Finding Your Dream In-house Job

By Susanne Aronowitz

Associate Dean for Law Career Services

About a week and a half ago, I brought a group of 1Ls to meet with several of the attorneys in Gap Inc.’s legal department as part of our Catching A Glimpse into Law Practice series.  While each of the lawyers took a different path to their jobs, one thing was clear: they each consider their current position to be a dream job. 

Gap has about 30 lawyers in their office, and each of those lawyers are assigned to one of several practice groups including Employment, Real Estate, Brand Services (Intellectual Property), Corporate & Finance, Commercial, Regulatory Compliance and Governance.

Think you are interested in an in-house legal job?  Here is some of the advice the attorneys shared:

• Most lawyers will need to build legal experience elsewhere (e.g., law firm or government agency) before working in-house.  If you start out on a litigation track, make sure to specialize in an area that will help you build expertise that is useful for companies (e.g., intellectual property, employment, securities, real estate).
• Don’t worry if you don’t know exactly what you want to do.  Many attorneys discover what they want to do through trial and error.
• Regardless of where you start out, prioritize working for a supervisor who will help you develop your skill set.
• Make it a priority to develop your skills and expertise in every position you take.  Don’t be afraid to make mid-course corrections if you are not moving in the right direction.
• Become comfortable at developing your network. The attorneys recommended Jeffrey Gitomer’s Little Black Book of Connections and Keith Ferrazzi’s Never Eat Alone.
• When seeking an in-house position, it is helpful to work for a company whose product or service excites you.
• Above all else, create a reputation where you are valued as a trusted advisor and problem solver for your clients.