Rachel Gervin has worked at three Big Law firms during her legal career. But only one, Kirkland & Ellis, has kept in touch with her, she said. And it is that ongoing connection that recently helped Gervin, now the executive director and general counsel at Impact Church in Atlanta, reshape her career path.

Gervin was among 30 participants, mainly Kirkland senior associates, junior partners and alumni involved in a pilot program designed to help Kirkland attorneys gain insight into their clients' needs and perspectives and to prepare lawyers for a potential future career in-house. It also sought to help participants build a network of peers and potential future business contacts, including Kirkland colleagues past and present, and to support women alumni looking to return to the workforce.

Panels led by former Kirkland attorneys now working in-house or senior partners who returned to the firm after an in-house stint discussed everything from what a typical day in-house looks like to what general counsel look for in outside firms. But they also dug deeper to a personal level and talked about why they made the transition and what it looked like for them.