Legal website Above the Law has been researching the issues with lawyers in this role. Rather than having the light workload which outside observers might expect, these lawyers usually have an 'intense' workload. A lack of resources means that they have to juggle several matters without help or supervision. They are often highly focused on keeping costs down by using outside lawyers as little as possible. 

Challenge

But they appear to rise to the challenge. One of these lone lawyers said of his own position that 'the best surprise was realizing that I could do the job and do it well'. Source: Above the law