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Hi all, question about applying to an in-house job with a firm client. I’m a mid-level in big law and one of the clients I’ve worked with somewhat heavily over the past few years (5+ deals a year) just posted a job for a related area to the work I’ve been doing for them (the job involves work I do for other clients—for example think like for this specific client we only do healthcare m&a, the job is for tech m&a which I do for other clients but not this specific one).

What’s the move here? I definitely want to apply because I like the client and I think I have enough experience in the specific area they ask about to be a good candidate. But I’m worried about (a) the client telling the partner I work with that I applied, so the partner knows I’m looking for other jobs and (b) things being weird with me and the GC if I apply and don’t get the job, since we have to interact a lot for the work I do for them (partner is reasonably checked out so I handle most of the communication with the client).

Maybe I’m overworrying.

Call the GC, tell them you saw the posting and are interested and ask if you would be a good candidate for the position.

Mullens wrote:Call the GC, tell them you saw the posting and are interested and ask if you would be a good candidate for the position.

This, or go talk to the Partner on the deal. Tell him you saw it, and while not looking, you found it interesting and you would like his thoughts on the Company and if he thinks it is a good opportunity. Partners want associates to go in-house and give them more work.

BigLawer wrote:

Mullens wrote:Call the GC, tell them you saw the posting and are interested and ask if you would be a good candidate for the position.

This, or go talk to the Partner on the deal. Tell him you saw it, and while not looking, you found it interesting and you would like his thoughts on the Company and if he thinks it is a good opportunity. Partners want associates to go in-house and give them more work.

I went in-house to client of my firm that I did no work for, about two years ago, when I was a midlevel. I went to the relationship partner, who I knew but wasn't close with by any means, and told him this exact thing - I'm not really looking and I'm happy here, but this opportunity seems great. Before I even finished the 30 seconds I prepped, he said he'd call the head of the group in-house and pitch me. I got the job, which was in an area related to my work but not something I did regularly (think investigations when I did litigation), and don't think I would have without his intervention.

That conversation can feel weird, but it's incredibly useful.