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LAWCROSSING FEATURED EMPLOYER OF THE WEEK
General Electric [Joann Chang] With a roster of attorneys that would rival the largest law firms in the country, General Electric offers an interesting option for attorneys with excellent credentials who want out of law firm life.
In addition to providing competitive corpo-
From the plastic covers of cell phones to
structure, employees find that the structure
cruise ship engines to kitchen appliances,
provides a stable and considerate workplace
rate salaries for all its attorneys, General
General Electric Company provides millions
environment.
Electric is able to offer a substantial benefits
of Americans with many of their everyday
package. The General Electric Health Care
items. What began with Thomas Edison’s mo-
With over 950 in-house lawyers as well as top
coverage includes medical, dental, vision,
mentous invention of the light bulb in 1876
outside counsels such as Sidley Austin and
and prescription drug benefits. And on top
has now exploded into a 300,000 employee
Jones Day, General Electric’s legal team is
of elderly care, child care options and paid
company with $131 billion worth of annual
larger than most law firms. Lawyers provide
maternity leaves, General Electric provides
revenue. As the oldest company listed in the
legal advice in every aspect of the company,
perhaps the greatest bonus of all: stock op-
Dow Jones Industrial Index, General Electric
including GE Insurance, GE Medical Systems
tions. In fact, about one-third of all General
consistently ranks among the highest ranks
and NBC, and in every geographical location,
Electric’s professional employees choose
of Fortune 100 companies and has recently
including the Netherlands, Ireland, and India.
to make use of this advantage. Although its
been chosen as “World’s Most Respected
Newly appointed Vice President/General
stock prices have taken a dip in recent years,
Company” in a survey of 903 global CEOs
Counsel, Brackett B. Denniston III manages
the stability of General Electric stock, as well
conducted by Financial Times. Despite a
the worldwide legal operations of General
as its continuous profits, provides a huge in-
wave of corporate distrust after Enron and
Electric. Previous General Counsel, Ben
centive for lawyers looking for a change from
Tyco, as well as the terrorist attacks of 9/11,
W. Heineman, Jr., now oversees all legal
firm life. General Electric also supplies a
CEO and Chairman, Jeffrey R. Immelt ap-
matters as Senior Vice President of Law and
plethora of opportunities for attorneys bitten
pears to be successfully adapting GE to the
Public Affairs. While both these attorneys
by the traveling bug and often has positions
changing business environment.
work with the encompassing General Electric
to practice law in foreign places as varied as
Corporation, the majority of in-house coun-
Bangalore and Dublin.
Immelt has maintained the corporation’s
sels are hired to work in specific General
position as one of America’s most admired
Electric Companies, such as patent attorneys
companies by focusing not only on prof-
for GE Global Research or bankruptcy attor-
its, but company culture. The 11 separate
neys for GE Commercial Finance.
Jobs General Electric currently has several openings in its domestic and international
companies within General Electric all follow the corporation’s commitment to creating
General Electric looks to hire in all areas
offices, including opportunities for experi-
a friendly and pleasant workplace environ-
of legal talent, including attorneys with
enced intellectual property, litigation, and
ment. The corporation frequently wins
corporate, litigation, intellectual property,
corporate lawyers. More information re-
awards for its efforts, including making it
and real estate law backgrounds. The legal
garding these attorney positions at General
onto the list of “100 Best Companies for
opportunities available at this solid company
Electric can be found in the LawCrossing
Working Mothers” by Working Mothers magazine. Minorities also find a hospitable atmosphere at General Electric. The company has created support networks for African Americans, Hispanics, and Asian-Pacific professionals in order to help facilitate their careers. While the offices are understandably infused with corporate and bureaucratic
seem to be limited only by the qualifications
jobs database.
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of candidates. The difficulty of getting an inhouse position at General Electric depends on the particular area of law, but it is certain that candidates should not only have good academic credentials, but also plenty of relevant experience. Some positions require up to 8-10 years of legal experience.