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.
Is your career path leading you to another state? Or are you interested in practicing in another state? Lawyers often feel rooted to the state in which they are licensed to practice, but practicing law in another state may be more attainable than you thought. Many states offer long-term and short-term opportunities to practice in their state without having to take their bar exam. Long-term options include admission by motion, reciprocity agreements, and some federal practice opportunities. Short-term options include pro hac vice representation, in-house counsel, and limited practice opportunities.
