What do most careers look like after moving in-house? Is staying in-house for duration of one’s career and making sub $400k standard? (For reference: I am currently with Meta)

General Counsel Responses:

  • In-house raises tend to be very small. You need to get promoted or leave to move up. Most tend to have very few high-paying positions. If you don’t get promoted within a reasonable time; move on. Even if you have to take a pay cut if you can get a title you can use to move to a better paying company later. This is speaking as someone who stayed way too long.

Counsel Responses:

  • I see people go back and forth between law firms/in-house all the time. I don’t think there’s any hard and fast rule, it’s more that most people don’t want to go back to law firms after in-house, but certainly some people want more challenge/higher pay/want to escape a bad culture, etc.
  • Don’t be afraid to look at senior positions in smaller companies. My total is up there - above what I’d make for a position I might get at a FAANG.
  • Yes, unless you perform your way into a leadership position, go back to a firm or get lucky at an early stage company.

Attorney and Associate Responses:

  • I’m five years in and just started at my third company. If I’ve learned anything about in-house it’s that you need to leave to get a raise but when you do you’re likely to get at least 40%.
  • I mean if you want to go to Google; it's a similar base but new and a lot of stock, so there’s that.
  • Same. I'm a Deputy GC with a FAANG compensation package. I expect to use the title to bump into similar positions at larger companies down the road.

In-house? Be a part of the conversation on Fishbowl (anonymous).