In-house secondments are increasingly being used as a way for law firms to develop closer relationships with their clients and to provide support to the growing demands on in-house legal teams. But what does an in-house secondment really look like? How can you prepare for it? And why should you jump at the chance of doing one!
"Secondment":
(noun \sə̇ˈkän(d)mənt) - a period of time when an employee is sent to work somewhere else temporarily, either to increase the number of workers there, to replace a worker, or to exchange experiences and skills.
We asked four seasoned ‘secondees’ to tell us about their experiences.
Kathleen Cradock – Legal Counsel, Dentsu Aegis Network Limited
"I was seconded to a reinsurance client in London for the final seat of my traineeship. I was part of a very small legal team including myself, the Head of Legal and a contracts manager."
Tell us briefly about your in-house secondment experience.
I was seconded to a reinsurance client in London for the final seat of my traineeship. I was part of a very small legal team including myself, the Head of Legal and a contracts manager.
Was the organisation you were seconded to well-equipped to take on a secondee?
My secondment was part of a regular arrangement with the client whereby they received a trainee from a firm on their panel every six months, therefore it was well set up.
In particular, the following processes were in place:
a. The client had a good induction process whereby I met with department heads from the main areas of the business to discuss their role;
b. My supervisor was familiar with my firm’s appraisal procedure (as a trainee three monthly appraisals were required) and encouraged me to keep in touch with my firm; and
c. The client’s systems were well set up for an in-house team, in that we had access to matter management systems similar to those available at my firm, which made the transition very smooth.
What did you enjoy most about your in-house secondment experience?
I enjoyed being central in the business and having involvement in projects from start to finish. I felt integral to the business process and had direct contact with stakeholders. As part of a very small legal team I also had a high level of responsibility as non-lawyers in the business just saw me as ’legal counsel’ rather than a trainee. I enjoyed my experience in-house so much that ultimately I decided to stay in-house after qualification.
Would you recommend an in-house secondment to others? Why?
I would definitely recommend an in-house secondment, particularly as a trainee. It shows you how the tasks you undertake as a solicitor fit into the ultimate structure of business. More than that, it teaches you to be a project manager and to assess risk in a more nuanced way.
What are your top tips for anyone about to go on secondment?
My top tips would be to research the industry and the business of the company. It helps when you have some background on things like whether there are particular regulations which apply, or any recent or upcoming changes to the law which might have a significant impact.
Finlay Fraser - Trainee Solicitor, Pinsent Masons LLP
"I was seconded as a trainee to the UK legal team of one of the world’s largest insurance groups. The role primarily comprised advising on the drafting and negotiation of commercial agreements."
Tell us briefly about your in-house secondment experience.
I was seconded as a trainee to the UK legal team of one of the world’s largest insurance groups. The role primarily comprised advising on the drafting and negotiation of commercial agreements. As a trainee, the secondment was invaluable as I gained technical drafting experience beyond that usually afforded to a trainee and exposure to the commercial drivers behind transactions.
Was the organisation you were seconded to well-equipped to take on a secondee?
Yes. The organisation I was seconded to regularly takes seconded trainees from my firm and others meaning that there is an established role for you in the team you join as well as a small internal trainee network. My supervisor was excellent and knew when guidance was necessary on particular matters and when I would be able to tackle challenges on my own.
What did you enjoy most about your in-house secondment experience?
I really enjoyed the opportunity to forge strong working relationships with members of the in-house legal team. There wasn’t much of a hierarchy in the team I was seconded to which gave me, as a junior lawyer, the ability to get actively involved in team discussions and group activities.
Would you recommend an in-house secondment to others? Why?
Yes. An in-house secondment really forces you to think laterally and seek alternative solutions to problems. What is essential is that advice is not only legally viable but also commercially pragmatic and a secondment helps you develop into thinking in this way.
What are your top tips for anyone about to go on secondment?
Don’t forget that one of the reasons you are on secondment is to help to develop the relationship between the client and your firm. Think about how you can be proactive in achieving this and make sure you know what is expected of you by your firm in this regard.
I would also advise networking beyond the in-house legal team. A secondment is a great opportunity to work closely with non-lawyers and to see how they approach problems and get things done. Having this insight and understanding will prove beneficial when working with that client and others in future.
Shaun Gibson - Legal Counsel, adidas Group
"As a two-year qualified lawyer, I was seconded to the Scottish Police Services Authority (SPSA). During that twelve month secondment, I worked on a variety of legal issues, many outside my comfort zone."
Tell us briefly about your in-house secondment experiences.
As a two-year qualified lawyer, I was seconded to the Scottish Police Services Authority (SPSA). During that twelve month secondment, I worked on a variety of legal issues (many outside my comfort zone, including instructing Senior Counsel in a criminal matter at the High Court). Later, I was seconded to Glasgow 2014 Limited, the organising committee for the 2014 Commonwealth Games, where I primarily supported Glasgow 2014’s commercial team. Both secondments were fantastically rewarding experiences that cemented my desire to pursue my career as an in-house lawyer.
