Life skills and career tips for Canada's lawyers in training
Issue link: https://digital.canadianlawyermag.com/i/50715
traditional method of law firm practice, I think, is probably more conducive to that learning-on-the-job experience for young lawyers." According to the Canadian Corporate Counsel Association's 2011 In-House Counsel Barometer Survey, 87 per cent of in-house counsel have had some experience working in private practice, with 44 per cent having worked in private practice for less than five years. Law firms, says Dhawan, provide young lawyers with the chance to practise law 100 per cent of the time, with formal training in areas like research memorandums and how to manage clients. In-house is different, he says, in that the company's business units are the clients and the work includes law interspersed with other matters. Charles Perez, who moved into the in-house counsel role at Ocean Nutrition Canada Ltd. in Dartmouth, N.S., two years ago aſter working in a law firm for eight years, says one significant reason companies are not likely to hire people straight out of law school is that small legal departments within corporations do not have the space, time, or energy to train a new lawyer. "Quite frankly, there's no mechanism, there's no mechanics inside a company to train somebody, and companies really aren't interested and it's not their function. They want lawyers who, when the phone rings, can pick up, can answer it, give an answer, answer the question quickly and definitively, and move on," he says. But while corporations may generally be looking for people with a little bit more experience, John Ohnjec, division director for recruiter Robert Half Legal in Ottawa, says economically, there are some signs the tide may be turning, especially for companies that already have in-house legal departments. "Those without existing in-house departments may lean more towards getting some- body with experience, but those with existing departments and who, perhaps, are a bit wary of bringing somebody in very senior who would command a larger salary and would need enough work to keep them busy, bringing somebody a little bit more junior on board might make more economical sense," he says. "If a corporation has an existing in-house department, it can be a little bit easier to get your foot in the door." This could be good news for the many students who are interested in corporate counsel roles, drawn to them by the variety of work available and a perceived better work-life balance. Deturbide says he frequently comes across law students who know they want to pursue careers in-house, notably students in joint MBA/ JD programs who want to have growth capacity with a company and the chance to get into a management role, he says. Ohnjec agrees, saying in-house roles are an option many students are considering. "I think as in previous years, and probably as is always the case, individuals leaving law school are always interested in all sorts of opportunities, and one of them being in-house," he says. 24 F A L L 2011 C ANADIAN Lawy er 4STUDENTS ntitled-3 1 2/23/11 4:38:31 PM