Choosing private practice or in-house work depends on the clients you want to advise, the experience you want to build and how you prefer to work. Private practice generally involves advising external clients through a law firm. Whereas, in-house lawyers advise their employing organisation, working closely with its people, priorities and operations.
Private practice or in-house: What changes?
Overall, the central difference is your relationship with the client. In a law firm, you advise external organisations or individuals. Whereas, when you work in-house, you become an integral part of the organisation.
The Law Society of NSW describes in-house legal work as commercially focused, with opportunities to understand a business and contribute to its decisions.[1]
The following comparison offers a starting point, although individual roles vary:
Focus
Private practice
In-house
Clients
External clients, sometimes across several industries
The employing organisation and, where relevant, its group
Work
Often organised around a practice area or specialist team
May span contracts, projects, governance and regulatory issues
Relationships
Client contacts, partners and other advisers
Business colleagues, leadership and external advisers
Progression
May include senior associate, counsel and partnership pathways
May include senior counsel, general counsel or broader business roles
Neither setting limits you to one type of career. Large in-house teams have specialists, while smaller firms may offer broad generalist work.
Look beyond assumptions about pay and balance
An in-house move does not automatically mean shorter hours. The Law Society of NSW notes that in-house lawyers can face workloads comparable with private practice.[1]
Similarly, salary, flexibility and support depend on the employer, role and seniority. Compare actual offers rather than relying on sector stereotypes.
Before accepting, ask about:
- Typical hours, peak periods and after-hours expectations.
- Team size, supervision and access to specialist support.
- Salary, superannuation, incentives and progression.
- Office attendance, flexibility and how performance is assessed.
Also, ask why the position is available and what success looks like after six months.
Build skills that travel with you
For 2027, assess the development opportunities each role provides. Communication, critical thinking, ethics and adaptability feature in the Law Society of NSW’s Solicitor Capability Framework.[2]
AI competence matters in either setting. Look for approved tools, practical training and clear expectations about checking outputs and protecting information. The joint regulator statement reinforces lawyers’ responsibility for confidentiality, independent judgement and accuracy.[3]
Alongside technology, strengthen commercial understanding, negotiation and stakeholder relationships. These help you turn legal analysis into advice people can use.
Explore in-house work through a secondment
If you are curious about an in-house legal career, a secondment can offer experience before you pursue a permanent move.
At Aclaria, we connect Australian-qualified lawyers with in-house opportunities across different industries and experience levels.[4] Discuss the work, supervision, duration and arrangements carefully to assess the fit.
Considering a move from private practice to in-house? Explore Aclaria’s lawyer network and tell us about your experience and interests. We can discuss how secondment opportunities might fit your career goals.
Reference
1. The Law Society of NSW, Moving In-house: A resource on in-house legal practice, updated March 2021. Used for enduring role distinctions, rather than current salary or employment-market claims. Read the guide.
2. The Law Society of NSW, Solicitor Capability Framework, 2025. Read the framework.
3. Law Society of NSW, Legal Practice Board of Western Australia and Victorian Legal Services Board and Commissioner, Statement on the use of artificial intelligence in Australian legal practice, 6 December 2024. Read the statement.
4. Aclaria, Become an Aclaria lawyer, undated. Explore the lawyer network.
