Big Law Life #9: How to Move from Law Firm Partner to In-House Counsel with Savaria Harris
In today’s episode, I’m joined by Savaria Harris, formerly a partner with Kirkland & Ellis and DLA Piper, who subsequently made a move to become an in-house legal advisor, first as Vice President in the legal department at Johnson & Johnson, and now as Associate General Counsel and Director for Health Care Compliance at Amazon. We discuss why she decided to move from a partner role in BigLaw to working in-house, and what she found to be key to making that move successfully. Savaria also shares how her business-focused interests have impacted her legal career, and why giving back and making a difference is important to her. She also talks about her experience as a co-founder of the Unlocked Foundation, a 501(c)(3) focused on empowering women to close the wealth gap in their own lives.
Savaria offers valuable advice for lawyers considering a similar path to make a pivot from private practice to in-house, and her experience provides a unique perspective on staying business-focused as a way to increase your influence.
A Few Takeaways…
1. Openness to New Roles: Savaria advises lawyers to remain open to new opportunities, highlighting the importance of keeping an active profile on platforms like LinkedIn.
2. Proximity to Business Operations: For those transitioning in-house, choosing roles that are close to core business operations can be essential for career growth.
3. Adaptability and Interpersonal Skills: Success in in-house roles often hinges on the ability to adapt and effectively collaborate with diverse teams.
4. Viewing Career Changes Positively: Savaria suggests seeing career moves as a part of personal and professional development, rather than as a reaction to negative circumstances.
At a glance…
- 00:02:48: Insights into the transition from law firm to in-house roles.
- 00:04:51: Savaria's experiences at Kirkland & Ellis, DLA Piper, and Johnson & Johnson.
- 00:10:21: Choosing between litigation and regulatory roles.
- 00:14:03: Adapting to new roles and skill sets.
- 00:16:07: Transition to Amazon; networking and career development tips.
- 00:20:29: Importance of a comprehensive professional profile.
- 00:22:31: Qualities needed for transitioning from Biglaw to in-house.
- 00:32:03: Savaria's involvement with Unlocked, focusing on the women's wealth gap.
- 00:37:31: Alignment of personal values with professional roles.
- 00:41:28: Strategies for job interviews in legal roles.
- 00:44:28: Maintaining and enhancing a professional brand.
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Ways to reach Savaria Harris and Laura Terrell
Savaria Harris
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/savaria-harris-3030822a
The Unlocked Foundation: https://www.experienceunlocked.com/
Laura Terrell
laura@lauraterrell.com