Q: I’ve been an in house lawyer my entire career. Am I at a disadvantage in the job market without law firm experience? If so, how do I address this issue?

A: In today’s legal environment, starting your legal career as an in-house lawyer as opposed to law firm associate is not the kiss of death that it might have been in years past. In fact, it is becoming a more common choice among lawyers as companies increase their newbie hiring. In addition, for some employers, the law firm background holds decreasing importance as candidates mature and experience increases. So, generally speaking, the legal community is becoming more socialized to this hiring profile.