How to Hire Your First In-House Lawyer (and Get it Right)

A step-by-step guide to finding the perfect legal fit for your business needs

Hiring a lawyer in private practice is pretty straightforward. An employment solicitor in Birmingham typically handles the same work as their counterpart in Leeds, with differences mainly in sector, caseload, and client type.

But in-house legal jobs? No two roles are the same. The right legal fit needs thoughtful consideration and isn’t just about finding a lawyer with the right title. So, how do you hire the right legal counsel for your business? Forget the generic job template. What matters is defining the role based on your unique needs.

In this blog, we'll walk you through the key factors to consider when hiring legal counsel for the first time, including common pitfalls to avoid, actionable tips and a real-world case study to guide you. Let's dive into the details.

Defining the Right In-House Legal Counsel Role

Using a generic job description can lead to a poor hire. By clearly defining your needs upfront, you avoid costly recruitment mistakes and attract the candidate who’s the right fit for your business’s current stage and future growth.

The role you need depends on your company’s size, sector, and growth stage. Expecting one person to handle everything from contracts to ESG compliance is unrealistic and sets you up for failure.

Let’s define the role, based on your needs:

• Sector-specific needs: For example, SaaS companies need in-depth expertise in data protection and tech contracts, while manufacturing businesses focus on supply chain agreements and product liability.
   
• Company size & legal infrastructure:  A FTSE 250 company would need a full legal team, with specialists in corporate law, employment law, and intellectual property, while a startup might only need one generalist lawyer to cover everything from contracts to employment law.

• Location influence: The in-house legal market can vary by location. In-house legal jobs in Manchester, Glasgow, and Bristol may demand different expertise due to regional market differences. A manufacturing company in the North West may need expertise in product liability, while a tech startup in Edinburgh will probably focus more on data protection.

Next, think about answering these questions to help you shape your job description:

• What legal challenges are we facing now, and what will arise as we grow?
   
   
• Do we need someone with strategic oversight, or do we need hands-on support?
   
   
• How will the legal counsel integrate with the rest of the team?

Answering these questions will give you clarity on the role’s scope so you can craft a job description that aligns with your business’s current and future needs.

💡 Tip: Tailor the role to your business’ stage of growth. What worked for a more established company may not be what you need now. Focus on finding someone who can adapt and grow with your business. For further insights on common hiring issues, read our blog on Challenges When Hiring In-House Legal Counsel. 

🧳  Case Study: How the Right Legal Hire Saved £100k 🧳

We met a London startup that came to us confident they needed a General Counsel to manage their growing legal needs. The company had scaled quickly and assumed that hiring a General Counsel (GC) would solve their challenges. However, after we dug deeper into their specific needs, it became clear that what they actually needed was a commercial legal counsel with startup experience. Someone hands-on who could manage contracts, intellectual property, and day-to-day legal issues.

By adjusting their hiring approach, the company saved a staggering £100k/year in legal fees. Not only did they save money, but they also avoided an expensive hiring misfire. A GC wasn’t the right fit for their stage of growth. Instead, they got the right person who could deliver real value.

For more on how startups can hire their first in-house lawyer, check out our guide on the process here: A Guide for Startups Looking to Make Their First In-House Counsel Hire.

Private Practice vs. In-House Legal Counsel: Why It Matters

Private practice lawyers typically specialise in narrower areas, like M&A or litigation, whereas in-house legal counsel wears many hats, balancing multiple areas such as compliance, contracts, and risk management. When hiring in-house, it's crucial to find someone with a broader skill set who can integrate into the business strategy and communicate their legal expertise well, across departments.

Key differences:

5 Key Questions to Define Your In-House Legal Counsel Role

Crafting the right job description for your in-house legal counsel starts with pinpointing exactly what the role will look like. A tailored job description ensures you attract the right candidate who aligns with your company’s needs and culture.

Before diving into the details, ask yourself these five essential questions:

1. What legal problems are we trying to solve?

Do you have compliance issues that need immediate attention, or are you dealing with contractual disputes or concerns about intellectual property?

2. Do we need someone strategic, operational, or both?

Understanding the scope of the role will help define the skill set. Are you looking for a strategic advisor at the board level, or someone to handle day-to-day legal tasks?

3. What are the most urgent legal pain points today?

Pinpoint your most pressing the legal challenges right now. Is it compliance risks or a critical business deal like a merger?

4. Who will this person report to and collaborate with?

Will the legal counsel report to the CEO, CFO, or other departments like HR or finance? Clarifying who they work with will help them integrate into your team and business strategy.

5. Are we building a team or hiring a standalone?

Are you hiring your first in-house lawyer to handle all legal matters or are you building a legal department with multiple specialists over time? This will influence the level of seniority you need and the skill sets required.

Once you’ve answered these questions, you’ll have a better understanding of the right fit for your business and the tools to craft a job description.

💡Tip: Don’t overcomplicate the job description. Focus on what will provide real value – whether that’s handling contracts, compliance, or day-to-day legal support.

Key Skills and Attributes to Look for

Hiring in-house legal counsel isn’t simply about legal expertise. You want someone who can communicate across departments (HR, finance, senior management) and solve problems. Look for someone proactive who can prevent issues before they happen.

Depending on your business needs, look for expertise in areas like data protection, intellectual property, or commercial contracts. Once you've identified the key skills, integrate them into the job description.

Align the Role's Seniority and Responsibilities with Your Budget

When setting the salary for your legal hire, make sure it matches the level of responsibility and seniority of the role. In the UK, General Counsel roles usually command a higher salary than junior Legal Counsel positions. Salary ranges depend on industry, location, and experience – so you’ll want to make sure you’re offering something in line with the current in-house legal market.

💡Tip: To get a better sense of what’s competitive, check out salary surveys and have a chat with us at JMC Legal to get a realistic figure for your budget. Here’s a blog post on what areas of law pay the best in the UK for an idea of salary expectations.

Ready to find the right legal role for your business?

Partner with a reputable legal recruitment agency in the UK, like us at JMC Legal, to find the right in-house legal counsel who fits your business needs.

Contact Sam Thompson, our in-house legal counsel recruitment expert, who can guide you through the hiring process. Whether you're in London, Edinburgh, or anywhere in the UK, In-house legal jobs are Sam’s speciality, and he can help you find the perfect fit.

☎️ Contact Sam Thompson Now