For the in-house market, this is almost completely the reverse.  For lawyers who want to transition from law firm life to an in-house practice, the willingness and ability to relocate should become an acquired taste, as it could be the key to grabbing a great opportunity.  A lawyer's law degree is considerably more portable when joining an in-house legal team.  Most states will allow a lawyer to give advice to a single client (i.e. their corporate employer) so long as they are licensed in any US jurisdiction.  This does not have to be the state in which the job sits.

Unlike private practice, corporate employers are often looking for flexibility on relocation.  The vagaries of today's global business world sometimes demand it.  Large corporations are considerably more aggressive about expanding to new cities and countries than law firms are.  Lawyers interested in longevity in the corporate world must be ready for the realties of doing business today.  This week it's Brazil.  Next week, India?

Today's in-house practice is a bit of a study of contradictions.  Because technology has facilitated communication and cooperation, it seems that in some respects, we can work virtually from any office, no matter the location.  Even so, there is an increasing trend to put 'feet on the ground' in a corporation, and a renewed sense of importance on meeting face-to-face throughout a business.  A good example is the ever-growing and changing compliance industry.  Today's top compliance professionals are almost always in the air.  Heading from or going to visit all of a corporations’ operations worldwide -- in person -- is increasingly important to insure that the entire corporate team is doing business with respect to the appropriate regulatory schemes.

While major law firms tend to gravitate to large cities--global corporations may be found in less predictable locations.  Chasing tax breaks, affordable housing for employees or strategic transportation hubs, corporations may elect to establish or change headquarters.  This might mean Dallas, Memphis, or Milwaukee.  For some of the largest multinationals--a lawyer's willingness to move to where that multinational sits may be the only way to get that type of experience.

I used to think it was only single unattached people who would consider relocation so easily.  But a study of those professionals who are enjoying careers at the highest levels in multinationals across the country shows that such presumption is simply not the case.  I suspect many people would be surprised at how easy it has been for lawyers to move (including large families) to follow a good opportunity.  I see a lot of lawyers raising kids with a great sense of adventure and worldliness.  It's not always easy, but for those who have embraced a full scale relocation, there can be substantial rewards. 

What I've found most interesting is that I now get frequent calls from lawyers who are seeking relocation for relocation sake.  Not only are there lawyers willing to consider moving for the right position, many lawyers want the professional experience that a new environment brings--both personally and professionally.  "My family would love to try a new city," a recent candidate told me.  And that family included teenagers! 

Finally, we see our multinational corporate clients placing an increasingly greater emphasis on international experience.  Within certain organizations, it is easier to rise through the ranks of a corporation when you've worked in various locations, particularly cross-border.  In a corporation expanding into Asia, South America, or Africa, a substantive background in doing business in those regions can be invaluable. 

While there are plenty of lawyers who have thriving careers and never change zip codes, we view an openness to relocation as one of a number of things that we've seen contribute mightily to a lawyer's long-term success.