In house lawyer types, I have hypothetical questions for you

[runforrest]

For me, it was pure luck and good timing, I think. I had been at a firm for five years, and decided to just send some resumes out to a few in-house positions I saw listed in the Chicago area. I was tired of billable hours and knew I didn't want to be on the "partner track".

I applied to about 10 places, and interviewed at 1. I was offered a job about two weeks later after interviewing with three other folks at the company. I was there for five years before moving to a new company, where I have been for almost two years.

Before getting this current job, I applied to two other companies, and received interviews at both, but neither panned out.

I work in patent law, which is a pretty specific field, so any jobs that I apply to are also pretty narrow in their practice. I think having such a specialized background limited my opportunities in that respect. I'm not sure if you are in a similar situation.

Hypothetically, good luck!

[bittybomb]

I am going to hang out in here. I'm non equity partner in a small boutiqish firm, but because the firm is so small, I'm not so confident in its longevity (we are doing well at the moment, and there is nothing to suggest we will collapse, but paranoia, and also, things are so good, it can't possibly last) and if it ever comes to it, I think I'd rather go in house rather than another firm.

[Deleted]

Say your name is Alicia Florrick. TV taught me that gets you whatever legal job you want in under six seasons.

[iamali]

Ohhhh, I can't answer your question b/c I am a lowly peasant, but I do have one for you (and other esquires).

I imagine the interview process and resumes are different for lawyers. Is that right?

[runforrest]

iamali - I think my resume looks like a normal resume, but sometimes companies/firms request writing samples before interviews. In my case, I submitted a few published patent applications that I drafted.

Interviewing really depends on the company. I interviewed at one company that was asking me all these questions about patent law statutes, case law, how I would handle certain hypothetical questions, etc. It was the most difficult interview I ever had. Another company asked me questions about their technology, had me draft sample claims for a hypothetical invention, and draft a Response to an Office Action. Both of these were really in depth to my law firm interviews, where I was just asked standard interview-type questions. It's a crap shoot, really.

[bernergirl]

I second luck and timing. I've been in-house for 6 years. For this job, I interviewed twice and got an offer. I was interviewing with another company at the same time and had 4 interviews with neither offer nor rejection.

Over the last 4 years I've sent out probably 20 resumes. I've gotten 2 phone interviews that did not progress, 3 first interviews, and 1 second interview. No offer from any of them.

[cville]

Sept 30, 2014 14:08:48 GMT -5 Lucy Honeychurch said:

Most people I know who go in-house end up going to client companies.

I know maybe 2 people who did this.  Everyone else I know (and it's not an inconsiderable number) went someplace where they did not have a client connection.  Interesting.

[cville]

Sept 30, 2014 14:18:40 GMT -5 Lucy Honeychurch said:

Sept 30, 2014 14:17:45 GMT -5 cville said:

I know maybe 2 people who did this.  Everyone else I know (and it's not an inconsiderable number) went someplace where they did not have a client connection.  Interesting.

I would guess it depends largely on the size of your firm to begin with.  Larger firm = larger client base, more potential influence. 

Okay.  This would not apply to the people I know.

[runforrest]

Sept 30, 2014 14:17:45 GMT -5 cville said:

Sept 30, 2014 14:08:48 GMT -5 Lucy Honeychurch said:

Most people I know who go in-house end up going to client companies.

I know maybe 2 people who did this.  Everyone else I know (and it's not an inconsiderable number) went someplace where they did not have a client connection.  Interesting.

This would have been no bueno at my law firm.  However, I've seen a few of my former colleagues at my first in-house job end up at some of the firms that did work for us.

[badgergrl]

Sept 30, 2014 14:20:22 GMT -5 runforrest said:

Sept 30, 2014 14:17:45 GMT -5 cville said:

I know maybe 2 people who did this.  Everyone else I know (and it's not an inconsiderable number) went someplace where they did not have a client connection.  Interesting.

This would have been no bueno at my law firm.  However, I've seen a few of my former colleagues at my first in-house job end up at some of the firms that did work for us.

Really?  Most firms like filling up in house office. Good relations with in house attorneys means work goes back to original firm when outside counsel is needed. 

[sparkythelawyer]

I'm the freak that went in-house straight out of law school. I guess I'm rebellious :-)

[Deleted]

I could hook a sister up with some good contacts if this person had a skill set in contract law and/or related to Software.

And if this person is anything like what I know of you, they will kill it at an in house position.

[mlt]

I was just talking about this the other day with coworkers! My friends who have gone in house have gotten about one interview per ten resumes submitted, on average. And the average seems to be one offer for every three interviews. Most people look for a year before accepting a position. Of course there are lots of exceptions and people who get lucky or get offered to go to a client, but those are the numbers my coworkers and I cobbled together. I'm in a big firm.

[Deleted]

Hey, cville!  Sorry I didn't see this until now -- haven't visited ML on a computer for days.

I was in a similar position when I left my firm.  I was a sixth-year, well-regarded, and not actively looking.  I simply answered a cold call from a recruiter, submitted through her, got an interview, and got the job.

My colleagues seemed to have applied to many different positions and were really hunting hard for in-house positions.

So.

All I can say is that I was really lucky.  Timing was perfect.

[Deleted]

Sept 30, 2014 14:28:01 GMT -5 badgergrl said:

Sept 30, 2014 14:20:22 GMT -5 runforrest said:

This would have been no bueno at my law firm.  However, I've seen a few of my former colleagues at my first in-house job end up at some of the firms that did work for us.

Really?  Most firms like filling up in house office. Good relations with in house attorneys means work goes back to original firm when outside counsel is needed. 

Yeah, this is actually a well known law firm strategy- try to place your departing associates at clients so they can continue to stear business back to the firm. There are alumni networks built around it. I can't think of any big firm that wouldn't help an associate go in-house to a client.

CVille- obviously I am not in house, but when I lateralled three years ago I did one interview for an in-house US GC position. I did not have a lot of relevant experience,but it was a firm client and I did make it to the call back stage before pulling out. It took FOREVER though. I got the first interview within a week, then the rest of the process dragged on and on and on. I know people who have gone in house and it seems rather easy, even for litigators. The biggest issue is usually the pay cut, which is about 50%.

[Deleted]

cville, if you want to talk numbers, I'm happy to divulge in PMs.

elle can vouch that I'm forthcoming. LOL.

[Deleted]

Oct 3, 2014 23:08:04 GMT -5 cville said:

@misoangry, I'll hit you up tomorrow! I was similarly recruited about a year ago but it would have been a massive relocation to a place I just didn't want to live. Nor move to while pregnant. Lol. But the experience was so gratifying; who doesn't want to be wanted?

Yup!  It's a great feeling!