Anonymous
10/16/2025 22:10
Subject: When would you consider a lateral position?
Anonymous wrote:I've had an in house role at my current company for almost a decade. It's a great role and I do lots of interesting work and am paid well. But our legal department has a very flat structure so there's not really an opportunity for advancement.
I had a colleague recommend that I apply to another in house role at a similar company. I was initially interested because it sounded like a step up, but after a round of interviews it sounds like it would be more of a lateral move with similar work. I'd probably initially give up some autonomy as the new person, but hopefully that would resolve as I gained a reputation. The org has some more layers so there's perhaps more of an opportunity to advance, but I'd also be a bit lower in the org structure because there are layers.
Would you move for a lateral role? What would convince you? I'd like to eventually move into an in house leadership role, but am not sure if this will really help me advance towards that goal.
No, don't give up your job security if you feel like you have job security. I'd consider if the other role had better stock etc., but moving up there will be slow too, since you're new. In 5 years, you may move up at the new company; if someone leaves, they do not just promote on time in grade. If you move from senior counsel to AGC, it's because an AGC left and a spot opened. In 5 years at your current company, do you think there is a possibility for you to move up?
If it make you feel any better, my husband lucked into a senior legal leadership role at his large company. His boss was a single 50 year old guy and he didnt expect him to retire for 15 more years. He left due to a health diagnosis and already having plenty of money and wanting to move closer to his childhood home. My DH only got about a 10% raise and went from a 30% bonus to a 40% bonus, its great, but it isnt like he is raking it in now and it hasnt changed our lives.
Anonymous
10/15/2025 18:08
Subject: When would you consider a lateral position?
I've had an in house role at my current company for almost a decade. It's a great role and I do lots of interesting work and am paid well. But our legal department has a very flat structure so there's not really an opportunity for advancement.
I had a colleague recommend that I apply to another in house role at a similar company. I was initially interested because it sounded like a step up, but after a round of interviews it sounds like it would be more of a lateral move with similar work. I'd probably initially give up some autonomy as the new person, but hopefully that would resolve as I gained a reputation. The org has some more layers so there's perhaps more of an opportunity to advance, but I'd also be a bit lower in the org structure because there are layers.
Would you move for a lateral role? What would convince you? I'd like to eventually move into an in house leadership role, but am not sure if this will really help me advance towards that goal.
I had a colleague recommend that I apply to another in house role at a similar company. I was initially interested because it sounded like a step up, but after a round of interviews it sounds like it would be more of a lateral move with similar work. I'd probably initially give up some autonomy as the new person, but hopefully that would resolve as I gained a reputation. The org has some more layers so there's perhaps more of an opportunity to advance, but I'd also be a bit lower in the org structure because there are layers.
Would you move for a lateral role? What would convince you? I'd like to eventually move into an in house leadership role, but am not sure if this will really help me advance towards that goal.