In House Counsel Career Guide and Counseling

Question: I am thinking of getting pregnant to get a counsel house is this a bad idea? I am 23 and my partner is 27.We've been together for 9 months (living together) and we love each other. We r really struggling with the rent and all the bills,we both have cars and would like a counsel flat but they told us that priorities lies with those who are expecting or with children.It will also help me with personal problems like my ex who doesn't want to move on and my sister who wants me to leave everything to go stay with her in Italy.I live in Manchester (UK). What should I do? Please any advice would be appreciated. Thanks

Answer: Bad idea. They might make you give up one of your cars to live there, so why not try using one car, and public transport instead? (It might be a good idea to get married before going with one car, so the car can be in both names.) Then you can plan to have a baby together, when you both are financially stable, and ready to love every minute of being a parent. (Babies are very costly!)

Question: Do I need malpractice insurance if I am working as in-house counsel? I am a new WA Bar member and will be representing my employer in numerous administrative hearings and appeals, along with preparing and reviewing contracts. Do I need to get malpractice insurance?

Answer: If your employer is providing it for you, no you do not. If not, you are crazy not to have your own. Mistakes are made by even the best in their field.

Question: What career can I have in California with a JD from Romania? Can I be an in-house counsel? I'm a legal resident (Green Card)

Answer: You cannot practice law in California unless you are an attorney. Acting as in-house counsel falls within the practice of law. To be an attorney in the state of California, you must take and pass the bar exam. If you have four years of practice in another state, and are in good standing, you can take a shorter exam for attorneys. If you're not an admitted attorney, you will definitely have to take the full exam, but you should contact the State Bar of California for more specific and accurate information for foreign trained attorneys who are admitted. If you don't want to take the bar exam, your choices are the same as anyone else who has graduated from law school, but is not admitted to the bar - do document review or get a non legal job.

Question: What do you think of Greg Craig, Obama's White House counsel? Check out his past clients: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greg_Craig He seems to have made a career out of defending the people who want to hurt our country. Is Obama thinking he will need his "special skills"?

Answer: Those are some impressive credentials. That's what a good attorney does.

Question: Can a Contract Specialist become In-House Counsel? I am a recent law school graduate and a member of the CA bar. I am interviewing for a contract specialist position at a large corporation. If I took this job, would it be easy/possible to eventually get a job as corporate counsel?

Answer: It is possible to do so, especially if the general counsel likes your work. Then, you could be one of the permanent employees (in-house counsel) that he oversees. However, to be the general counsel (i.e. the head attorney) would probably take years.

Question: Can you tell me how to find out if Swiss Army Brands in Shelton, CT has an in-house legal counsel?

Answer: Call them and ask? Duh?

Question: Why would Greg Craig, White House Counsel, admit that Obama was wrong in his understanding of CIPA law? During the conference Friday with the families of terrorist victims. Debra Burlingame, sister of the pilot of the plane that crashed into the pentagon on 9/11 and an attorney herself, demonstrated just how little Obama and his counsel know our own law relating to terrorism. http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2009/feb/12/obamas-outrageous-oversight/ Often: you can't answer the question Marcia: you also cannot answer the question.

Answer: Yet more proof that the Harvard Law professor does not understand the CIPA laws that govern terrorist trials. This is the quality of leader that you get when you elect a Hollywood pop culture icon who has progressed through life on affirmative action.

Question: Counsel house problem. Can i live there after my father dies? My father is ill and i don't think he will live 6 months, I have decided it is best if i moved in with him. That will mean giving my counsel house up and moving me, my husband and son into my fathers counsel house. We are all happy to do this but has anyone any idea what will happen once my father dies. I will tell the housing office we are moving in as i will be giving my house up but will i get kicked out my fathers house or will we be to carry on living there? please help! i don't want to end up homeless but i want to be to give my father my full help.

Answer: Talk to the people who deal with this this and gave you the right answer, the council.

Question: where may I find info on White House Counsel On Aging meeting Dec 13, 2005?

Answer: Okay here's how it goes! Its been three months and your question is just sitting here for someone to come along and say pick the first answer or why havn't you picked it yet. I spent all morning voting for answers that were 3 months old and all of them had something like that. If you pick the answer yourself you'll get 3 pts back instead of 2. But if you vote you only get 2 pts back and the best possible answer probably won't get credit because they've long forgotten about it. O yeah' Go Raiders!!! *RZ* P.s "I don't agree with going around not seriously answering these questions but if I don't someone else will." O yeah if the above answers suck, delete your question or pick me! :) J/k I'd ask it again and don't let it get this old.~

Question: Can an attorney please explain the details of "inhouse counsel?"? I'm having difficulty understanding how a lawyer goes about acquiring such a job. What type of law does one study in law school to prepare for this? How much experience is necessary? My plan is to try my hand at a type of law I enjoy (and/or one that is economically feasble given how much law school costs) and if necessary make the switch to in-house counsel. It really seems appealing to me. Any help for an undergraduate preparing is greatly appreciated.

