What is the difference between attorney and in house counsel?

Asked by: Katherine Auer  |  Last update: November 7, 2025
Score: 5/5 (26 votes)

Unlike lawyers at a typical law firm, in-house counsels have one and only one client—the corporation. 4 They do not represent the board of directors, principal officers, or other individuals, even though those individuals act on behalf of the corporation.

Is being an in-house lawyer better?

In-house counsel positions have more stability and a more reliable work schedule, leading to a healthier work-life balance. However, you may find yourself limited in terms of career growth, and you won't get the experience of working with a variety of clients. Before making a choice, do your research.

Is a counsel and attorney the same thing?

“Legal counsel” is a general term for someone who gives legal advice. Though it is sometimes used interchangeably with lawyer or attorney, it often specifically refers to someone who is trained in law, and works in-house for an organization or corporation.

What are the benefits of in-house counsel?

An in-house legal counsel can effectively manage business legal matters and determine which should be passed to an outside legal expert while handling such communications. The in-house counsel can also effectively manage legal expenditure, returning valuable time to business leaders.

What is another name for in-house counsel?

Sometimes known as the Chief Legal officer, they are typically the head of the Legal department. An in-house counsel is the more general term for a lawyer working internally to a company, and when used as a title refers to a more junior lawyer within the Legal team.

How to Become In House Counsel (my story and tips)

24 related questions found

Is in-house counsel a lawyer?

Serving as in-house counsel is an opportunity for lawyers to wear a variety of hats—depending on their role within the company, in-house counsel may specialize in a certain area of law (e.g. intellectual property or labor law) or may work more generally, on a variety of matters.

What is the highest title for a lawyer?

Law Firm Partners

The pinnacle of the law firm hierarchy is the partners of the firm. Law firm partners play a significant role in law firm management and business. Attorneys who are seasoned not only possess extensive legal knowledge. But also play a major role in a firm's business or capital.

Is it hard to become in-house counsel?

Corporations rarely hire candidates who have just finished law school, so several years of experience working in a law firm will make you more qualified for an in-house counsel position.

When to hire in-house counsel?

The total legal expenses of the company are also an important benchmark. One recommendation is to hire in-house counsel when a company's outside legal expenses double that of an in-house counsel cost.

What is the head lawyer called?

A general counsel, also known as chief counsel or chief legal officer (CLO), is the chief in-house lawyer for a company or a governmental department.

Is an attorney more powerful than a lawyer?

It is helpful to remember that all attorneys are lawyers, but not all lawyers are attorneys. The major difference is that attorneys can represent clients in court and other legal proceedings, while lawyers cannot.

Is council the same as attorney?

Defendant (criminal case)- A person who has been charged with a crime is the defendant in a criminal case. Attorneys or council - Attorneys representing the plaintiff, defendant, or the government in a criminal case are also referred to as counsel.

What is another word for an attorney?

The American Bar Association states on their website that “A lawyer (also called attorney, counsel, or counselor) is a licensed professional who advises and represents others in legal matters.”

How many hours does in-house counsel work?

In-House Counsel Working Law Firm Hours? Law firm attorneys reported working 47 hours a week, while in-house respondents said they worked 50 hours a week.

What is the difference between an in-house and a law firm?

In-house legal departments and law firms fulfil very different roles within the wider legal landscape. Private practice lawyers are focused primarily on the law itself – whereas the work of in-house lawyers is also informed by business needs and long-term strategy.

What is the best position for a lawyer?

Here are 11 high-paying jobs for lawyers to consider pursuing with salaries higher than the aforementioned general salary.
  • Civil litigation attorney. ...
  • Real estate attorney. ...
  • Intellectual property attorney. ...
  • Bankruptcy lawyer. ...
  • Family lawyer. ...
  • Tax attorney. ...
  • Corporate attorney. ...
  • Patent attorney.

Who does in house counsel report to?

The general counsel is the head attorney in an in-house legal department and is responsible for overseeing all legal matters impacting the company. They manage the team of in-house lawyers and staff and report directly to the CEO and board of directors.

What is the no contact rule for in house counsel?

In summary: lawyers must not directly communicate with a party they know is represented by another lawyer without obtaining the consent of that lawyer. the purpose of the rule is to protect the represented party's right to legal advice and prevent being taken advantage of because of unequal legal knowledge or power.

Is in house counsel less stressful?

With some exceptions, in house attorneys most often do not have to work as hard as their counterparts at firms. This is one of the better reasons for going in house. It is your life and being in house can release you from much of the pressure of the billable hour requirement and other stresses of being in a law firm.

Do in-house lawyers make more money?

A mid- to senior-level in-house lawyer with many years of experience might earn a similar base salary as a starting associate at a large law firm. Company size and industry: In-house counsel working for larger corporations or in more lucrative industries tend to have higher salaries.

What kind of law is in-house counsel?

In-house counsel is an attorney who is employed by a company and handles its in-house legal affairs. In-house counsel represents the entity in a particular case or legal proceeding and receives a full-time salary from the company. Also known as house counsel , inside counsel, or corporate counsel.

What's the difference between counsel and lawyer?

A lawyer is a general term for someone who is qualified to practice law. A legal counsel is a specific type of lawyer who provides advice and assistance to individuals, organizations, or businesses on legal matters.

What is the highest paid lawyer?

Highest-Paid Types of Lawyers
  • Patent attorney: $180,000.
  • Intellectual property (IP) attorney: $162,000.
  • Trial lawyer: $134,000.
  • Tax attorney: $122,000.
  • Corporate lawyer: $115,000.
  • Medical lawyer: $113,000.
  • Real estate lawyer: $98,000.
  • Family lawyer: $93,000.

Are you a lawyer after you pass the bar exam?

Anyone who studies law and passes the bar exam is classified as a lawyer.

What is a first year lawyer called?

First-year associates are entry-level junior attorneys and are generally recent law school graduates in their first year of law practice.