what is an inhouse lawyer

by Alyce Labadie Jr. 9 min read

A. What is an In-house Lawyer? Simply stated, an in-house lawyer is an employee who works as an attorney for the corporation. The in-house lawyer, like any other employee, serves primarily to advance the needs of the business. The in-house counsel acts in a professional capacity as an attorney and, as such, is subject

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What are the signs of a bad lawyer?

Feb 12, 2021 · In simplest terms, an in-house lawyer is someone who works within an organisation or business as their legal counsel. If this is your job, then you’ll need to provide accurate advice on a whole...

What should do if I want to be a lawyer?

In-house lawyer. Lawyers working in house make up around 22% of the solicitors’ profession. There are around 28,400 lawyers working in house in England and Wales, with around 18,000 in the private sector. This group is made up of solicitors and barristers, many of whom have opted to move into industry from previous careers in private practice.

What does an in-house IP lawyer do?

Apr 05, 2022 · In-house counsel is a lawyer or team of lawyers that works within a corporation, instead of within a law firm. These lawyers handle the legal needs of the company for whom they work, addressing issues such as ensuring that employer discrimination laws are complied with and fair labor rules are obeyed. Depending on the nature of the industry, in-house counsel may …

Is there a lawyer in the House?

In-house lawyers work for organisations in commerce and industry, the public sector, the third sector and legal consultancy. You could be a sole lawyer or part of a small central team. Some organisations employ large numbers of lawyers in different locations, including internationally. Follow this series to learn about the differences and similarities between these in-house roles.

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What is an in house lawyer?

In-house lawyers are also usually responsible for instructing and managing outside legal counsel – and for controlling the ensuing legal costs. Although commercial organisations are usually the main employers of in-house lawyers, an increasing number of non-profit making bodies (eg, charities and trade unions) are hiring legal advisers ...

What is the difference between BACFI and C&I?

The Law Society Commerce & Industry Group (C&I Group) represents solicitors in industry, while the Bar Association for Commerce, Finance and Industry (BACFI) is its counterpart for barristers in employment. Further information and careers guidance should be available from both organisations.

Do lawyers train in private practice?

Training. Most lawyers train in private practice before moving, but training contracts are available in-house. Around 500 companies are authorised to offer training contracts, though not all of them actually do.

Who is Nick Carter?

Nick Carter is legal counsel at Manchester City Football Club, working in a team of two supplemented by one or two trainees on secondment. "The two of us cover the legal work required by every area of the business. Some of the work is specific to a football club, such as player contracts, transfer agreements, image rights agreements, ...

What is in-house counsel?

In-house counsel is a lawyer or team of lawyers that works within a corporation. When a company faces a legal problem, it can hire outside counsel or hire a lawyer or attorney to be an in-house counsel and have that lawyer handle the given legal issue.

What happens if a company is sued?

Generally, if a company is sued, the in-house counsel will not handle the lawsuit itself. Instead, outside counsel will be brought in to manage the litigation that arises. In such situations, the in-house attorneys often oversee the work of the outside counsel and facilitate communication between company employees and hired attorneys.

What are the characteristics of an in-house legal role?

However, while all in-house legal roles have different characteristics, there are some that are common to all roles and levels of experience. These include: Legal knowledge: you’ve got to know the relevant law; Business knowledge: you’ll need to learn how the organisation and the sector it operates in work; Application skills: you need ...

What is in house practice?

As an in-house lawyer, you may well have a wide range of roles throughout your career, each with their own requirements. As you grow into each role, you’ll develop a broad range of legal, commercial and people skills.

What is the role of a head of legal?

Head of Legal or General Counsel, with responsibility for the legal and, possibly, other functions. In some large organisations, these roles can represent a typical career progression. Of course, these roles are also often blurred or combined, particularly in smaller legal teams. So, you could be a manager, a subject matter expert ...

What is an in house counsel?

This In-House Counsel job description covers the fundamentals of an In-House Counsel career, including responsibilities, requirements and average salaries. If you are a Private Practice Lawyer thinking about making the move in-house – or are soon to qualify and wondering about the difference between in-house and private practice – read on to find out more.

What is the role of a GC?

The GC or Head of Legal is the chief lawyer of the legal department of a company and oversees a broad role identifying company-wide legal issues, advising senior executives and managing the other in-house lawyers. Chief Legal Officer (CLO)

What is an in house attorney?

