Chapter § 1.08 Hiring In-House Counsel

• Jurisdiction: United States
• Publication year: 2020

§ 1.08 Hiring In-House Counsel

[1] Benefits of Experience

The in-house hiring model often differs from the law firm hiring model, particularly when the firms are hiring candidates out of law school. At that time, candidates have no legal experience, so law firms naturally make hiring decisions based on criteria such as class rank, law school prestige, and law review experience.⁷⁵ As discussed further below, corporate law departments rarely hire candidates from law school. Instead, they hire candidates from law firms or other in-house jobs. Thus, they are inherently more focused on candidates’ work experience; their ability to think independently, strategically and creatively; their business savvy; and their ability to manage people.⁷⁶

Most corporate law departments look for candidates with five to ten years of experience. At that point in a lawyer’s career, their employment track record is more important than their law school class rank. As an in-house counsel explained, “You do not have the flexibility that law firms have to get rid of people quickly if they’re not working out, and, as a result of that, you have to be very careful when you make an investment in an employee.”⁷⁷ While a firm can nurture and develop strong lawyers from within, law departments generally don’t have the bandwidth to train young lawyers. Because these departments look at how capable the person will be in the role they need to fill...