right out of law school, I would expect that they would love to have an intern for two summers that could hit the ground running if/when they came on board full-time.