In-house insurance defence and work-life balance
Is the work-life balance noticeably better than private practice? Does it depend on the company? If so, which companies have you heard good things about?
I’ve read and heard so many mixed messages on in-house insurance defence, even from people I know personally. Some people saying it’s a low stress, low pressure 9 to 5 unless you’re in trial, and others saying its the worst in-house job possible as you work just as hard as external counsel for less money.
I’m experienced enough to know that litigation is still litigation, and that there will always be times for any litigator, in-house or not, where you have to put in the extra hours, but I’m curious about the work-life balance experiences of people who have worked both private and in-house insurance defence.
The thought of no billable target and a bunch of “routine” litigation files is appealing to me and seems low stress. But does it lead to better work-life balance? Are people leaving at 5 pm on a normal day?