Were those organisations well-equipped to take on a secondee?
I don’t believe it is the responsibility of organisations to prepare themselves for the arrival of secondees. I think the onus ought to be on the seconding law firm to prepare its secondees for the organisations.
In my experience, the in-house legal teams at SPSA and Glasgow 2014 were very supportive – introducing me to, and managing the expectations of, the businesses. My seconding law firms were also supportive to my needs as a secondee. Frequent check-ins with partners at the firms, and opportunities for second opinions from lawyers within the firms (at zero cost) provided me with the necessary support to meet the expectations of both organisations.
What did you enjoy most about your in-house secondment experience?
Without doubt, it was the satisfaction of knowing I made a material contribution to SPSA and Glasgow 2014. It’s difficult in private practice to remain close and ‘connected’ to legal work - quite often, advice is provided to clients and never seen again. However, the in-house environment is a far more personal experience and I was able to see my legal advice considered and implemented.
For example, in my time with Glasgow 2014, I spent two years working closely with its commercial team (including senior executives) on sponsorship and merchandising deals. Having influenced these projects, it was hugely satisfying to see my efforts manifest themselves on a world stage in the summer of 2014.
Would you recommend an in-house secondment to others? Why?
Absolutely. A secondment gives lawyers the opportunity to be a cog in the wheel of an organisation, and fully understand the priorities and risk appetite of the organisation. Secondments undoubtedly help lawyers understand what qualities are of true value to their clients (in my experience, these include pragmatism, being commercially focused, and not being adverse to risk). With this knowledge and experience, lawyers can then develop to be true assets to their clients.
What are your top tips for anyone about to go on secondment?
The organisation probably needs a secondee as a cost-effective option to address an immediate legal need – so work out what that need is, and make sure you offer value for money. Immerse yourself in the organisation and listen, listen and listen. Meet as many people as you can because, to add real value and meet the expectations of the organisation, you must know its culture and its people.
Above all, you need to be commercial. As a newly qualified lawyer, you might be quite chuffed at impressing your partner in preparing a 4-page note on the latest case law concerning liabilities and indemnities. However, in a commercial organisation, the culture is different: you won’t get praise for a 4-page note. Instead, you need to provide sharp, succinct and commercially sensible advice with a clear recommendation.
And finally – enjoy it! There will be times where you will feel hopelessly out of your depth. But it’s that experience that will make you a better lawyer.
Fiona McAllister - Associate, Simkins LLP
"I’ve had three in-house secondments during my career; firstly as Legal Adviser at Royal Bank of Scotland plc, at BBC Scotland and as Legal Adviser at FirstGroup plc."
Tell us briefly about your in-house secondment experiences.
I’ve had three in-house secondments during my career:
- as Legal Adviser at Royal Bank of Scotland plc – providing internal business clients with advice in relation to litigation, dispute resolution, contentious situations and regulatory compliance;
- at BBC Scotland – offering programme legal advice to journalists producing output for news, TV, radio and online confirming what can and cannot be published/broadcast; and
- as Legal Adviser at FirstGroup plc – a non-contentious, general in-house role based within the legal team in London.
Were those organisations to well equipped to take on a secondee?
Yes, each of the three organisations I was at were well equipped to take on a secondee. I was effectively set up as a new employee and I would be treated like an internal member of staff. Two organisations had rotating secondees from different law firms so I had a handover with them before starting. In the other organisation I spent a fair amount of time with one of the internal members of the team to tap into their experience.
What did you enjoy most about your in-house secondment experience?
I really enjoyed being part of a company all working towards the same goals with a shared ethos. At FirstGroup and RBS there was a much more commercial approach than in a law firm. I was making decisions and offering a perspective that very often didn’t carry any legal element. At the BBC everything that comes to the legal department carries a risk. I had to decide how much of a risk was attached to a piece of news or a programme and what we could and could not say in light of the information we had. Bearing in mind that once the decision on any programme is made, there is no going back – by then a large proportion of Scotland has heard or seen the news/programme. When you make a mistake in broadcasting there is nowhere to hide.
Would you recommend an in-house secondment to others? Why?
Absolutely! It offers a completely different experience to a law firm and allows a much greater sense of perspective. In each of my three secondments there was a lot to learn on the job but the more you put in, the more you get out. It teaches you the importance of time management, prioritisation and working with a team (mostly of non-lawyers) with different strengths and abilities.
What are your top tips for anyone about to go on secondment?
Embrace it! It is impossible to compare any two secondments. Each one is different due to the different types of work, internal cultures and processes. Have faith in your own abilities – no matter how well you know the law there is a huge learning curve in any secondment.
Be aware that you move from being adviser to adviser and decision maker, which can be difficult at first but you’ll find your way, and hopefully have supportive people around you. All these things mean that if a secondment is going to be successful you need to be adaptable, open to learning in a very short timescale and willing to integrate quickly with a new team. It’s worth it!
Guide for in-house lawyers
This guide aims to set out the key things you should know about working in-house. If you’re new to in-house, this guide will help you get started.
