HOW TO BECOME AN IN-HOUSE LAWYER
How to become an In-house Lawyer
In-house Practice refers to lawyers who work within an organisation, providing legal advice to support its operations, manage risk, and guide strategic decision-making. It is one of the fastest-growing career paths for Australian lawyers seeking variety, influence, and closer involvement in business.
As an in-house lawyer, you become part of the organisation’s internal team, acting as both legal adviser and business partner. You help the organisation achieve commercial goals while maintaining compliance and ethical standards.
The College of Law’s postgraduate programs in In-house Practice help you develop the skills and confidence to succeed in this evolving career path.
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What does an in-house lawyer do day to day?
In-house lawyers provide legal and strategic advice to their employer. You will manage a wide range of issues across contracts, governance, risk, and compliance.
Typical responsibilities include :
- Drafting and negotiating contracts
- Managing legal risk and internal policies
- Advising on corporate governance and regulation
- Coordinating external counsel
- Supporting business strategy and decision-making
You’ll work closely with teams in finance, HR, operations, and marketing, acting as both lawyer and commercial adviser.
What can in-house lawyers expect to earn?
Corporate legal teams continue to report the highest average salaries and satisfaction levels across the profession. The College of Law’s latest Salary Survey shows steady growth for in-house roles, supported by strong bonus opportunities and clear career pathways.
Key findings from the 2025 survey:
- Average in-house salary increased to $151,989 (up 4 percent on 2024)
- 64 percent of in-house lawyers are eligible for bonuses
- 81 percent received a promotion or pay rise in the past two years
- In-house teams recorded the highest salary satisfaction of all organisation types
Corporate legal salaries 2024–2025
Download this infographic to compare 2024 and 2025 corporate legal salaries, bonuses and satisfaction levels.
Download
| Key insights | 2024 | 2025 | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average salary | $146,019 | $151,989 | ↑ 4% |
| Proportion eligible for bonuses | 59% | 64% | ↑ 5 percentage points |
| Received a promotion or pay rise (past 1–2 years) | 81% | 81% | Stable |
| Discussion around education/training needs | 19% | 14% | ↓ 5 percentage points |
| Satisfaction with current salary | N/A | 54% | – |
Compared with other sectors, corporate roles offer strong salary growth, solid bonus structures, and reliable progression. These factors make in-house practice one of the most financially attractive career paths for lawyers.
You can explore detailed results in the College of Law Legal Salary Survey.
Why should I specialise in in-house law?
In-house roles are growing rapidly across corporations, government and not-for-profit organisations. The work is varied, fast-moving, and influential.
Key benefits include:
- No billable hours: You are valued for outcomes, not time sheets
- Variety: Exposure to multiple areas of law within one organisation
- Influence: Direct involvement in strategy and decision-making
- Flexibility: Greater potential for work-life balance
This is an ideal career path for lawyers who want to combine legal skill with commercial understanding.
Who will you work with?
Your clients are internal: executives, boards, and department heads. You’ll also liaise with external law firms, regulators, and consultants.
Strong communication and stakeholder management are essential, as you’ll often translate complex legal advice into practical business language.
My degree was extremely beneficial. If I had my time over again, I wouldn’t change a thing.
Dominique Mayo, LLM Graduate - Commercial Litigation
I would describe the College of Law as inspiring, innovative, and collegiate.
Krystal Bellamy, LLM Graduate - Wills and Estates
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The reality of in-house life
In-house practice offers autonomy and influence but also presents new challenges. You may manage competing priorities with limited resources and need to maintain your professional independence when business pressure increases.
The key is adaptability and the ability to balance legal risk with commercial objectives.
What skills do I need to succeed as an in-house lawyer?
Success depends on combining legal knowledge with sound commercial judgment.
You’ll need:
- Communication: Translate complex legal advice into plain English
- Commercial awareness: Understand your organisation’s goals and risk appetite
- Integrity: Maintain professional standards under pressure
- Analytical thinking: Manage diverse issues across contracts, regulation, and policy
- Collaboration: Build strong relationships across departments
“Having work experience outside of law has given me a more holistic view of how legal decisions impact a business.” - Michael Tangonan
What are the pros and cons of in-house practice?
