Career Clinic: I hate life in my regional firm's property team

There are actually a surprisingly large amount of commercial property solicitors working in industry. Many of the big plc's and insurance co's (eg The Co-op) have dedicated teams so a long career as an in-house com-prop lawyer is possible.Competition tends to be high so anyone seriously considering a move in-house should apply to any vacancy that interests them, if only to get the practice and to focus on the reasons they want to change. Moving back into private practice should not be a problem so long as your in-house CV is strong and you don't leave it too long - inevitably after about seven years' PQE firms will be looking for their lateral hires to bring the magic "client following", which isn't possible for most in-housers.

Jon Esner, company solicitor, Arriva -13 Mar 2007 | 16:56

If you do not like dealing with clients moving in-house is certainly not the answer! Although the number of legal entities you have as clients when working in-house may be limited, the level of direct contact with the people you are advising is much greater than in private practice, especially at the junior level.Indeed, in-house work will almost certainly involve dealing with the full range of people who work for your employer - and if that does not appeal then in-house work is definitely not for you. The law is a service industry and, other than as an academic, it is hard to think of any way to have a legal career which does not involve dealing extensively with clients, so perhaps you should be asking if you are in the right profession at all.

In-House banking lawyer -13 Mar 2007 | 17:19

When you say that you don't like clients, do you mean that you don't like client entertaining or you just don't like clients? If it is the former, you have my sympathy but if it is the latter, then moving in-house is not the answer. You will still have clients and you will still be expected to meet their needs on time and often at short notice.

In-house lawyer -13 Mar 2007 | 20:40

I've been on secondments with clients. I now realise that being in private practice allows you a certain distance from clients which you simply don't have in-house. The people you serve as an in-house lawyer can be very demanding and persistent. You could end up more frustrated with your work than you are now, so take care with the decision.

Private practice solicitor -20 Mar 2007 | 13:41