In-House Counsel

Questions To Ask Before Going In-House

In some ways, you won’t know whether you’ll like it until you try it.

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Contrary to popular myth, not all in-house positions are alike. While I’m in the “happily ever after” group, I know lawyers who have gone in-house and went back to firm life. In some ways, you won’t know whether you’ll like it until you try it. But here are some questions you may want to know the answers to before you make the move.

Compensation And Benefits

While compensation isn’t everything, it’s certainly important, and it ranges from company to company, depending on size, range, geographic area, industry, and role.

  • What does the total compensation package look like? Beyond cash money in the form of your salary, does the package include bonuses, stock, retirement, vacation? A perk I love is that our offices are closed between Christmas and New Year’s Day. Another company I know also takes the July 4th week completely off.
  • If you’re planning for a family, how much paid leave is there? Is there paternity leave? Are there any perks like covered shipping for breast milk if you have to travel? What about adoption assistance? Some companies have onsite daycare or daycare nearby.
  • Are there any unique perks? For example, where I work, we have an incredible car lease program that includes insurance and maintenance. Maybe unlimited kombucha and daily catered lunches are more your vibe.

Work/Life Integration (I Hate The Word Balance)

In candor, this is paramount to me and matters more than compensation. It may be helpful for you to figure out what your nonnegotiables are.

  • What does a typical day look like? When does it start and end? Is there flexibility, or is there a rigid schedule?
  • Is there frequent work at night and on weekends?
  • How much travel is expected?
  • Is there flexibility to work from home? How often?
  • Especially if you have kids, are there sick days — how many?
  • Do people really take vacation and for how long?

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The Legal Department And Your Specific Team

This section of questions is often missed, but some of these answers will give you insight into what life will really be like as a lawyer in the company.

  • How big is the legal department? What does an org chart look like?
  • Is there upward mobility or a flat organization?
  • Is legal well-respected and seen as a true business partner?
  • Is there a budget for outside counsel? Or are you expected to do as much as you can in-house?
  • What is the risk tolerance?
  • Is there a lot of turnover?
  • Who will you be reporting to and what is their leadership style?
  • How large is your specific team and how are responsibilities divvied up?
  • How is coverage handled when someone is on vacation?
  • Is there administrative assistance?
  • Is there a budget for professional development, attending conferences for continuing education?

About The Company

For some, this section may matter less, but it’s still worth exploring.

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  • What’s the company culture?
  • How strong is the company brand?
  • Does the mission align with your core values?
  • Is the company committed to diversity and inclusion?
  • How is the company’s financial stability?

And as for how you find these answers out, you can definitely ask some of these during interviews, whether it’s the recruiter or the lawyers, but for some questions, you may want to find out from someone in your network. Candid sources are obviously former employees, but it may be helpful to talk to anyone who has experience with the company, whether as outside counsel or a vendor.

Meyling “Mey” Ly Ortiz is in-house at Toyota Motor North America. Her passions include mentoring, championing belonging, and a personal blog: TheMeybe.com. At home, you can find her doing her best to be a “fun” mom to a toddler and preschooler and chasing her best self on her Peloton. You can follow her on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/meybe/). And you knew this was coming: her opinions are hers alone.

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