Lawyer inside a company. Lower hours than law firm; broader exposure to business decisions.
In-house counsel handle contracts, regulatory compliance, litigation oversight, M&A support, IP, employment, data privacy. Sit between law firms (external counsel) + business stakeholders.
1 viable paths.
Law firm associate (3-5 yr) → In-house move
Most direct path. Top in-house roles at MNCs hire from Tier-1 law firms.
Wide bands — real salary depends on city, employer, performance. Pick the midpoint for planning.
Counsel → Sr Counsel → Asst GC → DGC → General Counsel + VP Legal
Top employers (informational, not endorsement)
Pros
Cons
Strong. Indian corporate legal teams expanding + GC roles becoming more strategic.
Corporate Lawyer (Law Firm)
Transactional + advisory work at top law firms. M&A, capital markets, dispute resolution.
Advocate (Litigator)
Court practice — civil, criminal, corporate. 5-year integrated BA-LLB or 3-year LLB.