Life after in-house counsel?

[Anonymous]

I have an opportunity to go in-house at a Fortune 100 company in my home town. I am currently a supervisor in a marketable DOJ component. I spent about 5 years as an associate in BigLaw before going to the government, and I don't really think I want to go back to a firm, but I'm worried that going in-house will close that door forever. I don't personally know anybody who has moved from an in-house job to a firm, but maybe that's just because they're so happy in-house? I have a really good government job that I could stick with for a few more years and then decide what to do, but I am also really excited about the prospect of living and working in my home town and in-house jobs there don't come along very often. If I don't end up wanting to stay at the in-house job long term, do you think there will be other opportunities at firms?

[Anonymous]

Maybe not at a firm, but I imagine you'd be able to move back to DOJ or another government job. Or lobbying?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have an opportunity to go in-house at a Fortune 100 company in my home town. I am currently a supervisor in a marketable DOJ component. I spent about 5 years as an associate in BigLaw before going to the government, and I don't really think I want to go back to a firm, but I'm worried that going in-house will close that door forever. I don't personally know anybody who has moved from an in-house job to a firm, but maybe that's just because they're so happy in-house? I have a really good government job that I could stick with for a few more years and then decide what to do, but I am also really excited about the prospect of living and working in my home town and in-house jobs there don't come along very often. If I don't end up wanting to stay at the in-house job long term, do you think there will be other opportunities at firms?

I've known people who've gone from in house back to firms. I can think of a few who went back to biglaw; I can think of a few who went mid-law/boutique. I don't think that door is closed forever. You're more likely however to get back in with the firms/type of firms that that company uses as they'll see you as an in to more business with that company. So depending on where your hometown is it would be the biglaw firms and regional firms in the area - moreso than a random v30 firm in DC that has no connection to that company.