In-House Law

What is an In-House Lawyer?

Many organisations will employ legal counsel to work solely for the firm. The type of work will vary depending on the nature of the organisation, but can include contract law, company secretarial work, regulatory approval and compliance, banking and securities law, protection of intellectual property, employment law, or consumer law.

The experience of working in-house is one that is entirely distinct from working within a law firm. In-house practitioners often benefit from flexible working hours, an opportunity to participate in business decision making, an absence of billable quotas and a favourable work-life balance.

In addition, research by the Australian Corporate Lawyers Association has shown that 80% of in-house lawyers receive value-added benefits: 57% receive a bonus, 22% receive superannuation greater than the employer compulsory contribution, and 3% receive fringe benefits tax benefits associated with working for a charity.

Pathways to In-House Legal Work

Generally, lawyers who work in-house are already qualified to practise as solicitors and have extensive industry experience. In-house solicitors often start out in a law firm doing corporate and commercial legal work, before moving to an internal legal team. Many law firms also provide experienced legal counsel and provide graduates with opportunities to undertake secondments within in-house teams. Although many organisations have in-house legal departments, very few offer graduate-level positions. Employment positions are generally advertised on the organisation's website and secondments are usually arranged internally.

Who represents In-House Lawyers?

The Association of Corporate Counsel Australia ('ACCA') is the peak body for in-house lawyers. They host events, conferences, training workshops, and even have a yearly mentoring programme, which pairs less experienced in-house lawyers with mentors from a different industry sector. More information: http://acla.acc.com/