Community Perspectives: What is your experience changing practice areas and what does that process look like?
In-house legal professionals talk about how they've changed practice areas within their careers.
(Author) Attorney
I am looking to change my area of practice. I currently have 4+ years of BigLaw and in-house experience in a niche area of law. Has anyone had an experience changing practice areas? How did you go about it?
General Counsel Responses:
A lot of studying. I went from chapter 11/bankruptcy litigation to real estate private equity (to a firm I co-founded). We can all read, so pick what area you want to do, and study. I’d say it took me six months of studying before I was comfortable doing purchase and sale agreements, commercial leases, and pricing properties. But being a bankruptcy lawyer, I was exposed to a lot of different businesses, etc., especially representing landlords.
Counsel Responses:
Seek mentorship from an attorney in the practice area you want to move into. You may need to be willing to accept a more junior role in your new area to get your foot in the door and start gaining experience.
Other Legal Professional Responses:
Focus on transferable skills and achievements when you pitch yourself. It definitely depends on what you practiced and what you’d like to practice. Credentials also matter; top tier law school and BigLaw makes shifts much easier as firms and companies are more willing to take a chance or eat training costs to invest in you.
In-house? Join the conversation on Fishbowl (anonymous).
Counsel Responses: