Editor's Note: Ms. JD's annual conference, Avenues to Advancement, was held November 20-21 in Chicago. These are notes from the “Inroads to In-House” panel.  

Since we often hear there are not a lot of entry-level in-house positions, law students and young attorneys may neglect to learn more about how to become the general counsel of a corporation. Yet we hear that it’s an attractive alternative because you work directly for a client and are outside the billable hour structure. Here are some points the panel of general counsels shared:  

1. General counsel opportunities are difficult to obtain

This one seems obvious when you realize institutions have one general counsel, but becomes even more apparent when you factor in prospective general counsels might be targeting a particular geographic area or type of institution. There may be only a few general counsel positions opening up in a desired geographic area during the year. This requires being flexible to move to other markets or being patient to wait out opportunities in your area. Also, you may try to move up the ranks from associate general counsel. This requires waiting for the current general counsel to depart and competing with the other associate general counsels or an outside hire.  

Statistical side note: According to the 2008 ABA Report on Women in the Legal Profession, women make up only 18.4% of the general counsels of Fortune 500 companies, and 15.6% of general counsels of Fortune 501-1000 companies.

2. The structural differences are significant

One of the big differences we usually hear about working as general counsel versus working in a law firm is that working in-house avoids the billable hour structure. Other structural differences include the fact that these in-house positions change as businesses change, potentially affecting the legal department. Finally, unlike being a law firm partner, you have a “boss”—the CEO.  

3. General counsels tend to prefer hiring litigators

Litigators succeed in-house because they tend to be generalists. Therefore, they can competently work on legal matters the corporation faces across different areas of the law. The corporate work can more easily be delegated to outside counsel. Also, litigation teaches attorneys the skill of assessing risk, which is important to general counsels. Litigators with several years of experience at law firms are preferred because they need less training to go in-house.

Panelists 

Moderator:  Susan Snyder, Deputy Trust Counsel, Northern Trust

Roya Behnia, Senior Vice President, General Counsel & Secretary, Rewards Network, Inc.; Catherine Lamboley, Senior Vice President & General Counsel (Ret.), Shell Oil Company; Jose Padilla, Vice President & General Counsel, DePaul University; Andrea Zopp, Vice President & General Counsel, Exelon Corporation; Suzanne Bettman, Vice President & General Counsel, RR Donnelley