{"id":4879,"date":"2025-10-15T19:37:44","date_gmt":"2025-10-15T19:37:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.ubalt.edu\/lawmag\/?p=4879"},"modified":"2026-03-13T14:18:26","modified_gmt":"2026-03-13T14:18:26","slug":"the-evolving-role-of-the-in-house-counsel","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.ubalt.edu\/lawmag\/the-evolving-role-of-the-in-house-counsel\/","title":{"rendered":"The Evolving Role of the In-House Counsel"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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By Adam Stone\u00a0<\/h4>\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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\"Danielle
Danielle Roland, J.D. \u201912<\/figcaption><\/figure>

For <\/span>Danielle Roland, J.D. \u201912<\/span><\/b>, working as in-house counsel means tackling big-picture questions. As general counsel at Michigan-based ANDRITZ Schuler North America, she evaluates risk in everything from hiring practices to leases on buildings, always with an eye toward the company\u2019s overall strategic ambitions.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

\u201cIt’s about being <\/span>involved in the strategy and the goals of the company,<\/span> knowing: What’s our plan 10 years down the road?\u201d she says. By understanding that big picture, \u201cI can then give direction and legal guidance.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

Law firms draw the lion\u2019s share of lawyers– over 445,000, according to the <\/span>most recent data<\/span><\/a> from the Association of Corporate Counsel. But there are other paths: Over 140,000 lawyers work as in-house counsel. UBalt Law graduates who go the in-house route say the job is both complex and highly satisfying. They often are deeply embedded — not just in a company\u2019s legal work, but in its strategic decision-making.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

* Since this interview was conducted, Ms. Roland has been named Head of Legal and Compliance Americas for BASF Coatings.<\/em><\/p>

An evolving role<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h4>
\"Cory
Cory Myers, J.D. \u201907<\/figcaption><\/figure>

The work of in-house counsel has increasingly focused on business leadership in recent years. Today the job is \u201cstrategic in nature,\u201d says <\/span>Cory Myers, J.D. \u201907<\/span><\/b>, associate general counsel for intellectual property at KPMG in Washington, D.C. In his case, \u201cthat can include strategic thoughts about investments in particular technologies and developing an IP portfolio around that.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

The job involves \u201cworking with the business team leaders to understand what makes the business tick, then making sure we’re developing legal strategy in accordance with those business goals,\u201d he says.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

Roland became ANDRITZ Schuler North America\u2019s first in-house general counsel nine years ago. \u201cWhen I started, it was mostly reviewing contracts, helping with sales orders. It was very transactional,\u201d she says.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

That has changed over time. \u201cIt’s really become more of a strategic role,\u201d she says. That includes \u201cbeing proactive on risk management, being involved with the board of directors and planning for the company’s growth and success.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

To deliver in such a role, \u201cyou really have to know a little bit about a lot of things,\u201d says <\/span>James Beslity, J.D. \u201919<\/span><\/b>, who serves as corporate counsel at HomeServices of America and its largest operating company, The Long & Foster Companies.<\/span><\/p>

\u201cI routinely am engaged not just in traditional real estate-related matters, but employment, various types of litigation, intellectual property, transactional work,\u201d he says. \u201cPractically speaking, you need to be able to do it all.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

Challenges and rewards<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h4>

The increasingly wide-ranging role of in-house counsel comes with unique challenges and rewards.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

There are challenges when it comes to the actual lawyering. When you\u2019re in house, \u201cthey never want to hear you say, \u2018No, you can’t do that,\u2019\u201d Roland says. \u201cOutside counsel can say that: \u2018Hey, this is way too risky, you shouldn’t do that.\u2019\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

As in-house counsel, \u201cthey want to figure out how we <\/span>can<\/span><\/i> do this,\u201d she says. \u201cThe challenge is to figure out how can we do it, but in the best way possible for the company.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

