Kelly Noblin recently spoke at the Advanced In-House Counsel Course: “Reaching Calm Waters – Charting Your Course as In-House Counsel,” sponsored by the Texas Bar CLE. The over 100 attendees were mostly current in-house counsel who appreciated Kelly’s insight into current hiring trends and advice about doing more with less – a common theme for many legal departments. She highlighted how many departments are relying on contract attorneys to fill in gaps during hiring freezes or for employee leaves. Newhouse + Noblin’s practice support division, including its contract attorney recruiting services, has seen a significant spike in sustained activity since the onslaught of the 2008-2009 recession. Clearly, in-house legal services don’t lessen during a recession; if anything, they increase. General Counsels feel the pressure to keep more work in-house, yet are often hamstrung with hiring freezes or other budget measures that prevent addition to headcount. Newhouse + Noblin can provide a solution by providing qualified contractors at a simple, reasonable hourly fee. You can view upcoming CLE seminars and other helpful information at Texas Continuing Legal Education.