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I just took my search firm's first order within the cannabis industry, a general counsel role for a leading grower of legal marijuana. Interest in the role is high (OK, the puns are easy!), but I've already rejected one of my favorite candidates.

The individual to whom I refer is a corporate attorney with regulatory expertise and a stellar resume. She is highly qualified. I asked for her thoughts about marijuana. She does not care for it personally, and confessed that she has concerns about its widespread legalization. Nonetheless, she welcomes the job as a career opportunity and said she can easily separate her role as an attorney from her personal tastes and views.

I think this brings up one of the biggest differences between an attorney's role as outside counsel versus in-house positions. Outside counsel can and should put up a wall between their personal views and their role as advocate for a client, whether that client is a corporation or individual. It's understood, expected and something that is actually addressed in law school.

When working in-house for a company, however, I strongly believe that the general counsel should be an all-in fan and supporter of the business. And while Jeff Spicoli is not qualified (I finally got to make a "Fast Times at Ridgemont High" reference!), I will indeed favor candidates who view weed positively without reservation. My client deserves that.

While nonlawyers typically self-select when job hunting based on what products or services interest them, lawyers are by training industry agnostic. Lawyers tend to focus more on the nature of the career opportunity than the business when considering a new position.

And so, I often need to play a bit of a spoiler role. Because I am only concerned about helping my corporate client make the best possible hiring choice. And I frustrate a lot of candidates when I pursue a line of questioning that goes beyond their qualifications to do the job. What I really want to know it this: Are you a good culture fit for my client? Will you get excited when talking about your company's products or services at the family reunion?

Culture fit has always been the focus of our work. Car junkies do well with our auto industry clients. When recruiting within financial services, I ask about the candidate's personal experience investing in the stock market. You must convince me that you have a passion for the business.

With respect to this cannabis company specifically, the winner was described to me not merely as someone who supports the product politically. Rather, my marching orders are to find candidates who want to be part of a "movement" and help build this particular industry. Passion is hard to fake. Be true to whatever your passions happen to be.

Mike Evers recruits attorneys for corporate legal departments throughout the United States. Visit www.everslegal.com. His firm also offers experienced in-house counsel to companies on an adjunct basis.