\"James
James Beslity, J.D. \u201919<\/figcaption><\/figure>

Beslity, meanwhile, finds himself juggling multiple non-lawyerly responsibilities. \u201cI manage my own mail and my calendar,\u201d he says. \u201cMany companies these days are reducing headcount, trying to make the most of the resources they have. If you’re capable of handling administrative tasks \u2014 what some in the legal profession might consider grunt work \u2014 you’re doing it.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

But the rewards can make it worth it.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

\u201cWhen you’re in private practice, you’re working based on what the client may have as an immediate priority, and you can be working on a singular thing for months,\u201d without ever getting to be part of the bigger picture, Myers says. As in-house, \u201cI really enjoy seeing the full scope of a project.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

Roland likewise takes satisfaction in the big-picture nature of her role. As in-house counsel, \u201cyou have an integral role in shaping the company and where it’s going,\u201d she says.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

For Beslity, the breadth of tasks gives him a chance not just to utilize his legal skills, but also to build real relationships. As in-house counsel, \u201cyo<\/span>u have to be a people person,\u201d he says. \u201cI’m in my office right now and the marketing team is down the hall, the accounting team is down the hall, and I can see Long and Foster\u2019s CEO\u2019s office from here. My clients are sitting all around me.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

Making the transition<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h4>

Why go in-house? For Myers, who started out in a law firm, it was largely a lifestyle choice. In-house work \u201cis different in terms of the work-life balance,\u201d he says. \u201cIt’s still a ton of work, but you have a little bit more ability to control your schedule in an in-house role, which was good for me. I had younger kids at the time, so that was appealing to me.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

For those looking to make the leap, there are multiple pathways from private practice to an in-house opportunity.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

Roland, for example, had previously worked at a law firm, setting up corporations and advising clients on business issues. With that background in transactional corporate work, going in-house \u201cwasn’t a huge change for me,\u201d she says. \u201cIt wasn’t like I was coming from medical malpractice litigation.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

Hand-on experience while at UBalt Law helped as well. \u201cOne of the things the law school does so well is their practical learning experience,\u201d she says. \u201cI did two internships while I was there, and that gave me such great practical experience, along with having so many faculty members who were practicing attorneys. All that made a big difference for my work, my career.\u201d\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

Beslity, meanwhile, had also left a law firm and was looking to start his next chapter when he took his first in-house position, as associate counsel with Maryland REALTORS\u00ae. With a background in real estate law, \u201cit just seemed like the perfect opportunity,\u201d he says.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

It felt like a leap of faith to leave the conventional litigation track, he says. \u201cBut honestly, at this point, this is my dream job.\u201d\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

He encourages law students to get involved early, if they\u2019re interested in an in-house career. \u201cGet out there and find those practical experiences,\u201d he says, noting that UBalt Law can help to make that happen.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

\u201cThe Law Career Development Office is probably my favorite entity within the law school,\u201d he says. \u201cThey do incredible work, really encouraging students to get out there and find those practical experiences.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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Adam Stone <\/strong>is a writer based in Annapolis.<\/em><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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By Adam Stone\u00a0 For Danielle Roland, J.D. \u201912, working as in-house counsel means tackling big-picture questions. As general counsel at Michigan-based ANDRITZ Schuler North America, she evaluates risk in everything from hiring practices to leases on buildings, always with an eye toward the company\u2019s overall strategic ambitions.\u00a0 \u201cIt’s about being involved in the strategy and […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3596,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5,27],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.ubalt.edu\/lawmag\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4879"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.ubalt.edu\/lawmag\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.ubalt.edu\/lawmag\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.ubalt.edu\/lawmag\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3596"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.ubalt.edu\/lawmag\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4879"}],"version-history":[{"count":34,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.ubalt.edu\/lawmag\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4879\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5583,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.ubalt.edu\/lawmag\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4879\/revisions\/5583"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.ubalt.edu\/lawmag\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4879"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.ubalt.edu\/lawmag\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4879"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.ubalt.edu\/lawmag\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4879"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}