SKILL ROADMAP 33 · LEGAL CAREER ROADMAPS
In-house Counsel
Business understanding → Everyday contracts → Employment law → Contract playbook → Compliance → Writing for business → Experience → Leadership
Track your progress
- This roadmap has 8 steps, 4 checkpoints and 3 projects.
- Open the interactive version to tick checkpoints and projects. Your progress is saved in your browser.
1 What this path is
In-house counsel work inside one company and advise its teams on contracts, compliance, disputes and risk. Many join after some years at a firm, while startups often hire graduates as well.
2 Who this path may suit
The work involves practical problem solving, quick turnaround, close work with non lawyers and understanding the business.
3 The roadmap, step by step
- Understand the business.
Learn: how sales, procurement, HR, finance and operations work.
Practise: by making a legal risk map for an imaginary startup. - Learn everyday contracts.
Learn: NDAs, vendor agreements, service agreements, employment contracts and software licences. See the Contract Drafting Roadmap.
Practise: by reviewing a vendor agreement and writing a short note to a business team. - Learn employment law.
Learn: the four Labour Codes and the POSH Act 2013. See the Labour and Employment roadmap.
Practise: by drafting a plain language workplace policy. - Build a contract playbook.
Learn: preferred, fallback and unacceptable positions on key clauses.
Practise: by building a playbook and clause library. - Learn compliance.
Learn: the rules of one industry, including data protection. See the Regulatory Compliance roadmap.
Practise: by preparing a compliance checklist. - Write for business.
Learn: to give short, clear answers and offer safer alternatives instead of just saying no. See the Legal Communication Roadmap.
Practise: by turning a memo into a three line email. - Gain experience.
Learn: through a firm or a startup, whichever gives you real exposure.
Practise: with live contracts and compliance work. - Grow into leadership.
Learn: to manage outside counsel and legal budgets.
Practise: by taking ownership of one area within the legal team.
4 Your levels and checkpoints
Beginner level
- Name the legal documents a new company needs
Intermediate level
- Review vendor contracts and advise business teams
Advanced level
- Own a compliance area
- Negotiate commercial contracts
Advanced professional level
You lead legal functions and advise senior management.
These checklists are for honest self assessment. They are not an official certification.
5 Build these projects
- A contract playbook and clause library
- A compliance checklist for one industry
- A plain language workplace policy
6 Internship direction
Look for company and startup legal teams. Before applying, be comfortable reviewing contracts and prepare a playbook or contract review as your sample. During the internship, learn how legal teams prioritise and support business.
7 Portfolio evidence
Playbooks, clause libraries, checklists and policies.
8 Common mistakes
- Writing long memos when a clear answer is needed
- Saying no without offering a safer path