More than a third of private practice lawyers would consider a move in-house, research revealed this week - but most are under the illusion that it would be an easy ride.

Some 88% of solicitors think an in-house role would be 'less pressurised' than their current position, according to a survey of private practice lawyers by in-house legal recruiters GRS Legal.


More than a third of the 224 solicitors questioned thought the in-house role would offer a better work/life balance. However, some 42% thought the quality of work would be inferior.


Payne: in-house not easy

GRS consultant Chris Payne said: 'There is certainly a lot more interest in in-house legal roles, but there is a misconception that in-house work is less demanding.

'People think it is the easy option, but they have got it completely wrong. The level of responsibility in-house, where the buck stops with you, can be higher than in private practice.'


Mr Payne said that candidates who are already working in-house can have an advantage over private practice colleagues when it comes to winning in-house positions. He said: 'Companies are often looking for sector experience with one of their competitors. We have clients who say they will only consider a candidate who is already an in-house lawyer, but we have never had a client say they are only looking for a private practice lawyer to fill an in-house post.'


Mr Payne added that law firms' billable hours culture was leading to private practice 'losing its sheen' for many solicitors. Some 57% of private practice lawyers rated their stress levels as very high, with another third rating them as high. More than half said their careers did not allow a satisfactory balance with their family and social lives.


Carol Williams, head of legal at Northern Foods and former chairwoman of the Law Society's Commerce and Industry Group, said: 'Sometimes people come for interviews and say they want to work in-house because there is more job security, and better work/life balance. But that is just nonsense. You are expected to work just as long hours as in private practice. There is also direct accessibility from a very much lower level of the company than you would expect in private practice.'