Expanding the View of In-House Life
David Mowry announces a new direction for the column.
This begins my third year of writing for ATL. I am thrilled that our relationship has flourished, and I look forward to continuing this column for some time. When I read over some of my past columns, I realized that vindication of some of my points of view (poor vetting by JPMorgan, the market falling with the continuing shutdown) feels quite a bit better than having to offer mea culpas. Making mistakes is part of life. Making mistakes in a large and public forum is a good argument for not writing. I closed my comments section fairly recently as I believed that the comments had devolved from intellectual snark to a level above scat humor. Maybe it was the summer that brought out the “challenged.” All I know is that it is good to have a cast of regulars back in the fold, and my comments have been re-opened for weeks.
In the coming year, I am going to be doing more interviewing about in-house life…
Navigating Financial Success by Avoiding Common Pitfalls and Maximizing Firm Performance
My perspective is limited to the degree that I am, as our department is, segmented into a discrete specialty area for each attorney. And I am confident that you don’t need more columns about limitations on liability, or UCC-2A. Talking with some colleagues at a bar function recently, I was reminded that there are numerous areas of law that I either don’t touch anymore, or in which I could use some education. Compliance, securities regulations, HR, and the list goes on. Recognizing that at least half of you are in smaller in-house departments, and are forced by the lack of staff to actually “generalize” your practice, has motivated me to seek out knowledge from others.
I think the change will help the column evolve into a better tool than simply a weekly polemic on negatives of in-house life. (Don’t get me wrong, I would only go back to private practice under extreme duress; in that regard, in-house is fantastic.) I considered handing the column over, but I still enjoy writing, and they continue to pay me.
I am going to try to hit Ethics as much as possible, as it seems there is a neverending raft of ethical issues that arise in-house (certainly more than practical education). In any event, I appreciate your reading this column for the past two years. I have an overflowing Gmail folder of letters from readers. I sincerely hope that my advice to those of you who have requested it has helped in some way. I am proud to say that I have responded to each letter. Not always as timely as I would wish, but hopefully inclusive of some kernel of assistance.
Here’s to a new year and let’s hope we all end this one employed, or at least on the way.
Sponsored
Legal AI: 3 Steps Law Firms Should Take Now
Navigating Financial Success by Avoiding Common Pitfalls and Maximizing Firm Performance
Is The Future Of Law Distributed? Lessons From The Tech Adoption Curve
Generative AI In Legal Work — What’s Fact And What’s Fiction?
After two federal clerkships and several years as a litigator in law firms, David Mowry is happily ensconced as an in-house lawyer at a major technology company. He specializes in commercial leasing transactions, only sometimes misses litigation, and never regrets leaving firm life. You can reach him by email at dmowry00@gmail.com.