20 factors every lawyer should consider before taking the in-house plunge

Despite the popularity and appeal of moving in-house, it is vital to properly consider how such a move

can impact on both your short and long-term career.

Without wanting to be too simplistic about this, here are 20 factors you should consider before taking the leap!

Apart from the company, what’s the background and experience of the board and

senior executive team?

1 Background

2 ReportingWho is the GC or Head of Legal?

What does their background and experience say about them?

What kind of training might you expect? What law firm did they train in and what can they offer you in terms of your learning and development?

3 Training

What is the structure of the legal team?

What could this mean for you in terms of the work you will do?

4 Structure

How is the legal team regarded both within the company and externally?

5 Reputation

What law firms do they brief? 6 External Firms

What percentage of the legal work is briefed out?

‘What’ work is kept in-house?

7 Work Mix

What kind of work mix will this role have? How closely is it aligned to your experience?

8 Suitability

What does the employer and corporate brand tell you about the company?

9 Company

What does the job title and position description tell you about how the legal function is regarded internally?

10 Positioning

Look at annual report and company prospectus

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Assuming that you did take the role what would your CV look like after 2 years?

5 years etc?

11 Help or hinder?

What future path does this set you up for?

What doors would open for you?

12 Your career opportunities

In answering those questions how closely then does this opportunity align with where you see your career heading?

13 Thoughts

Not that this would be a deal breaker (surely!) but does the legal team record time?

Does it work on a cost centre or profit centre model?

14 Time recording

Consider the industry it operates in. What trends, economic climate and challenges has it faced over the last 5 years?

What does the future look like?

e

conomic indicator 15 Economic Indicator

What impact +/- is working in this industry likely to have on your experience?

16 Impact

What does LinkedIn tell you about the company that is NOT on the company page?

Find ex-employees of the company, consider their tenure and progression (or lack thereof).

Any pattern???

17 Research

What insights were you able to gain from the recruitment experience?

What might this mean for you as a future employee?

18 Insights

Will you be the only lawyer in the company or are you reporting to someone in another geographical area?

If you are still in your early years of practice (say 1-6 years PAE), tread with caution! It may seem like an immediate promotion but don’t be fooled, this can come at a very high price.

19 Team

Finally and most importantly. Does this role allow you to feel secure and supported?

Both personally, financially and professionally?

20 Security

As you might expect the answers to these questions will likely come from many sources including formal interviews, coffee meetings with current or previous

employees, peers, the internet and your own networks.

Making an informed choice

And it’s important to remember that a great due diligence

process will always pay off!