I realize that career advice columns often boil down to a variation on the phrase, “use common sense.” Yet, I was reminded recently that some lawyers can make $800,000 and fail to practice that concept.

The compensation figure comes from an AmLaw 100 partner I met at a recent Duke alum event. As in, “I don’t understand people who take less money to go in-house; I would need at least $800,000 to consider it.”