(Author) Counsel

Do any in-house counsel have fears of losing their job and missing out on transferable skills? I’ve been in-house for more than 10 years. I work almost exclusively with contracts. I like my work. I have been in private practice and have some litigation experience (two years), but can’t imagine any firm would want me in the future. Do any other in-house counsel feel this way? Did anyone go back to private practice to build another skill set?

General Counsel Responses:

• I think your experience is extremely valuable and very marketable, but it would be smart to take on other responsibilities to expand your skill set. I’d consider asking your management for continued training in fields you are interested in learning more about.

Counsel Responses:

• A couple thoughts: (1) commercial contracting is a transferable skill. Many businesses and even law firms (maybe not BigLaw) would consider an experienced commercial lawyer to be an asset. (2) to the extent you want to build other areas of expertise, why go to a firm for that? Do it at your current in-house gig or a different one.

• Former M&A associate here – remember that you have a significant amount of experience reviewing a wide variety of commercial agreements  in connection with the due diligence process, and your deal negotiation skills are highly transferable. It can take a long time to move in-house. I kept making it to the final two candidates only to be rejected in favor of someone with prior in-house experience. Eventually I landed one after about a year.

• Who handles the litigation management at your company? The collections? The insurance coverage? The m&a? The employment law? I’m a generalist so I do all of that at my company. I couldn’t imagine only doing contracts. I would recommend seeking out ways to broaden your ability to help your current employer, proactively.

• I think when you're at a certain point in your career, skills are less important than building relationships and rapport. I don't see lots of GCs having great skills but I do know they know how to gain trust from other senior leaders.

• On one hand, yes. On the other hand, I’m not going back to a firm. 

Attorney and Associate Responses:

• It’s funny because I’m your polar opposite: I’ve been at a firm for the past seven years and I'm afraid I can’t make this transition in-house to general contracting since my skills are centered around buyout m&a transactions. I’m similarly worried about my career trajectory and future given the rate increases, deal slow down, and inability to find billable work at my firm. Plus I’ve been applying to in-house counsel jobs and haven’t gotten anywhere yet. Just planning to hold on as long as I can, but man this anxious uncertainty makes my stomach ache. - Guess the grass is always greener, aye?

• All the time!! Although I want to specialize in one thing, I can’t help but still think about other skills that I’m not able to further develop anymore and I fear losing my worth if in the future I need to look for a different job or want to work someplace else. But I am too specialized in one field to be able to transfer.

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