Breaking In, Leveling Up, and In-House Wins with Billy Rusteen

In this episode, Billy Rusteen, a former Microsoft, GitHub, and Databricks lawyer, shares how he transitioned from litigation to in-house and built My In-House Coach to help others do the same. Billy explains what hiring managers really look for, how to write resumes that stand out, and how to make your first 90 days as an in-house counsel count.We discuss in-house legal strategy, career pivots, tech industry growth, and practical tips for lawyers moving from law firms to corporate teams.What you will learn:How to move from firm to in-house successfullyResume tips that attract real interviewsProduct counsel and commercial contract insightsWhy curiosity and learning agility matter more than pedigreeFirst 90 days: what to focus on for early winsBuilding credibility in tech and global companiesCareer advice for new and mid-level lawyersKeywords for search:in house lawyer, product counsel, tech law, Microsoft legal, GitHub legal, Databricks legal, legal career transitions, legal resume, in house playbook, law students, legal mentorship, how to go in house, My In-House Coach, Billy Rusteen, legal careers podcastChapters:00:00 Introduction and early career lessons06:40 From litigation to in-house14:10 Resume mistakes and how to fix them22:00 The 90-day in-house roadmap34:00 Lessons from Microsoft, GitHub, and Databricks42:00 Coaching lawyers to succeed50:00 Building authentic visibility online