In-house practice offers autonomy, influence and close involvement in business decisions, but the experience can vary depending on team size and organisational structure.
Most practitioners find that the personal satisfaction of helping families move forward outweighs the challenges. Helping families move forward is meaningful and purposeful work.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
|
Broad exposure to legal and commercial matters |
Fewer resources or peers compared to law firms |
|
Close connection to one organisation’s success |
Possible tension between business goals and legal duties |
|
No billable hour targets |
Less formal career progression in smaller teams |
|
Opportunities for leadership and management roles |
How do I become an in-house lawyer?
The typical pathway includes:
- Completing a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) or Juris Doctor (JD)
- Undertaking Practical Legal Training (PLT)
- Gaining experience in private practice or government
- Transitioning into an in-house legal role
- Continuing learning through postgraduate study or the Legal Practice Management Course for Corporate and Government Lawyers
The College of Law’s Master of Laws (Applied Law) majoring in In-house Practice is designed for practising lawyers who want to build commercial capability and leadership influence.
Which professional associations support in-house lawyers?
Professional bodies can support your development and keep you connected with the wider in-house community. One of the most relevant for corporate counsel and in-house lawyers is the Association of Corporate Counsel Australia.
ACC Australia focuses on the needs of in-house lawyers and offers:
- Practical resources, tools, and updates
- Networking with peers across sectors
- Events on governance, risk, and corporate strategy
- Professional development tailored to corporate counsel
Many in-house lawyers join ACC to stay current, build their network, and strengthen the skills needed to act as trusted advisers.
Advancing your career with The College of Law
The College works with practising corporate counsel to ensure programs reflect the realities of in-house practice. Through practical, applied learning, you’ll build the knowledge and confidence to operate at a strategic level.
Learn more about postgraduate study in In-house Practice
Updated : November 2025
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Yes. In-house roles continue to grow across corporations, government, and not-for-profits. They offer variety, influence, and the chance to be involved in strategic business decisions. It’s an ideal career path for lawyers who want to combine legal expertise with commercial impact.
The College of Law Legal Salary Survey reports the average in-house lawyer salary at $151,989 in 2025. Pay has risen steadily year on year, and many in-house roles include performance bonuses, which lift total earnings further.
Corporate legal teams also record the highest salary satisfaction across all organisation types, reflecting both competitive pay and strong career progression.
You can explore full salary ranges by seniority and sector in the College of Law Legal Salary Survey.
Subjects are designed to strengthen your commercial, strategic, and leadership capability. They include:
- Foundations of In-House Practice
- Managing Disputes
- Acting as a Company Secretary
- Managing the Legal Team
- Multi-Disciplinary Project Management
Each subject focuses on applied learning relevant to corporate counsel roles.
You can choose from:
- The Graduate Diploma of Applied Law (In-House Practice) – four subjects, including two core subjects and two electives, or
- The Master of Laws (Applied Law) majoring in In-House Practice – eight subjects, including three core in-house subjects, four electives from other practice areas, and a Capstone project.
This flexible structure allows you to focus on in-house legal work or broaden your expertise across related areas such as Business Law, Government and Public Sector Law or Legal Business Management.
In-house lawyers must balance legal precision with business insight. Essential skills include:
- Commercial awareness and risk management
- Clear, practical communication
- Leadership and team management
- Strategic thinking and problem-solving
These capabilities enable lawyers to act as trusted advisers and key contributors to organisational strategy.
Many in-house lawyers consider an MBA to strengthen their commercial credibility, but an MBA is often broad, expensive and less relevant to legal work. The College of Law’s postgraduate programs focus specifically on the skills and challenges faced by in-house counsel - balancing legal, strategic, and business priorities. By completing up to two elective subjects from the Legal Practice Management suit of subjects, you will be able to enhance your business intelligence.
You’ll gain the commercial acumen and leadership confidence to influence decisions at executive level, without paying for a qualification that only signals business generalist. It’s a smarter, more targeted investment that delivers immediate impact in your role.
