Moving in-house: A guide for newly qualified and junior lawyers

Author Georgia Morgan-Wynne
March 14, 2023

As specialists in the in-house legal market, we want to provide you with all the information you need to make an informed decision on whether an in-house
position could be right for you.

Client demand for junior lawyers within in-house legal teams has increased considerably over the last few years. Similarly, we have seen a real surge in interest from junior lawyers looking to take an inhouse career path. Despite this, there is still some fear amongst newly qualified lawyers that you can be ‘too junior’ to move in-house.

In our webinar replay and pdf guide, we hope to quell those fears and offer insight from individuals who have made that move. We also hope to shed some light on what junior lawyers can do to better their chances of securing an in-house role and highlight the differences between in-house and private practice.

The in-house market is broad, with industries and sectors to suit everyone’s interests and passions. We recruit across most industry sectors with a wide variety of companies for lawyers to choose from. There is a role for everyone and with a little digging, (and help from specialist legal recruiters) your experience will be perfect for a great company.

Webinar replay

Facilitated by the Taylor Root team, our discussion covered:

  • Navigating the in-house market and the best time to move in-house
  • The differences between life as an in-house and private practice lawyer
  • How to enhance your CV/Application in the context of in-house opportunities
  • The key non-legal skills needed to thrive in an in-house setting
  • How to advance your career and professional development in-house

The Panellists

Kandarp Thakar
Legal Director,
Head of Legal UK&I
Uber

Lisa Ing
General Counsel
Outright Games

Emma Lilley
Head of Legal UK&I
SD WORX

Kandarp is Legal Director at Uber Technologies Inc., with oversight of UK&I. Here he collaborates on top-tier strategy, leads a brilliant, diverse international team and works closely with the business, assessing legal and regulatory risk. He advises the business and Board on regulatory, litigation, corporate and commercial, and employment matters across the Mobility and Delivery businesses. Kandarp started his career in practice at Baker & McKenzie LLP managing multinational real estate assets. He shares an interesting story about making the move from real estate to head of commercial.

Lisa embarked on her legal career in private practice qualifying as a corporate lawyer at Fasken Martineau then moving to Addleshaw Goddard’s corporate team for almost five years which included an in-house secondment to Lloyds bank. In 2020 she transitioned in-house role into the gaming industry as a Senior Legal Counsel at Miniclip where she was part of the M&A team. She is now the General Counsel at Outright Games, a prominent children’s gaming and entertainment company and has shared how she has navigated her career moves and broadened her skillset beyond her corporate background.

Emma is an experienced in-house lawyer who is currently the Head of Legal at SD Worx, a global HR services provider. Having trained in-house and launched her well-known careers blog In-House Potter, Emma is well-equipped to offer invaluable perspectives on advancing your career as an in-house lawyer and exploring alternative paths to qualification.

Download the pdf guide

Our guide provides insights into benefits and challenges working in an in-house role and gives answers to questions like:

  • What is the best time for making the move in-house?
  • What is it like to work in-house?
  • Is pre-qualification experience relevant for in-house roles?
  • What does your future look like as an in-house lawyer?

Download

Jobs

Senior Counsel, Trading and Commodities

A leading U.S.-based energy company is seeking an experienced Senior Counsel, Supply & Trading to support its commercial services and energy trading operations. This role plays a critical part in advising on complex physical and financial commodity transactions while partnering closely with trading, credit, risk, and compliance teams. Key Responsibilities Structure, draft, negotiate, and execute […]
  • Salary $180000 – $220000 per annum
  • Posted Posted 59 minutes ago

Read more

  • Pharmaceuticals/life sciences

IP Paralegal & Legal Administrator

Position: IP Paralegal & Legal Administrator Location: Hertfordshire / North London area Hybrid working model: 2-3 days a week in the office, as required About the Role My client are seeking a highly organised and detail‑focused IP Paralegal & Legal Administrator to join a EMEA Legal & Intellectual Property team. This department provides high‑quality Legal […]
  • Posted Posted 21 hours ago

Read more

  • Financial services (in-house)

Legal Counsel (Asset Management)

Legal Counsel- Exclusive Mandate | Leading Global Asset Manager | London (Hybrid working) Location: London (3 days in office) Salary: Competitive + discretionary bonus + benefits PQE: 3-5 years About Our Client We are exclusively partnered with one of the UK’s leading global asset managers, an established investment house with a long-standing reputation for high‑quality […]
  • Salary bonus , medical, pension
  • Posted Posted 24 hours ago

