Five
years
into
a
private
practice
legal
career,
things
can
start
to
feel
pretty
tough.
The
excitement
of
those
early
days
of
being
a
lawyer
is
long
gone
and
partnership
might
still
be
a
long
way
off.
It’s
no
surprise
that
a
lot
of
lawyers
start
considering
their
options.
A
survey
by
the
International
Bar
Association
(IBA)
of
young
lawyers
found
that
more
than
half
(54
percent)
were
likely
to
consider
leaving
their
jobs
within
the
next
five
years,
citing
work-life
balance,
salary,
and
mental
health
reasons
as
motivators.
Many
of
those
lawyers
will
consider
an
in-house
role.
Over
the
past
15
years,
the
U.S.
in-house
counsel
population
has
grown
by
80
percent
from
78,000
in
2008
to
140,000
in
2023,
driven
in
large
part
by
the
escalating
appetite
from
corporations
to
build
their
legal
teams.
The
total
number
of
lawyers
in
the
U.S.
has
also
grown
in
that
time,
but
more
and
more
are
choosing
to
pursue
their
careers
outside
private
practice.
Today,
in-house
lawyers
make
up
nearly
one
fifth
of
the
total
U.S.
lawyer
population,
compared
to
14
percent
at
the
time
of
the
global
financial
crisis,
according
to
data
from
the
Association
of
Corporate
Counsel.
For
the
competent
and
ambitious
midlevel
attorney
looking
ahead
at
a
long
career,
there
are
many
benefits
to
a
move
in-house.
Work-life
balance
has
long
been
seen
as
a
key
motivator,
and
was
particularly
front
of
mind
post-COVID,
with
in-house
roles
often
allowing
attorneys
more
free
time
in
the
evenings
and
weekends.
But
there
are
plenty
of
corporate
roles
that
also
demand
long
hours
and
come
with
heavy
workloads.
So
while
an
easier
life
may
not
be
guaranteed,
the
upside
is
being
closer
to
the
business,
seeing
the
direct
impact
of
your
work
on
an
organization,
diversifying
the
legal
work
you
do,
and
getting
access
to
opportunities
to
build
broader
business
skills.
It’s
a
big
jump
and
a
decision
that
no
lawyer
wants
to
take
lightly.
It
may
be
time
for
a
change,
but
how
do
you
work
out
where
your
skills
will
be
most
valued?
What
are
the
realities
of
a
corporate
career?
Will
you
fit
into
a
new
organizational
culture
and
way
of
working?
Charting
a
path
with
project-based
legal
roles
One
exciting
way
to
try
out
different
in-house
environments
is
a
move
into
contract
work.
There
is
huge
demand
from
the
world’s
leading
businesses
for
interim
support
from
first-class
mid-career
lawyers.
Contract
work
allows
attorneys
to
steer
their
careers
in
whichever
way
they
choose
by
trying
different
roles,
for
different
organizations,
in
different
industries.
Whether
you
are
looking
for
more
control,
choice,
or
variety,
you’ll
get
the
chance
to
pick
the
best
roles
for
you.
At
Peerpoint,
we’ve
been
helping
lawyers
build
their
careers
for
more
than
a
decade.
Sally
McCrossin,
Resourcing
and
Talent
Manager
for
Peerpoint
U.S.,
says:
“We
work
with
our
lawyers
to
understand
what
they
want
to
do,
and
why,
and
then
we
place
them
into
interim
roles
that
match
their
personalized
career
plans.
You’ll
be
working
in
a
really
supportive
environment,
allowing
you
to
focus
on
your
professional
growth.
And
as
we’re
part
of
A&O
Shearman,
one
of
the
world’s
leading
law
firms,
you
benefit
from
access
to
training,
networking,
knowledge
resources,
and
even
partner
support
when
needed.”
The
great
thing
is,
whether
you
choose
contract
legal
work
as
a
means
to
experience
different
environments
before
identifying
your
dream
permanent
role,
or
decide
to
keep
building
your
career
as
an
interim
lawyer,
you
can
be
confident
your
resume
will
benefit.
Peerpoint
attorneys
are
always
learning,
working
on
complex
matters
alongside
expert
teams
in
high
performing
environments.
“That
means
that
just
because
you
are
not
in
permanent
employment,
your
resume
will
be
no
worse
off,”
says
Sally.
“You
can
build
the
skills
you
want
to
hone
and
push
yourself
to
expand
your
horizons
in
new
industries
and
workstreams.”
Have
you
always
wanted
to
work
in
a
start-up
but
feared
a
wrong
move?
Do
you
harbor
a
burning
curiosity
to
explore
the
fintech
world,
or
work
in
a
more
global
business?
Interim
roles
let
you
experiment
and
grow
on
your
own
terms,
without
the
need
to
commit
for
the
long
term.
A
move
that
works
for
you
Interim
assignments
can
allow
you
more
flexibility
to
spend
your
time
doing
what
matters
most
to
you.
Flexibility
can
take
many
forms,
whether
you
choose
to
take
on
an
assignment
with
hours
that
work
better
for
you
on
a
day-to-day
basis,
or
take
extended
breaks
between
roles
to
travel
or
spend
time
with
family.
With
Peerpoint,
you
can
shape
not
only
the
role
but
the
working
life
that
suits
you:
it
might
suit
you
to
step
back
from
office
politics,
or
you
could
forge
new
connections
and
expand
your
coaching
and
mentoring
responsibilities.
If
you’re
facing
the
Fifth-Year
Dilemma,
stepping
out
of
private
practice
might
feel
like
a
big
leap,
but
there
are
ways
to
test
the
water
and
see
what
you
are
getting
into
before
you
fully
commit
to
a
new
long-term
position.
Or
you
might
find
the
freelancer
lifestyle
works
for
you
and
decide
to
stick
with
it
for
years.
We
have
plenty
of
experience
supporting
lawyers
through
career
transitions
–
if
you
feel
you
might
be
ready
for
a
change,
please
get
in
touch.
Get
in
touch
with
us
today…
If
you’re
ready
to
explore
a
legal
career
on
your
own
terms,
contact
us
at
[email protected]
or
find
out
more
at
peerpoint.com/join-our-panel.
Jordan