Strong law departments lose talented lawyers – and to a degree that’s a good thing

We admire law departments that regularly hive off general counsel to other companies. We recognize that strong talent may have too little head room in one department, but can stand tall elsewhere (See my posts of Dec. 19, 2007: inevitable to lose some talented lawyers; and Jan. 18, 2008: general counsel unconcerned with loss of talent.).

A department that is consistently the farm team for the major league team of another company, that every year or two exports a qualified, strong lawyer to take a senior position elsewhere, is a law department that has hired well, given good managerial and substantive experience, and bred an attractive recruit (See my post of Feb. 7, 2008: more disadvantages of low attrition rates.).