The New Normal of Legal Work Moving In-House

Corporate legal departments are bringing more work in-house in order to take control of costs and to increase efficiency, according to Thomson Reuters Legal Department In-Sourcing and Efficiency Report. That means in-house departments are hiring--both new lawyers and seasoned attorneys, supplemented by contract attorneys and legal staff. If you're looking to move in-house, be sure your resume and cover letter highlight how you can help in mission to cut costs.

Outside counsel are still sought after in complex, specialty, high risk areas like litigation, mergers and acquisitions (M&A), intellectual property, and alternative dispute resolution (ADR). If you're looking for a law firm position, these might be great practice areas in which to develop your technical legal skills.