Law firm lawyers who are curious about taking the in-house plunge often wonder about work-life balance, corporate culture and, of course, the pay. But they should also be aware of what longtime Big Law lawyer-turned-general counsel Deborah Solmor refers to as the “Doomsday Clock factor.” 

After more than 20 years at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom, Solmor walked away from law firm life in 2012 and began her transition to the in-house realm—despite having been warned that she might have a tough time landing a senior corporate counsel job.