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In-House Opportunities for a Litigator

In-House Opportunities for a Litigator

In-house opportunities are substantially less common for litigators than for transactional attorneys.  Most in-house departments — in California and elsewhere — have open positions for transactional attorneys, but very few for litigators, in large part because litigation services tend to be outsourced to third-parties.  Of course, that doesn’t mean that there are no jobs for litigators looking to go in-house.  There are, but you’ll likely find that the in-house positions are somewhat different than what you expected, and that you’ll have to be particularly proactive during the hiring process to ensure a successful candidacy.

Interested in transitioning to an in-house litigation position?  Call (310) 207-0727 to speak with one of the legal recruiters here at Garb Jaffe & Associates.  We can connect you to an extensive network of corporate employers and help you target your ideal in-house litigation positions.  Our is an end-to-end legal recruitment agency that is invested in the success of your candidacy throughout the hiring process.

Opportunities vary substantially between employers.  Depending on the corporation (and the in-house department that you’re targeting), you may have found some interesting opportunities that you believe could take advantage of the litigation skills that you developed at a firm.  There are certain considerations to keep in mind as you approach any of these in-house litigation positions, however.  Avoid falling into the trap of making your next career decision based off assumptions and hearsay.

Consider the following.

 

In-House Litigators Are Facilitators

Generally speaking, most litigators in-house departments are tasked with facilitating processes with external firms.  Most substantial litigation work is conducted by third-party partners.  As such, potential litigators in the in-house environment should be comfortable with (and interested in) serving as case facilitators and coordinators as opposed to prime movers in the litigation context.  To some degree, in-house litigators serve as “managers” for other litigators involved in the case.

 

Generalist Expectations

Whether you are a litigator or a transactional attorney, you may be expected to weigh in with authority on subjects that are outside of your particular focus areas — though this can vary depending on the size and integration of the in-house department.  If you are the type of attorney who is not willing to take on more mundane responsibilities, or responsibilities that go beyond what you might expect as a litigator, then moving in-house may not be the right choice at this point in your career.

 

Organizational Integration is Required

In-house tends to attract the sort of attorney (both litigators and transactional attorneys) who is interested in integrating into a larger organizational framework — attorneys who would like their work to align more fundamentally with the goals of their client.  To succeed as an in-house litigation attorney, you will have to understand the industries in which your organization operates, develop relationships with critical decisionmakers throughout the organization, and develop a long-term, company-oriented perspective of legal/regulatory strategy.  In other words, you will have to integrate your work with that of the client to a degree that you may not have otherwise encountered before in your professional life.  This is quite challenging for many attorneys, but for others, the importance of developing new relationships and perspectives is a refreshing change of pace.

 

Transitioning Back to Biglaw Can Be Challenging

In-house isn’t for everyone, particularly those who have a deep and abiding love of traditional litigation work.  Not only is the work likely to be less “technical” than the work that you would otherwise be tasked with in Biglaw, but you are likely to be paid less too.  Before you embark on a recruitment process involving a transition to an in-house position, make sure that you’re truly comfortable with the expectations and day-to-day requirements that are associated with in-house work, as transitioning back to Biglaw can be difficult — generally speaking, the perception is that in-house attorneys lose their “edge” after moving in-house, which can undermine your application if and when you decide to return to Biglaw.

 

Transitioning to an in-house position is a major career decision for most attorneys — whether they are litigators or transactional attorneys.  To better understand the responsibilities and opportunities that will be afforded to you as an in-house litigator, make sure to speak with a qualified legal recruiter.

If you are an attorney looking to transition to a new position in a California in-house department, contact one of our experienced legal recruiters here at Garb Jaffe & Associates.  Our recruiters well connected to global corporations throughout the state (and their in-house departments), and work closely with candidates from the beginning-to-end of the hiring process.  We have a long track record of success in securing ideal positions for our candidates.

To schedule a consultation with one of our San Francisco legal recruiters, call in at (310) 207-0727.  We look forward to speaking with you.

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