Moving in-house: A guide for newly qualified and junior lawyers

Author Georgia Morgan-Wynne
March 14, 2023

As specialists in the in-house legal market, we want to provide you with all the information you need to make an informed decision on whether an in-house
position could be right for you.

Client demand for junior lawyers within in-house legal teams has increased considerably over the last few years. Similarly, we have seen a real surge in interest from junior lawyers looking to take an inhouse career path. Despite this, there is still some fear amongst newly qualified lawyers that you can be ‘too junior’ to move in-house.

In our webinar replay and pdf guide, we hope to quell those fears and offer insight from individuals who have made that move. We also hope to shed some light on what junior lawyers can do to better their chances of securing an in-house role and highlight the differences between in-house and private practice.

The in-house market is broad, with industries and sectors to suit everyone’s interests and passions. We recruit across most industry sectors with a wide variety of companies for lawyers to choose from. There is a role for everyone and with a little digging, (and help from specialist legal recruiters) your experience will be perfect for a great company.

Webinar replay

Facilitated by the Taylor Root team, our discussion covered:

  • Navigating the in-house market and the best time to move in-house
  • The differences between life as an in-house and private practice lawyer
  • How to enhance your CV/Application in the context of in-house opportunities
  • The key non-legal skills needed to thrive in an in-house setting
  • How to advance your career and professional development in-house

The Panellists

Kandarp Thakar
Legal Director,
Head of Legal UK&I
Uber

Lisa Ing
General Counsel
Outright Games

Emma Lilley
Head of Legal UK&I
SD WORX

Kandarp is Legal Director at Uber Technologies Inc., with oversight of UK&I. Here he collaborates on top-tier strategy, leads a brilliant, diverse international team and works closely with the business, assessing legal and regulatory risk. He advises the business and Board on regulatory, litigation, corporate and commercial, and employment matters across the Mobility and Delivery businesses. Kandarp started his career in practice at Baker & McKenzie LLP managing multinational real estate assets. He shares an interesting story about making the move from real estate to head of commercial.

Lisa embarked on her legal career in private practice qualifying as a corporate lawyer at Fasken Martineau then moving to Addleshaw Goddard’s corporate team for almost five years which included an in-house secondment to Lloyds bank. In 2020 she transitioned in-house role into the gaming industry as a Senior Legal Counsel at Miniclip where she was part of the M&A team. She is now the General Counsel at Outright Games, a prominent children’s gaming and entertainment company and has shared how she has navigated her career moves and broadened her skillset beyond her corporate background.

Emma is an experienced in-house lawyer who is currently the Head of Legal at SD Worx, a global HR services provider. Having trained in-house and launched her well-known careers blog In-House Potter, Emma is well-equipped to offer invaluable perspectives on advancing your career as an in-house lawyer and exploring alternative paths to qualification.

Download the pdf guide

Our guide provides insights into benefits and challenges working in an in-house role and gives answers to questions like:

  • What is the best time for making the move in-house?
  • What is it like to work in-house?
  • Is pre-qualification experience relevant for in-house roles?
  • What does your future look like as an in-house lawyer?

Download

Jobs

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Interim Counsel – Technology & Procurement

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Deputy Company Secretary

We are currently working with a FTSE 100 organisation looking for a Deputy Company Secretary to join their London team on a full-time basis. Reporting to the Director of Corporate Governance, this role will be responsible for supporting and delivering an efficient and effective company secretarial service and corporate governance function. Some of the key […]
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Senior Legal Counsel – Commercial

Leading professional services organisation seeks Senior Legal Counsel to join their highly skilled in-house legal team in London. An opportunity to join a supportive and dynamic team, in a varied role supporting all levels of the business across service lines and the full range of internal business functions. It will be to engage in contracting […]
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Temporary Online Brand Protection and Compliance Specialist I’m partnered with an international consumer goods company, who are seeking temporary assistance for around 9 – 10 weeks from late April to cover a period of parental leave. This position will be reporting into the companies General Counsel and can be completed on a 100% remote basis […]
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Assistant Company Secretary

We are working with an international education organisation who are looking for an Assistant Company Secretary to join their Legal team on an initial 6-month FTC (with the potential to become permanent). This role will be offered on a predominantly remote basis with the expectation to be in the office for a few days every […]
  • Salary £65000 – £70000 per annum
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  • Energy

Associate General Counsel, Solar Energy Contracts

Location: New York City, NY or Baltimore, MD preference: 100% remote considered for the right candidate. I am partnered with a fast-growing start-up in the solar energy sector who are dedicated to revolutionizing the industry. This forward-thinking company focuses on the development, construction, and long-term operation of innovative solar power systems, including rooftop and canopy […]
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  • Construction (in-house)

Interim Construction Managing Counsel – Contractor

As a senior counsel/ managing counsel hire, you will work in and potentially manage a team of 4 more junior contract manager/ legal counsel heads and work on commercial, construction and utilities infrastructure matters. The client are seeking a safe pair of hands and someone with ample in-house experience in a broad range of legal […]
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