In-house or external: what should a young lawyer know?

Where should a young lawyer go to work: a law firm or an enterprise? How to set priorities, realistically assess your capabilities and maximize the use of your knowledge?

These and other issues were discussed during a panel discussion for students entitled «In-house vs. External: where to go as a lawyer? Advantages and disadvantages». The event was initiated by the UNBA NextGen.

An in-house lawyer is essentially a lawyer who works directly for a business, which is his or her main (often the only) client. Therefore, he should have a good understanding of all business processes. And, working in close proximity to the business, he or she must prevent negative consequences for the company at their initial stage. This was stated by Yevgeniy Dyadyuk, Head of Litigation and Regulatory Affairs at Metinvest Holding. His legal team in Ukraine includes more than a hundred specialists.

The lawyer drew attention to the myth that an in-house company supposedly solves absolutely all business issues. And, unlike an external consultant, it has no specialization. At the beginning of a career, especially in small businesses, a lawyer does have to advise on all issues. However, specialization is still present. Because there are always certain areas of law that you have to advise on most often. Modern realities have already made their own adjustments, and it is increasingly common to find companies where a lawyer has a specific specialization. At the same time, if necessary, they are involved in cross-functional projects.

Oksana Myronets, Associate professor of the Law Faculty of the National Aviation University, spoke about the intricacies of scientific and teaching prospects for future lawyers. She emphasized the importance of developing both information literacy and foreign language competence. The scientist presented to future lawyers and substantiated the position of the need for interest in building oneself as a professional. This is an integral element of legal work.

Alla Filatova, a representative of UNBA NextGen in Rivne Oblast, is convinced that one should not be afraid to express oneself. She emphasized the benefits of student membership in legal NGOs, as well as the importance of participating in legal events. After all, communication has always been a necessary component of a lawyer's work. Also, in the era of telecommunication superpowers, one must be able to express oneself, send resumes to law firms that may be potential employers, and try to get an internship (work experience) in government agencies to have an idea of how the system works from the inside.

It is important not only what you can bring to the legal market, but also how you enter the legal market. That's why Vladyslav Kormushyn, a representative of UNBA NextGen in Poltava region, advises developing your own brand in any case. In a highly competitive environment, it becomes a necessity, an important condition for the demand for lawyers and attorneys. A personal brand helps lawyers to increase the number of new clients, demonstrate their achievements, convey useful information, build trust and even increase the cost of services. And the necessary elements of a brand are always competence, integrity and empathy.

«The event was great: interesting topics, great speakers who were happy to share their experience. So every student got something useful for themselves», - summarized Yulia Serget, Deputy chairman of UNBA NextGen.