Chat with Bret Pailet, Product Counsel @ Meta

On a rainy weeknight in New York City, Bret Pailet offered his valuable time to chat about his work as a Product Counsel at Meta.

Bret began his legal career at a “traditional” law firm drafting memoranda, researching legal issues, handling filings, and gaining exposure to a variety of matters under the guidance of more senior attorneys.

Over time, he recognized that his interests extended beyond purely legal analysis; he wanted to connect the dots between legal strategy and broader business objectives.

This inclination led him to seek an in-house opportunity where he could collaborate directly with product teams, shape product decisions, and engage more fully in strategic, cross-functional work.

Now in his current role as Product Counsel at Meta, he shares some of his insights with the attorneys who haven't yet made the jump.

Insights

1. How law firm and in-house Big Tech differ

   1. Billable services vs. business integration

      1. Law firm: Junior attorneys focus on producing discrete, billable work product (e.g., memos, motions, binder assembly). Communication primarily flows among lawyers e.g., partners, senior associates, and occasionally the client.

      2. In-house: Product Counsels must dive into broader product strategy. Rather than waiting for formal requests (“We’re being sued — handle this”), teams come with a nascent idea for a new product or feature. You help define its scope, timeline, and risk profile — even when initial details are scarce.

   2. Defined hierarchy vs. Self-directed priorities

      1. Law firm: You know exactly who sets your priorities (the partner or senior associate), making ordering of tasks clear.

      2. In-house: The moving parts can overwhelm — from multiple product groups to cross-functional teams. Bret points out that prioritizing can feel chaotic. Product roadmaps often shift, and product counsels must decide what merits immediate attention, what can wait, and which teams need alignment.

2. Skill sets gained from law firm training

   1. Legal research & writing foundation

      1. Law firm: Law firms provide rigorous training in researching, analyzing, and writing — key skills that become second nature. Bret mentions these “traditional lawyering” skills are crucial to success later on, even if you’ll rarely draft a pure legal memo in-house.

      2. In-house: Bret isn't preparing lengthy briefs every day at Meta, but is required to quickly parse regulatory changes and deliver concise, actionable guidance to product teams.

   2. Incremental responsibility & attention to detail.

      1. Law firm: At a firm, associates progress from “grunt work” (meeting minutes, binder assembly) to increasingly complex tasks (drafting motions, research memos, client communications). This builds both depth and discipline.

      2. In-house: Attention to detail is vital in a complex environment like Meta, where multiple platforms (Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, etc.) can overlap. Even a minor contractual or regulatory oversight can carry significant consequences when a product operates at massive scale.

3. How to transition to an in-house role from a firm

   1. Learn to ask the right question. Bret highlights that, in-house, especially in tech, understanding the “why” behind product decisions is as critical as the law itself. You need to know how a feature will function and how it might affect user privacy, data sharing, or compliance.

      1. At Meta: Bret often interfaces with product managers, data scientists, designers, and engineers to help them navigate potential legal and regulatory pitfalls. His team’s guidance influences whether a feature can launch on time or if it needs retooling to mitigate risk.

   2. Develop a "Product Counsel Mindset". Be the connector. Especially in large organizations, “the right hand not talking to the left” is common. Bret notes that Product Counsel frequently must connect disparate teams so they don’t undermine each other’s efforts.

      1. At Meta: With multiple high-priority initiatives running simultaneously, Bret sees cross-functional alignment as one of his core responsibilities. For instance, a new privacy feature for Messenger might inadvertently impact data flows in another team’s project, so he helps facilitate communication and compliance across groups.

   3. Be the best at managing shifting priorities. In-house counsel can’t rely on a single chain of command for tasks; you juggle multiple requests and triage what matters most.

      1. Meta Example: Bret might advise on short-term fixes (e.g., addressing a policy concern for an immediate product release) versus long-term initiatives (e.g., anticipating data protection regulations in a month's time). Balancing urgent tasks with strategic planning is an ongoing challenge in such a large, fast-paced environment.

4. Tips for firm attorneys looking to transition

   1. Use law firms as a launchpad. Embrace those “grunt work” tasks, as they sharpen critical research and writing skills you’ll later customize to business needs.

   2. Start building your network early. Connect with in-house attorneys early — especially those at technology companies. Learn how they approach product issues, risk analysis, and cross-team alignment.

   3. Show you can think beyond "legal". Law school and firm life train you to spot legal issues. In-house, you’ll also need to consider user experience, PR optics, and revenue implications. Be ready to demonstrate how you factor in growth, user trust, and global regulatory landscapes when providing legal guidance.

5. Tips to maximize your first 1-3 years in-house

   1. Learn the products & company culture thoroughly. At Meta, teams launch and iterate products at high velocity. Bret suggests new lawyers get to know the organizational structure, attend product demos, and stay current on product roadmaps. Internalizing the culture (e.g., at Meta: move fast and innovate responsibly) is key to effective counseling.

   2. Communicate clearly with non-lawyers. Bret stresses the importance of translating legal jargon into practical steps. Engineers and product managers want to solve problems but may not know the legal boundaries. Whether it’s clarifying privacy rules or content policies, concise communication builds trust and reduces friction.

   3. Be proactive & organized. In a dynamic environment like Meta, you often spot issues before they become crises. That means regularly attending cross-functional stand-ups, reading technical documentation, and maintaining a personal priority matrix. Bret notes it’s your job to know who’s doing what, even if no single leader directly tasks you with it. Early initiative can help you stand out.

Final Takeaway

Being successful in-house is about integrating legal insight with business acumen, strategic planning, and cross-functional communication. For law students and young attorneys, the path from firm to in-house can be smoothed by developing a genuine interest in the products and embracing the complexity of a large organization where priorities shift quickly and collaboration is crucial.