Answer: There is no course in law school that specifically prepares you to be employed as an in-house counsel. In law school you spend your first year studying the basics: Contract Law, Torts, Criminal Law, Civil Procedure, Constitutional Law, Property, etc. Second and Third Year are spent on some mandatory requirements for graduation and whatever classes you elect to choose. Example: If you know you want to go into Corporate Law, then you will tailor your curriculum accordingly. After law school, you pick the area that you are interested in working in. Normally, corporations that employ in-house counsel like that attorney to have 3 or more years experience working in whatever type of law the in-house counsel is being hired to work in. For example, if a company is looking for an in-house counsel for labor and employment law issues, then most would like for you to have some experience with a regular law firm or federal or state agency focusing in that area of the law. Basically, you will likely need to build up your resume before a company will hire you as in-house counsel. I am sure that there are companies who do not require experience, but most do. What you need to do is go to law school, take your basic courses, see if any area interests you - focus on that area and then find a job in that area of the law and build up your expertise. Afterwards you can seek employment as in-house counsel for a company that is looking for an attorney in that area. Good luck.

Question: Is it a wise career move for lawyer to leave trial practice for an in house counsel job that pays higher now? Ive been a lawyer for 1 and a half years. Ive been doing trial work from the start of my career. 2 days ago, a big company called me, and offered me a job as an in house lawyer, no trial work, just consultation and paper work. It pays higher than my salary as a trial lawyer in my current law firm, headed by my dad. Should i accept the offer and leave trial work indefinetly ?

Answer: Ya know what they say, just because its bigger, doesn't mean its better! I'm not saying that you shouldn't take the offer, but you should consider all of the different circumstances that surrounds the job. More money, yes. More work? Hows the hours compared to what you have now? And never forget what comes with big companies, interoffice drama, and its very impersonal. But in all, you've got to look at it this way,, are you going to be happy pushing papers behind the scene instead of being in a court room fighting for a case? Your still fairly new at being an attorney, and still have got loads to learn, and who better to teach you that your dad. Maybe after you get a few years under your belt, you can move on to something else. Besides, if they want you now, they'll want you later, because you'll have more experience. I would speak to your dad about what he thinks you should do, he's gonna know the law world better than you, and he'll only be looking out for your best interest. Good luck!

Question: Trivia: Name the 3 Actors and their character names who played White House Counsel lawyers on the West Wing?

Answer: I am going to get the names and spellings wrong. John Laroquet then Oliver Platt ( The guy from Huff) the girl I have no idea ,but she is on CSI Miami, or one of the CSI shows.

Question: Why is the White House Counsel a criminal defense attorney? Gregory Craig has worked for/defended: Kofi Annan, for the UN "Oil for Food" scandal John Hinkley, the man who shot President Ronald Reagan William Kennedy Smith, when he was accused of rape in 1991 Bill Clinton, during his impeachment hearings Senator Ted Kennedy, supporting Sandinistas against Contra rebels Fidel Castro, to help secure the return of Eilan Gonzalez Pedro Miguel Gonzalez, President of the Panamanian National Assembly, for murdering one U.S. Army Soldier (shot him 22 times) and wounding another in 1992. This kind of legal representation worries me. What say you? VAK, shouldn't your alleged "expert in governmental and foreign policy law" work in the State Department? I notice you did not mention Lobbyist in his resume. Last time I checked, one hires a criminal defense attorney for criminal defense. Vak, I said worked for / defended, meaning either or. As for Eilan Gonzalez's father can't not tie is shoes without permission from Castro. Cuba has a little problem with freedom. Glad to hear you have a new hero VAK. Maybe Obama will nominate him to the Supreme Court for you. "How disingenuous of me to insinuate that this was a case of defending Castro." How naive of you to think he wasn't! After leaving Kennedy’s office, Craig returned to Williams & Connolly. When his one-year ban on lobbying ended, he immediately registered as a foreign agent to represent Panama, Argentina, and Bolivia. Maybe not a lobbyist now, but was one to interests contrary to the U.S. WHAT A GUY!

Answer: My guess is: look at all the crooks he's surrounded himself with, and the answer becomes obvious! Obama's agenda is not short of a stunning rope of lies that he's begun with. In lawyerise it's all about finding that loophole to get away with stuff. I am actually surprised that Blago didn't ask legal advice from Craig. Liberals are so obvious in their endeavors, it's childish! But they maintain that serious outlook and insist upon being taken seriously. It's like your four year old telling you his pet rock peed his pants, and insists that you have to talk to the rock not the 4 year old. It's amusing, but not too much since it affects every single one of us. Obama is true to his agenda. He's got all of the leftists, and the best pardon lawyer for all the crooks he's gathered so they can get away with murder. Why is it a wonder? It's obvious this dude thinks he's above the law. Enough said!

Question: who will be president Obama's spiritual counsel be? In Obama's acceptence speach I heard a lot about new (change) direction and cabinet selection for our country. But no mention of God! Who will be president Obama's spiritual counsel be? Pastor Tony Evans would be a good choice for White House counsel.

Answer: If he is wise his spiritual counsel will be the Holy Spirit of the living God.

Question: does anybody know : how can I rent out my house to borough counsel?

Answer: Why don't you try asking them ?

Question: How much do in-house counsels make?

Answer: The first-year salary level is about $160,000