In-house Lawyers Sharing Moves to Private Practice for Career Feature

I just finished a 1:1 career clarity session with a mid-career in-house lawyer who had a belief that was quietly limiting her. She thought you couldn’t go from in-house back to private practice. Just… didn’t know it was a thing. So, if you’re an early career lawyer who thinks you’ve boxed yourself in by going in-house first, I need you to read this. You haven’t. Law firms, particularly commercial practices, want lawyers who have sat on the other side of the table. You understand the client experience from the inside. You know what keeps GCs up at night. You know how to speak the language of the client and that is genuinely valuable. I know people who have made this move. It exists. It happens. Is it the path of least resistance? Probably not. You’ll need humility, because private practice is a different way of working and some of your skills might need refinement. But here’s what will help: ✨ Getting clear on the transferable skills you bring ✨ Working with a top notch recruiter who understands this transition and knows how to pitch your experience ✨ Letting go of the idea that your career has to follow a straight line As Ashley Herd says, careers are more like a patchwork quilt. I’ve always said mine felt like snakes and ladders but either way, the linear ladder is a model from a different era. Your path being non-traditional is not the same as your path being blocked so please don’t make permanent decisions based on a belief that was never true to begin with. Lawyer friends, help me out. If you’ve made this move or know someone who has, please drop a comment. You can’t be what you can’t see and your story might be exactly what someone needs today. 💖 #careeradvice #inhousepractice #legalcareer #careerchange