The Myth of the In-House Lifestyle
In the legal industry, there are pervasive ideas about in-house work (particularly in comparison to Biglaw firm work) that are not necessarily representative of workplace realities, though in some cases, there is a kernel of truth to such perceptions.
The dominant perception of in-house work — and perhaps the main reason why successful firm attorneys look to transition to an in-house position — is that it will be less demanding, less time-consuming, more flexible, and generally speaking, lead to a better work-life balance and overall lifestyle. This is a particularly attractive proposition for Biglaw attorneys who find themselves struggling to balance the responsibilities of their family and personal life with work. But is it true?
Let’s take a look.
Hours Flexibility
Though many in-house opportunities do result (on average) in somewhat less intense work schedules, the lifestyle improvement commonly associated with moving In-house tends to be overblown — and further, such improvements are not universal across companies and industries. The move away from billable hours does reduce the problem of sudden rescheduling and the assignment of high-priority projects to attorneys with little notice, but in many cases, in-house attorneys are saddled with alternative responsibilities.
The key difference, observers note, is that while in-house attorneys may be required to work late, or to otherwise put in extra hours to finish a project, they are often given greater control over how to configure their schedule to accomplish the required tasks.
Paths for Advancement
Compared to Biglaw, in-house legal departments have paths of career advancement that are not quite clear. In-house attorneys are generally not on a stepwise compensation track that increases pay annually by a set amount, nor is there a clear track for upward mobility. Further, the opportunity for advancement may be somewhat limited by the relatively static workplaces of most in-house departments, where turnover is lower than at comparably prestigious Biglaw firms. As such, attorneys may find that their career advancement stagnates unless they apply themselves in unorthodox ways. An attorney looking to advance their career in-house may have to actively learn new skills, demonstrate interest and knowledge of the business-side, and network aggressively with influencers throughout the organization.
If you are not particularly interested in playing “office politics,” but are ambitious, then you should weigh the decision to pursue an in-house opportunity carefully — in-house advancement is, in many departments, dependent on the ability of an attorney to position themselves well strategically. It is not exclusively dependent on skill, experience, or competence.
Not every in-house legal department is the same, however. For a clearer picture of opportunities that are better suited to your personality and career goals, it’s important to speak with a well-connected legal recruiter. Legal recruiters can provide you with insight as to how things work internally at various in-house departments.
Soft Hours
In-house positions may have muddier, unstructured expectations for attorneys, which can be both exciting and frustrating. An in-house attorney may be expected to learn the business-side of things, for example, but there may be no structure regarding how the attorney is supposed to do so. Without a formal structure to these expectations, it is left to the in-house attorney to develop a plan for themselves. If you have a tendency to shoulder excess responsibility when given an opportunity, then these unstructured expectations may lead you to take on stressful soft hours that interfere with normal work-life balance.
Work-Life Balance Policies
As in-house department policies are generally tied to the workplace policies of the larger corporation, if you work for an in-house legal department at a company that has not yet implemented flexi-work policies to support employees with particular lifestyle needs, then your department will similarly suffer for it. Surprisingly, many law firms — even prominent Biglaw firms — have adopted or are in the process of adopting flexi-work options, such as telecommuting, flexible starting and end-of-day hours, and even part-time opportunities.
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There are many great in-house legal opportunities at large corporations across the state of California, but attorneys interested in transitioning in-house should be aware of the reality of the in-house workplace. In many cases, the lifestyle benefits of going in-house are exaggerated by proponents, and the disadvantages left undiscussed.
If you’re looking for a new position, speak with a Bay Area legal recruiter at Garb Jaffe & Associates. We have extensive experience placing attorneys with prestigious Biglaw firms and in-house legal department located across California, and will advise throughout the recruitment process so that you can secure an ideal placement.
Call us today at (310) 207-0727 for a consultation.