Read more

  • Law firm

Disputes & Investigations Associate (2-7PQE)

A leading London law firm is seeking an Associate with 2 to 7 years post qualification experience to join its highly regarded Business Crime and Investigations team. The role involves advising corporates and high net worth individuals on serious, complex and often multi jurisdictional matters at the intersection of criminal, regulatory and civil fraud. Instructions […]
  • Salary £90000 – £120000 per annum
  • Posted Posted 2 days ago

Read more

  • Law firm

Real Estate Finance Associate/Lawyer (NQ – 5PQE)

A leading international law firm is seeking an Associate from newly qualified to 5 years post qualification experience to join its highly regarded Real Estate Finance practice. The team is recognised as one of the strongest finance practices in the market, advising leading investment banks, specialist lenders, corporates and sponsors on high profile and often […]
  • Salary £145000 – £215000 per annum
  • Posted Posted 2 days ago

Read more

Financial Services Associate (3-8PQE)

Financial Services Associate, Structured Finance – Leading City Law Firm (3-8PQE) A leading City law firm is seeking a Finance Associate with 3 to 8 years post qualification experience to join its well established Structured and Speciality Finance practice, with a strong focus on FinTech and alternative lending. The team advises originators, digital lenders, lending […]
  • Salary £97000 – £140000 per annum
  • Posted Posted 4 days ago

Read more

  • FMCG
  • Retail

Legal Counsel – Retail / FMCG

Legal Counsel – Commercial (two opportunities) Location: Greater London (Hybrid – 3 days in office) Sector: Retail / Consumer / Ecommerce Team size: c.7 legal professionals Reports to: Senior Legal Counsel Overview A major international retail and consumer group is seeking two energised and commercially minded Legal Counsels to join its UK & Ireland legal […]
  • Posted Posted 4 days ago

Read more

  • Transport

Commercial Legal Counsel

🌟 Hiring: Legal Counsel – Operations 🌟 📍 UK-based | Corporate Services | Permanent Role A leading European passenger transport organisation is seeking a Legal Counsel – Operations to join its Corporate Services division. This is a fantastic opportunity to support a complex, multi‑country business that connects millions of people every year across a range […]
  • Posted Posted 4 days ago

Read more

Employment Paralegal – International Law firm

Exciting opportunity for an ambitious Employment Paralegal to join the top tier employment practice of this leading international law firm in Hong Kong. The team handles non- contentious and advisory matters for clients such as international investment banks, financial institutions, insurers, government agencies and multinational corporates. Working alongside a team of extremely knowledgeable and seasoned […]
  • Salary £37996.14 – £63326.90 per annum + Bonus
  • Posted Posted 4 days ago

Read more

  • Management consulting

Senior Legal Counsel – Commercial Technology

Leading professional services organisation seeks Senior Legal Counsel – Commercial Technology to join their highly skilled in-house legal team. The role can be based in London or across the regions within commuting distance to London. This is a newly created position to join a supportive and dynamic team, in a strategic role to be the […]
  • Salary Excellent benefits package
  • Posted Posted 5 days ago

Read more

Featured Content

Legal hiring in Canada

Legal hiring in Canada: trends, pressures, and opportunities for 2026 and beyond 

  • Posted February 10, 2026
The Canadian legal hiring market continues to evolve rapidly, reflected in rising legal job postings across provinces including Ontario, Quebec, Alberta, and British Columbia, as well as major cities such as Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver, Ottawa, and Calgary. Employers are competing for highly skilled legal talent across law firms (LLPs), in-house legal teams, and hybrid practice environments.   As organisations […]
Living and working in Toronto

Living and working in Toronto as a lawyer: a comprehensive guide for international talent

  • Posted February 10, 2026
Toronto has cemented its status as one of Canada’s most attractive destinations for lawyers who want to practice law in a sophisticated, multicultural, and commercially dynamic environment. As legal markets around the world become increasingly interconnected, Toronto has emerged as a hub for internationally trained lawyers seeking opportunities in private practice, in-house positions, and across corporate and […]
Shot of a young businesswoman using a mobile phone on the go in the city

What does a litigator do?

  • Posted February 2, 2026
Litigators play a central role in resolving disputes that arise between individuals, businesses and public bodies. Whether advising on commercial disagreements, regulatory challenges or high‑value cross‑border claims, litigators are involved at every stage of the process, from early risk assessment to negotiation, trial work, and increasingly, alternative dispute resolution. The work is varied, demanding and […]