CBA Record March-April 2025

THE YOUNG LAWYERS SECTION

decisions, help mitigate legal risks, and work closely with other departments such as finance, operations, and marketing to align legal strategies with business goals. Legal Strategy versus Execution In this context, the contrast between law firm and in-house counsel is stark. While litigating at the firm, your typical assign ment would involve managing the day to-day tasks and needs of the case. But when you move in-house, you are almost immediately asked to shift from a perspec tive focused on winning the case in front of you to sustaining the company for which you work. You must provide advice and recommendations on how to allocate resources, sufficiently understand present matters to recommend whether to litigate a case in-house or whether to hire exter nal counsel, and provide input on crisis management, among many other things. Success in my current role mandates the ability to anticipate legal risks, proactively identify solutions, and manage legal and administrative responsibilities. This often involves collaboration with external clients and internal business stakeholders. Business Law Principles Those law school courses you loved so much—business organizations and civil procedure—are here to stay, especially if businesses are your main clients. Unlike law firms, where the focus is primarily on providing sound legal advice, in-house counsel must balance legal considerations with business objectives. For instance, legal strategy on how to approach a matter can often depend on the business entity involved, jurisdiction, and venue, espe cially with a global company. Intimately understanding the company’s operations, products, goals, and industry dynamics better equips you to make sound legal decisions.

PATHWAYS IN THE PROFESSION In-House Counsel By Azar Alexander

A re you longing to take respite from grueling days in court? Tired of drafting and reviewing legal docu ments until your days blend together? Cannot fathom billing your time one more day? Many lawyers make the leap to in-house roles seeking better work-life balance, a more predictable schedule, or a deeper involvement in business strategy. However, if you view an in-house counsel position as a solution to heavy workload and strong demands for attention to detail, consider yourself warned. While certainly a different type of legal job, in-house coun sel roles come with pros and cons just like any other. The journey from being a law firm attorney to taking an in-house coun sel position can be an exciting yet challeng ing career move. I recently made the leap from private practice to a litigation group within a company’s legal department. Here are a few general observations. Role Differences Maintaining a clear understanding of the roles of a law firm and a company is invaluable, as both entities rely on one another for success. While a law firm lawyer may handle multiple clients at once, in-house counsel typically focus on

the specific needs of one organization. I often hear in-house counsel state that the company’s business lines, boards, and committees are their “clients.” Moving in house has given me a better line of sight than I had as a private attorney. In other words, I can see the bigger picture, which puts me in a better position to more quickly understand and form legal strat egy and not get so bogged down in the weeds of a complex legal issue. Another difference between law firm practice and in-house counsel work lies in the nature of the daily tasks. In a law firm, attorneys often handle discrete tasks such as drafting legal documents, con ducting research, or representing clients in court or in the board room. In-house attorneys, depending on their company’s size and structure, generally oversee the company’s overall legal landscape, advise senior executives, collaborate with risk and finance groups, and help the business make informed decisions with legal con siderations in mind. Law firm attorneys are essential because they are able to focus on legal expertise and maintain a current understanding of the state of the law in their specific practice area. In-house attor neys provide legal guidance on corporate

Azar Alexander, a former litigation associate at Steptoe & Johnson LLP, is legal counsel at The Northern Trust Company. The views and opinions expressed in this article are his own and do not reflect those of his employer.

24 March/April 2025