Too
often,
my
colleagues
in
law
firms
push
back
on
going
in-house
because
they
want
to
stay
longer
to
make
more
money,
gain
experience,
or
find
a
more
fitting
position.
These
can
be
fair
reasons
to
delay
or
avoid
going
in-house
—
especially
if
one
genuinely
enjoys
most
aspects
of
their
law
firm
job.
But
many
don’t
appreciate
their
law
firm
work;
rather,
they
appreciate
the
predictability
law
firms
provide
over
going
in-house.
It
takes
only
a
few
clicks
to
see
which
top
law
firms
matched
Milbank’s
special
bonus
this
summer.
Even
if
your
firm
never
matches,
there’s
comfort
in
knowing
that
a
high
volume
of
work
promises
consistent
and
significant
pay
increases
each
year.
And
those
who
spent
a
few
(or
no)
years
working
before
law
school
may
not
understand
a
world
of
corporate
interviews,
middle
managers,
and
late-night
meals
that
you
cannot
expense.
Let’s
reframe
how
we
compare
in-house
and
law
firm
jobs,
starting
with
the
pay.
Here
are
three
ways
the
money
you
earn
in-house
is
worth
more
than
law
firm
money.
Competitive
Salaries
Exist
Many
in-house
positions
at
large
companies
offer
six-figure
compensation
that
surpass
figures
listed
on
job
postings,
which
often
omit
bonuses,
equity,
or
benefits
from
public
view.
These
positions
exist
for
attorneys
with
as
little
as
two
years
of
experience
and
can
have
compensation
packages
competitive
with
junior
and
mid-level
Am
Law
100
positions.
While
in-house
jobs
still
pay
significantly
less
than
law
firms,
particularly
for
senior
attorneys,
you
might
find
these
jobs
competitive
when
factoring
reduced
hours
and
improved
quality
of
life.
Opportunities
for
Multiple
Streams
of
Income
In-house
jobs
reward
results
over
hours.
So,
an
efficient
in-house
attorney
can
repurpose
extra
hours
for
other
income
opportunities
while
working
the
same
or
less
total
hours
as
they
would
at
a
law
firm.
I
have
in-house
colleagues
who
own
businesses
renting
properties,
running
online
stores,
coaching
junior
professionals,
and
writing
books.
These
pursuits
generate
income
growth
potential
that
they
wouldn’t
find
at
a
law
firm
unless
they
had
equity
or
a
generous
bonus
policy.
I
also
have
colleagues
who
freelance
or
work
part-time
with
skills
they
always
had
or
skills
they
gained
thanks
to
their
newfound
extra
time.
This
work
provides
them
income
predictability
and
the
flexibility
to
start
and
stop
work
depending
on
their
financial
needs.
Gaining
Experience
for
Higher
Income
Jobs
The
road
to
higher
income
over
time
can
be
paved
with
a
variety
of
experiences.
These
experiences
are
something
law
firms,
with
their
intense
specialization,
do
not
always
provide.
Going
in-house
sooner
creates
variety
sooner.
Foremost,
there
is
the
value
of
having
both
law
firm
and
in-house
experience.
You
broaden
your
perspective
and
skills
and
become
more
competitive
for
future
roles
because
you
are
wearing
multiple
hats
beyond
“lawyer”
and
understanding
all
the
facets
of
your
company’s
business.
The
value
of
the
in-house
experience
sets
you
up
for
larger,
higher-paying
companies
who
do
not
want
to
train
a
lawyer
on
how
to
practice
in-house.
Experience
in
a
larger
company
could
open
the
door
to
a
startup
that
pays
a
premium
for
the
risks
of
leaving
a
more
stable
employer.
And
diverse
in-house
legal
experience
could
lead
to
non-legal
roles
that
pay
a
premium
for
business-minded
former
attorneys.
You
can
even
take
your
in-house
experiences
back
to
a
law
firm
and
distinguish
yourself
for
higher
compensation.
You
not
only
offer
business-minded
skills
and
insights
that
are
much
harder
to
develop
as
a
traditional
associate,
but
also
a
potential
book
of
business
based
on
the
network
you
gained
while
in-house.
While
law
firms
can
provide
a
clear
and
predictable
way
to
earn
income,
early
in-house
experience
can
offer
flexibility
and
the
potential
to
grow
your
income
in
ways
that
create
greater
value
over
time.
Earl
Grey
(not
his
real
name)
is
an
in-house
attorney
at
a
Fortune
500 tech
company.
You
can reach him by
email
at [email protected].