Go for mid-level at a smaller company or even GC at a small company.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=4564224&forum_id=2,#40445937)

Why would you want to top out at that?

What's total comp for this position?

How long of a commute to downtown?

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=4564224&forum_id=2,#40446020)

How does this matter even a little bit?

Also, my commute is a 5-10 minute walk. How MAF are you?

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=4564224&forum_id=2,#40446247)

"I want to do something bigger, connected to the actual wheel of commerce that your company is an essential spoke in. I'm tired of the isolation, tired of the sense that I'm three layers and four partners removed from the legal work that is truly influencing the course of enterprise. I want to be in-house because I want to matter. I want you to consume me. Literally, consume me. Eat of my flesh." *at this point, you rip off your suit jacket* "EAT OF MY FLESH. If Christ gave of himself, cannot a lowly associate do the same? Are we not in the two interconnected worlds of the law firm and the client company begging for this essential sacred bridge to unite the one and the other? I am the Christ Child of the Law. I welcome you to hire me."

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=4564224&forum_id=2,#40446243)

In house jobs of the former type are great. Jobs of the latter type are just biglaw at half the pay.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=4564224&forum_id=2,#40448665)

I generally say I left Biglaw to go inhouse because:

"I always had an interest in learning more about the business side of things. In Biglaw, the billing system limits that. I prefer working in an environment where I can understand the business and not have to worry about billing in 6 minute increments and see projects from start to finish. While in biglaw, you sometimes only see a small portion of a client's overall project. At times, you may work on it but never know what happened to it. Did it die on the vine? Was it tabled and for what reason? Being in house will allow me greater insight into that which I think will pair well with my entrepreneurial spirit."

If dude or dudette is a former biglaw atty, you can add: "Now that my loans are a manageable amount, I have the flexibility to seek more desirable opportunities."

If asked about salary,

"I'd need to know more about my day to day obligations. I am not opposed to Biglaw hours but I'd expect Biglaw pay. With that, if you tell me your range I can let you know my thoughts."

<I get the range like 90% of the time.>

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=4564224&forum_id=2,#40448679)

the system is set up for you to lie

if you speak the truth you get FUCKED 99% of the time

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=4564224&forum_id=2,#40448732)

1) Engage in a series of minor escalations back and forth until you reach a point of domination. This can get pretty chippy. So in one interview I just had I started with a vigorous hand shake, which he returned in kind. So I doubled the favor with master strength. He didn't take kindly to this and answered with a slight push on my shoulder--"what do you think you're doing?" So I push back twice as hard--"I'm interviewing, what do you think?" So he responds hard enough to knock me onto the floor. I sweep his legs out from under him. He's struggling, we're grappling, now I'm on top of him unbuckling my pants. &c The idea behind it is it just escalates back and forth until you reach a point where it's clear you're never going to back down.

2) An initial establishing move. I had an interview a few months back with a woman who was the senior director of a line of business. We were meeting at the Concord Club off 5th. She's at a table in a quiet corner, nicely dressed, trim Ann Taylor, pearls, red bottoms, corporate climber getup for a woman of a certain age, nursing a seltzer. I approach her, size her up in the moment, and punch her as hard as I can in the windpipe, no hesitation. Then there she is, down on the ground, choking, gasping for air, smiling and laughing at the same time, thanking me for coming. I got an offer. Why did that go so well? Because she knew, from the first interaction, that I could speak with her business-to-business; it was a solid, confident signal.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=4564224&forum_id=2,#40448889)

You HAVE to do something to take the focus off of this question because they are being assholes by even asking it. There is no good answer.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=4564224&forum_id=2,#40449151)

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=4564224&forum_id=2,#40448964)

The things that make you valuable at a lawfirm are often the opposite of the things that make you valuable in-house: running down every trap, finding every comma splice, winning a specific fight without considering the war.

The things that make you dependable at a lawfirm are the same things that make you dependable in-house: judgment, rapport, consistency, trustworthiness.

When asked your favorite things about practicing law don't say things that in-house lawyers hire law firms to handle, e.g., going to court, writing memos, taking depos or doing diligence.

Have a really good reason you want to leave a higher paying job with greater potential upside, such as raising a family and spending time with them. That's very likely why your interviewer did it.

Most in-house jobs are not work hard, play hard. They are work hard and go home. Focus on the work and have hobbies that don't involve your coworkers.

In-house people believe it is hard to transition to in-house and it is. Drop your ego a level or two and focus on helping something other than yourself. Be a team player for real.

You love the idea of one client because you hate the inherent conflict in working for a law firm that wants the most money from your clients.

Talk about your life and what your passions are and be yourself with anyone lower than AGC. Be their buddy. Keep your guard up for AGC or better (or equivalent if huge company).

You're not looking forward to budgets but you understand how they work and know how important they are. You've seen clients waste money from the inside and, while it's the least exciting part of going in-house, you understand how important it is.

You get along with people from every walk of life. It'll be nice not to hang out with lawyers all day.

It's definitely going to be a transition, but you have the soft skills you think you need and now that you've been at the lawfirm you have the experience to really make a difference.

You look forward to hearing from them.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=2913125&forum_id=2#28153746)

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=4564224&forum_id=2,#40448977)

------------------------------------------------------

This was effective for me. One of my main points was (truthfully) that I enjoyed my substantive practice area and the favorite part of my firm job was personally advising clients and helping them work through problems, but I'd kind of lost interest in depos and other BS, I wouldn't mind if I never did one ever again, and I'd honestly thought I'd enjoy the day-to-day work more in-house.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=4564224&forum_id=2,#40452887)