In-house attorneys are expected to translate the legal expertise, either their own or that of the private practice attorney, and make recommendations for solutions that make sense for the company. According to Bozek, this is one of the most rewarding parts of an in-house position.

How to get an in house position?

If you are practicing, make sure you are engaged in the kinds of practice that will fit what general counsels are looking for in new hires. Consider the following tips.

Who said the most difficult thing is the decision to act?

By Anne Smith and Alexa Baltodano. The most difficult thing is the decision to act, the rest is merely tenacity. —Amelia Earhart. This Amelia Earhart quote is emblematic of the decision to work as an in-house or private practice attorney. It is a difficult decision to make, and making it does not make the path to that in-house job any easier.

What is the difference between in-house and private practice?

Another important difference between in-house and private practice is in the nature of the engagement. In private practice, attorneys are called in on an as-needed basis. They address the issue requested and then leave. The in-house lawyer, on the other hand, is involved for the long term.

How to prepare a resume for an in-house position?

Cover letter and resume suggestions. When preparing a resume for submission to an in-house position, first review the job description for the position. Corporations generally have detailed descriptions of what they expect the hire will be doing. Make sure your resume reflects that job description.

How to prepare for an interview?

Review the job description as you prepare for the interview. Take some time to think about what the job requires and your life experiences. Be prepared to provide examples of things you have done that match the skills and abilities necessary for the job. Spend some time learning about the business of the company. During the interview, it is important that you demonstrate you know something about what they do and that you are curious about learning more.

What is the meaning of Amelia Earhart's quote?

This Amelia Earhart quote is emblematic of the decision to work as an in-house or private practice attorney. It is a difficult decision to make, and making it does not make the path to that in-house job any easier.

How is working in house different from working at a law firm?

Working in-house can be significantly different than working at a law firm. First of all, in-house lawyers have only one client-the company they work for. That means there isn't any pressure to be a rainmaker or recruit new clients. And since your sole client pays your salary, you don't have to worry about billable hours.

Do lawyers have to have one client?

First of all, in-house lawyers have only one client-the company they work for. That means there isn't any pressure to be a rainmaker or recruit new clients. And since your sole client pays your salary, you don't have to worry about billable hours.

What does it mean to have a law degree?

As your parents may have told you when encouraging you to go to law school, having a law degree means you can do much more than simply work at a law firm. Of course, working at a firm can be terrific experience. Young lawyers are exposed to many aspects of the law and may even receive mentoring from senior partners.

Is a law firm a finishing school?

Well, because a law firm is viewed as a type of "finishing school" for a young lawyer. Of course, a lawyer's "finishing" will depend on the type of firm he or she works at. At a small firm, the environment may be much different than at a large big-city firm. The practice may be more general overall and the firm may not have a formal training ...

What do young lawyers learn?

Your research and writing skills will get an excellent workout. You can develop a specialty and build a client list.

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What Do In-House Lawyers do?

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Essentially in-house lawyers look after the legal needs of the organisation they work for. Work will vary depending on the nature of the business and the size of the legal team. Nick Carter is legal counsel at Manchester City Football Club, working in a team of two supplemented by one or two trainees on secondment. "The two of …
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Training

  • Most lawyers train in private practice before moving, but training contracts are available in-house. Around 500 companies are authorised to offer training contracts, though not all of them actually do. Finding out about the opportunities can be tricky, but you can get a list of authorised providers by emailing the Law Society's new in-house division at inhouse@lawsociety.org.uk. Local authori…
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Moving In-House

  • While training or working in private practice, many lawyers will have completed secondments with corporate clients before going in-house. Employment specialist Kat Gibson works for soft drinks giant Coca-Cola. She trained and worked at a Southampton law firm before making the move, working first for North American telecoms company Nortel Networks. Her advice is to work in pr…
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What Skills Do You Need?

  • Working in-house, says Gibson, involves "a different way of providing advice that requires extra skills". "You must know about the business – understand the way it works, its culture and processes. The key is to understand the bigger picture, so you can advise on law and strategy." It is important to "speak their language" and be succinct. "The company doesn't want to know that …
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Pay and Benefits

  • "This is where the sector is not as attractive as private practice" says Gibson. "When you're more junior the pay is better, but the longer you stay in-house it becomes less so." She explains: "Companies have set pay scales — your pay is not related to how hard you work or how much you bill, but where you are in the salary band." Gibson scotches the idea that working in-house mean…
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