Return to Biglaw? Of all the career paths that an in-house counsel might take, moving back to private practice may seem to be an odd choice given the benefits of in-house practice. But in-house counsel are being targeted at all levels, including General Counsel. As Kate Olgers of recruitment consultancy Major, Lindsey & Africa points out, in-house counsel are often in high demand as they are not only highly-skilled, but they also are uniquely business-focused and attuned to client needs. Seasoned General Counsel know that what is needed by clients is not a 50-page memorandum ending in an unequivocal “maybe”, but real practical advice delivered timely and in a way that makes sense to business teams. Given the pluses of in-house practice, a return to Biglaw is not for everyone, but one that must be kept in mind when in-house counsel are deciding on the next step in their career.
“It has been a truism that partners can and do leave private practice to become general counsel but there’s no or limited traffic the other way. Why? The GC has no book of business to port to a firm; perhaps surprisingly, there’s often a yawning gap between the GC’s remuneration and what a firm is willing to pay; and who wants to go back to timesheets and six-minute intervals? Pleasingly, several recent moves suggest it is a truism no more. Law firms – from mid-tier and boutiques to the top eight – are recruiting general counsel to their partner ranks. What has changed?….”
Read: Private Practice to In-house: It’s No Longer One-Way Traffic at MLAGlobal