Lawyersweekly - For Employees : in-house lawyers

Size up the in-house competition

Lawyers Weekly — Fri, 13 Aug 2010 02:46:00 GMT

Mirror, mirror on the wall, who makes the fairest in-house counsel of them all? It's competitive in-house and lawyers should know exactly what's involved, writes Phillip Hunter

A common misconception by private practice lawyers is that in-house provides excellent work/life balance. The reality shows the demands and expectations on counsel are intensifying and you can only expect the same, if not more, pressure to perform and provide high quality advice and leadership.

Most black-letter lawyers don't make suitable in-house counsel, but why? Although technical skills are important, being able to provide timely, concise and proactive advice is equally as important to the business when meeting company deadlines and objectives.

With regards to CLE, career development and progression be prepared to move roles to gain the promotion, increase in responsibility and in most cases salary. Traditionally in-house has paid little attention to lawyers' educational requirements leaving counsel to lag behind their private practice counterparts that take for this granted. As for the dream GC role, there can only ever be one GC, which creates the need to move on ever more present.

When hiring, companies seek lawyers with particular specialisations, therefore being a master of one (or two) areas of law is far more desirable than the 'jack-of-all-trades' lawyer. Litigation lawyers historically find it harder to make the transition; areas of interest to corporates are general corporate, employment law and commercial areas such as IP or IT.

In a firm you have many clients and are once removed. The nature of work in-house counsel handle can be seen as repetitive and at times not overly challenging. In addition, as you sit with the business there is no escaping the 'client,' many lawyers overlook the impact of their position as a strategic business advisor.

"Queen, you are full fair, 'tis true, but Snow White is fairer than you" - so how do you compare to the competition? Here are a few key questions to ask yourself before taking the leap;

Do my skills and experience match the job description?
Am I commercially minded?
Can I build efficient and effective internal relationships?
Will this suit my career aspirations?

So ... Hi Ho, Hi Hum, its off to work we go.

Phillip Hunter is a consultant with Naiman Clarke Legal

What are the alternatives to partnership?

Lawyers Weekly — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 00:13:00 GMT

Frequently senior practitioners realise that they won't or don't want to progress to partner and will ask themselves "Where to now?"

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I am a private practitioner but want to move into an in-house role. What can I do to better my position?

Lawyers Weekly — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 04:23:00 GMT

There are a number of things you can do. Firstly, exposure to a mix of commercial work is invaluable

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How do I further my in-house legal career in my current role?

Lawyers Weekly — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 03:43:00 GMT

How do I further my in-house legal career in my current role?

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What options are available outside private practice?

Lawyers Weekly — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 04:41:00 GMT

Today, many lawyers are considering what options outside private practice are available to them. These include:

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I have been waiting for the market to improve before finding a new in-house job - Is now the right time?

Lawyers Weekly — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 04:05:00 GMT

It's great to be able to finally express a little optimism, albeit tempered with a solid dose of caution.

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How do you demonstrate value and 'sure up' your in-house role in the current environment?

Lawyers Weekly — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 02:06:00 GMT

Many in-house lawyers in today's market are experiencing company-wide restructuring and pressure to reduce costs.

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I'm currently working in an in-house role but want to go part-time. Should I ask my boss to consider it?

Lawyers Weekly — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 01:16:00 GMT

Whether you can move to a part-time role will depend on a number of factors.

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Will winter bring warmth in-house?

Lawyers Weekly — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 05:35:00 GMT

Most Australian companies have had a turbulent 12 months and the common perception is that the in-house job market has all but dried up, but as the second half of 2009 approaches, Brian Rollo looks at the reality for in-house lawyers

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Perth market to boom again

Lawyers Weekly — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 05:50:00 GMT

With legal recruitment retracting around the world, Janina McMahon looks at how the in-house market in Perth - a fast-growing resources-rich State with a low unemployment rate - has been affected.

As in other Australian capital cities, Perth's legal recruitment market has contracted. While 2008 saw a number of inaugural legal counsel appointed, newly created roles and team expansions, there is now an air of caution across the market, with only critical in-house roles being recruited. This contraction, however, is expected to be temporary.

With many companies seeking to justify their costs, more legal work is being kept in-house, creating a busy workload for lawyers. In Perth, this busy workload looks set to continue, and in some industries, is likely to increase.

Perth is home to many large resources companies' head offices or significant branch offices. For example, in the oil and gas industry, big operators with legal teams in Perth include BHP Billiton, Chevron, Shell and Woodside.

Such companies are involved in long-term major projects. One example is the Gorgon gas project,which is expected to gain official approval this year. Given the longer term nature of such (oil and gas) projects, the current downturn is considered to be of less relevance in this state than others. In the meantime, these projects will require considerable ongoing legal input and support.

In addition, such projects require the services of contractors in other industries such as engineering, procurement, construction, management and civil construction. There are a number of local in-house legal teams in these related industries who are also correspondingly busy.

As a consequence, it appears that any contraction in the Perth in-house legal recruitment market may not be sustained. In recognising the opportunities that a downturn inevitably brings, some companies are already planning to take on an additional in-house lawyer.

This will enable them to bolster their future in-house capability on major projects at the same time as reducing their external legal spend and capitalising on the availability of top talent in the market.

Janina McMahon is a senior consultant at Hudson Legal's Perth office. She will be speaking on global and local in house recruitment trends at ACLA's annual Corporate Counsel day in Perth on 27 May.

Q. Entering an in-house recruitment process, how do I demonstrate I am the best candidate for the job?

Lawyers Weekly — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 01:56:00 GMT

A. In-house positions are competitive, particularly in a tighter market with fewer opportunities. It is important, therefore, that you put yourself in the best possible position when entering a recruitment process. Your CV is your primary selling tool. Make sure it is succinct, informative and demonstrates your suitability for the particular role you are seeking. Ensure the layout of your CV is clear and easy to follow and always proofread the document so there are no errors.

Thoroughly research the organisation and the industry in which it operates and get a good understanding of what the role entails by reviewing the job description. Try to get some background information on the people you will be meeting with through internet research.

At the interview, dress professionally. Be relaxed, confident and personable so you can build good rapport with your interviewers.

It is essential that you demonstrate a genuine interest in the particular role and organisation you are interviewing for and not just any in-house role. Provide examples of particular situations that demonstrate your suitability for the role, eg. secondment experience or matters which show your commerciality. Ask questions that show you have relevant industry knowledge and awareness of some of the issues facing the organisation.

- John Egerton, manager of corporate (NSW) at Mahlab Recruitment

Public role for in-house lawyers

Lawyers Weekly — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 01:22:00 GMT

The global financial crisis is generating an extreme level of uncertainty among Australian employers, evaporating the confidence that was evident in the employment market during 2007 and much of 2008. Hudson's quarter-one employment expectations research...(read more)