Tag: #specialistlegalrecruitment

Is the Grass Greener in-house?
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Is the Grass Greener in-house?

There are a number of benefits to working in a law firm. However, there has been a significant growth in the role of  in-house counsel.  If you have ever wondered what the benefits are, you may wish to consider the following: – even for just a secondment. Here is a little snippet of some of the benefits:  Broadened Experience: In-house roles provide lawyers with the opportunity to gain experience in a different legal environment – in a wide variety of industries. This exposure can broaden their skill set and perspective, making them more versatile and valuable legal professionals. Enhanced Understanding of Business Operations: There is no better way to understand a business than working in one. This insight allows lawyers to offer more strategic and effective legal advice tailored to the specific needs of an organisation. Networking Opportunities: Secondments provide an excellent opportunity for networking both within and outside the legal department. Building relationships with colleagues, clients, and external partners can open doors for future career opportunities and collaborations. Career Development: Secondments offer valuable opportunities for professional development and career advancement. By taking on new challenges and responsibilities outside their comfort zone, in-house counsel can develop new skills, build confidence, and demonstrate their ability to adapt and thrive in diverse legal settings. Improved Communication Skills: Working on secondment requires in-house counsel to communicate effectively with stakeholders across different departments and levels of the organisation. This experience helps them hone their communication skills, including the ability to convey complex legal concepts to non-lawyers in a clear and concise manner. Enhanced Legal Knowledge: Secondments often involve working on projects or legal matters that may be outside the lawyer’s usual area of expertise. This exposure to new legal issues and challenges can deepen their knowledge and expertise, making them more well-rounded legal professionals. Increased Client Focus: Secondments enable in-house counsel to develop a deeper understanding of their client’s needs and priorities. By working closely with the business units or other departments, they can tailor their legal advice to better serve the organisation and its objectives. Talk to any of our consultants at Elias Recruitment for more information.

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Do you need an unrestricted legal practising certificate to be an in-house lawyer in NSW?

We recently spotted an ad for a relatively junior, in-house corporate lawyer role. The job sounded terrific but the advertisement said the employer specifically needed a candidate with an unrestricted practising certificate.  Whilst this might be the employer’s preference, there is certainly no legal requirement in Australia for an in-house counsel to have an unrestricted practising certificate unless they are the sole counsel. We thought it might be a good opportunity to clear up possible confusion on this topic. One of the serious issues with asking for a junior lawyer to have an unrestricted certificate is that you need at least 2 years of supervision before you are eligible. Even then, those seeking unrestricted certificates tend to be more senior than this role required.  Since the commencement of the The Legal Profession Uniform Law (Uniform Law) and Rules in 2015, all in-house lawyers are required to hold a practising certificate. It also provides the benefit of legal professional privilege. In NSW, practising certificates in varying categories are issued by the Law Society of NSW according to the nature of your intended practice. Whereas an unrestricted practising certificate will unlock any kind of role, if you plan to work as an in-house lawyer, you will just need a practising certificate under the category of Corporate Legal if you are reporting to a more senior lawyer (who holds an unrestricted practising certificate).  According to the Law Society of NSW, under this category “The holder is authorised to engage in legal practice as a corporate legal practitioner or government legal practitioner and also as a volunteer at a community legal service, or otherwise on a pro bono basis”.  If you do not have a practising certificate but want to work in-house, do not panic. The Uniform Law includes transitional arrangements for inhouse corporate lawyers including certain exemptions. If you need help or what to learn more, contact the Law Society Membership services in your state.

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