Alternate Paths to GC: A Case Study

On September 27, 2020
In GC, Inhouse, Women & Minorities

The classic path to GC is to start at an Am Law firm in corporate securities, then go in-house to a capital markets team (being sure to pick up SEC, M&A, employee benefits, IR support, and other adjacent practice groups). The person would climb the corporate ladder internally or join a smaller company as the […]

On July 18, 2020
In Inhouse, Presentation

Big firms train their associates to analyze complex matters and completely mitigate risk. These big-firm trained lawyers often go in-house and face a different set of expectations. A Silicon Valley exec who has worked at VC-backed startups, private family-owned and public Fortune 100 companies broke down for me what he is looking for from in-house […]

On April 12, 2020
In Career Management, Career Tips, Inhouse

I usually post on immediate things you can do for your career, but I like this Corporate Counsel article on what big picture things Columbia Law In-House Counsel Lab is teaching students who want to work in-house. Recent speakers have included Colin Stretch, the former Facebook GC, and Bruce Sewell, the former Apple and Oracle […]

On May 27, 2019
In Career Management, Career Tips, Inhouse

Companies all are looking to hire lawyers who can immediately add value. Employers want someone who understands the industry, has done the job, and can manage the clients. That’s why they prefer in-house lawyers doing that exact job now. But what should you do if you aren’t already in-house? Here are five ways to pitch […]

On April 21, 2019
In Career Management, Career Tips, GC, Inhouse

The Recorder sat down with top Bay Area GCs to find out how they landed that #1 job. A distillation below: Impress your clients. Airbus Silicon Valley Robert Keele got the job after serving as outside counsel. (In my opinion, joining a client is the easiest way to go in-house. You know the company, and […]

On January 21, 2018
In Career Management, Career Tips, Inhouse

No matter the industry, top employers all ask me to find lawyers who can do these five things on top of their substantive area of expertise: Communicate clearly. In-house lawyers must concisely deliver information and adjust their style depending on their audience to get the results needed. Solve problems. Companies hire lawyers to fix things. […]

On April 9, 2017
In Career Management, Inhouse, Job Search

Very experienced attorneys face the problem that senior jobs are in short supply. What should they do to land their next in-house job? Here are 4 easy things: Highlight hot skills, especially ones that are hard to to find or cutting edge and still developing, e.g., privacy, open source, fintech, etc. Show continued learning. List […]

On March 5, 2017
In Career Management, Inhouse, Job Search

Because senior in-house roles are so scarce, you need to give your career serious thought to climb the ranks. Here are 5 ways to position yourself: Target industries/companies needing your skill set. Cultivate relationships so you learn when jobs open up because many senior ones are not posted. Fill any holes in your resume required […]

On February 26, 2017
In Career Management, Inhouse

Bright in-house attorneys often feel stuck because the in-house org chart is so flat — the first corporate counsel level vastly outnumbers the Director, AGC, DGC and GC levels. How do you move up in this flat environment? Know that senior openings come about in 3 scenarios: Dynamic companies grow so quickly that they lack […]

On January 16, 2017
In Career Management, Client, Inhouse

I speak to many senior partners and in-house executives, who successfully manage their clients. They consistently: Research clients, both current and prospective. Even before their first meeting, lawyers have researched their clients’ goals, business, and hot buttons so they are ready to give tailored advice. Build relationships with clients. It takes time for lawyers to […]

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Alternate Paths to GC: A Case Study

What Exactly Business Clients Want from Their In-House Lawyers

3 Big Picture Things to Do for Aspiring In-House Leaders

How to Pitch Yourself for In-House Jobs When You’ve Never Held One

5 Ways to Get that Top GC Job!

5 Most In-Demand Skills for Lawyers Across All Fields

4 Easy Things Senior Lawyers Should Do to Land Their Next Job

5 Ways to Position Yourself to Rise In-House

The 3 Most Common Ways Senior Roles Open Up In-House

Top 5 Client Management Skills