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Corporate vs. Private: A Vocational Interest Comparison between Private Law Firm and In-House Attorneys

O'Connell, David
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=xavier1511356199735282

Abstract Details

2013, Master of Arts (M.A.), Xavier University, Psychology.
This study investigated and compared the vocational interests of private law firm attorneys and in-house attorneys using Holland's Vocational Preference Inventory (1985). Based on the reports of low job satisfaction of law firm attorneys (Daicoff, 2008), the ascending popularity of in-house counsel positions, and the fact that law firms are in direct competition with in-house law departments for law talent and clients (Hitt, Bierman, & Collins, 2007), it was deemed necessary to analyze and compare these two groups of attorneys. This study surveyed 172 attorneys on their vocational preferences, overall job satisfaction, turnover intentions, and the desirability to work within in a billable hour billing system. Findings from this study determined attorneys employed in private law firms and in-house for corporate law departments were not significantly different from each other in terms of vocational preferences. Enterprising and Conventional preferences were positively associated with job satisfaction for private law firm attorneys. Artistic preferences were positively associated with turnover intentions and Realistic preferences were negatively associated with job satisfaction for in-house attorneys. Private law firm attorneys found the billable hourly billing system to be significantly more desirable than in-house attorneys. Additional analyses revealed negative relationships between Artistic and Investigative preferences and desirability to work within a billable hour system for private law firm attorneys. Based on these findings, it is recommended that attorneys explore their own vocational interests when considering employment within a private law firm or a corporation.
Mark Nagy, Ph.D. (Committee Chair)
83 p.
Psychology
vocational interest; private law firm; in-house attorneys

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • O'Connell, D. (2013). Corporate vs. Private: A Vocational Interest Comparison between Private Law Firm and In-House Attorneys [Master's thesis, Xavier University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=xavier1511356199735282

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • O'Connell, David. Corporate vs. Private: A Vocational Interest Comparison between Private Law Firm and In-House Attorneys . 2013. Xavier University, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=xavier1511356199735282.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • O'Connell, David. "Corporate vs. Private: A Vocational Interest Comparison between Private Law Firm and In-House Attorneys ." Master's thesis, Xavier University, 2013. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=xavier1511356199735282

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

xavier1511356199735282
149
© 2013, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by Xavier University Psychology and OhioLINK.