Corporate attorneys seem to be in luck. Surveys suggest that of all legal jobs available in the market, attorneys with business law experience are probably going to find it easier than most to land in-house employment. Furthermore, big businesses and even relatively smaller ones for that matter, to ensure the legitimacy of their business transactions, prefer to have such attorneys on board to protect their legal rights and to make certain that they remain on the right side of federal and state laws and rules. There is no better place for job aspirants looking for in-house corporate attorney jobs in Chicago than LawCrossing, a site that has comprehensive details and listings about these kinds of employment opportunities.
It is important to note what in-house departments of companies look for in their prospective hires. The person should have knowledge of tax laws, intellectual property rights, licensing zoning laws and other laws pertaining to business. He or she is there to advise the company on their legal rights and responsibilities and to make certain that whatever they do is legal and valid in the eyes of the law. Hence, it is imperative that they should be well-versed with all legal advice that their workplace may require.
Being an in-house attorney helps you better balance work and life on the home front. In private practice it is not normally possible to balance the two as much as one would like. Working within the company, you are part of a team and have a back up group that can shoulder responsibility in your absence.
These days businesses have become quick paced and extremely competitive. They need to stay abreast of rapidly changing federal and state laws. Businesses have found that work such as negotiating worker contracts, drafting legal documents, preparing employee handbooks, dealing with unions, meeting regulatory and compliance issues and representing the company in legal matters is best left to a qualified legal representative, thereby opening thousands of jobs in the process.
The reason why there are more openings here than other places in the country is that Chicago has many prime industries that include manufacturing, computer technology, health and education, and the city is internationally renowned for its derivatives trading. Also, the city is home to upwards of 400 major business headquarters, 31 Fortune 500 companies and a host of financial companies and stock exchanges.
One of the biggest advantages of an in-house job is that you work for just one person and can concentrate on your activities without the hassles of always being on the lookout for clients and business and maximizing billables.
There is a rather wide discrepancy in a corporate attorney’s salary. It all depends on the company you work for, the place it is located and the number of years you have had your independent practice before you decided to make the in-house transition. Even then one can be expected to make upwards of $160,000 once the initial period is over.
In addition to having a very vibrant business environment, the city is great for living and offers an exciting blend of cultural, literary and social amenities. If you are aspiring for one of the many in-house corporate attorney jobs in Chicago you will likely not be disappointed, as there are a variety of opportunities and openings available there.