46 min
#9: How to Move from Law Firm Partner to In-House Counsel with Savaria Harris Big Law Life
-
- Careers
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.
Rate, Review, & Follow on Apple Podcasts
Do you enjoy listening to Big Law Life? Please consider rating and reviewing the show! This helps support and reach more people like you who want to grow a career in Big Law. Click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Then be sure to let me know what you loved most about the episode!
Also, if you haven’t done so already, follow the podcast! A new episode releases every week! Follow now!
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
www.lauraterrell.com
laura@lauraterrell.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lauralterrell/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lauraterrellcoaching/
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.
Rate, Review, & Follow on Apple Podcasts
Do you enjoy listening to Big Law Life? Please consider rating and reviewing the show! This helps support and reach more people like you who want to grow a career in Big Law. Click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Then be sure to let me know what you loved most about the episode!
Also, if you haven’t done so already, follow the podcast! A new episode releases every week! Follow now!
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
www.lauraterrell.com
laura@lauraterrell.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lauralterrell/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lauraterrellcoaching/
46 min