If you’re practicing in-house in a life sciences or healthcare company, you already know: the pace is relentless, the stakes are high, and the expectations keep climbing—even as budgets shrink.
Whether your focus is regulatory, commercial, IP, compliance, or employment, you may feel the weight of more work, tighter timelines, and fewer resources. And you’re not imagining it.
Budgets Are Tight. The Mandate? Do More Anyway.
Legal departments across the sector are being asked to absorb a wave of new responsibilities, from AI governance in R&D to FDA accelerated approval strategy to heightened scrutiny of pricing, privacy, and ESG. However, many of those same departments are facing flat or reduced budgets.
As one in-house lawyer at a large biotech firm put it:
“It feels like we’re all being asked to cover more ground with fewer boots on the ground.”
Talent Gaps and Burnout Are Real—and You’re Living It
Hiring is slow. Open roles stay open longer. And the remaining team members often cover not just their responsibilities, but someone else’s. You’re not alone if you’re wondering:
- “Where’s the bench support?”
- “What’s the long-term plan for this team?”
- “Is it sustainable to operate this lean?”
Legal teams are feeling stretched, and mid-to senior-level counsel—especially those with regulatory, M&A, commercial contracting, or privacy expertise—are among the most in-demand and mobile.
Recent industry insights show that over half of in-house lawyers are open to new opportunities, citing burnout, flat compensation, and unclear growth paths.
Compensation Isn’t Keeping Pace
While there have been modest raises (around 2.8% on average last year), they haven’t kept up with inflation or the increasing complexity of in-house roles.
Equity and bonus structures can vary widely, and some healthcare and life sciences companies lag behind peers in other sectors regarding long-term incentives. Add to that increased expectations around remote flexibility, leadership development, and career trajectory, and it’s clear why retention is becoming harder.
What Savvy In-House Counsel Are Doing to Stay Ahead
Even if you’re not in the GC seat, you have influence. Here’s how many in-house attorneys are navigating this moment strategically:
- Position Yourself as a Strategic Partner
- Understand the business drivers behind your legal work- really delve into those drivers.
- Ask the “why” behind requests and tailor your advice accordingly.
2. Speak Up About Resourcing—Constructively
- Frame resourcing concerns in terms of risk, opportunity cost, and business impact.
- When identifying gaps, offer solutions (e.g., outside help, cross-training, tech tools).
3. Stay Market-Aware
- Know how your compensation and scope of responsibility compare to peers.
- Track trends in hiring, legal tech, and regulatory hot spots—your GC will thank you.
4. Invest in Your Career Development
- Take on cross-functional projects that expose you to other parts of the business.
- Seek mentors, sponsors, or stretch roles—especially in growth areas like AI governance, ESG, and digital health.
5. Help Shape the Legal Team’s Internal Brand
- Share wins. Track KPIs. Contribute to team metrics and business dashboards.
- Position legal as a solution-driver, not a bottleneck.
Bottom Line
The role of in-house counsel is changing—fast. Legal departments in life sciences and healthcare are being asked to lead, not just advise. That comes with pressure, but it also opens the door for growth, influence, and impact.
If you’re feeling the crunch, you’re not alone. But you are well-positioned to shape what comes next—for your career, team, and organization.
