A Moving in-house has traditionally been seen as a one way move for those that don't see a future in private practice. This was the case because the in-house role was generally a broader position which was more involved in managing external lawyers on more complex or specialist areas rather than handling that work internally.

Many in-house roles are still like this, and that breadth appeals to many lawyers seeking to partner with a number of areas across the business and to have a more advisory rather than transactional role.

However, a number of in-house teams have made a transition to keeping their more complex and higher quality work in-house and this has resulted in an environment where lawyers moving in-house have been able to maintain their high-level specialist skills and handle the same quality of work they have been used to at top-tier law firms.

Many continue to progress their careers in-house, however we have seen more examples of candidates returning to major law firms in senior roles having maintained their technical skills, increased their commerciality and also built strong and lasting internal client relationships within those organisations.

In most cases lawyers enjoy the increased commerciality and find the in-house role to be all they expected and more.

VIEW ALL

However, those considering such a move needn't think of it as a move of no return, provided that the role and work are of the right type and quality.