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Investment Banking or Law School
Posted: Mon Apr 07, 2014 2:56 pm
by Darmody
If I have the opportunity of doing investment banking at a bulge bracket or attend a T6 law school (K-JD, 3.85+, low 170s) and want Corporate Law in BigLaw, what is better for me? My interest in both fields is about the same, and I pretty much want to make a lot of money and be successful.
In short, should I take the I-Banking offer or apply to law school?
Re: Investment Banking or Law School
Posted: Mon Apr 07, 2014 3:04 pm
by sims1
Very subjective question and ultimately its up to your personal preference. If you aren't 100% sure you want to do law school right now (which you don't seem to be because you are asking this question) I would recommend the ibanking route. It's solid WE so if you decide you want to do law school later you will have that going for your applications. Also its a good edge into getting corporate law.
Kind of wish I did it myself :l
Re: Investment Banking or Law School
Posted: Mon Apr 07, 2014 3:08 pm
by mickey0004
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Re: Investment Banking or Law School
Posted: Mon Apr 07, 2014 3:12 pm
by Darmody
mickey0004 wrote:I've done both and here's my advice: take the investment banking offer and apply to law school in two years if you still want to be a lawyer. This way, you won't need to borrow as much $ for law school. Your resume will be stronger than your classmates and you can practically walk into any top law firm you want to even with an average GPA.
If you want to know which one I prefer, I will tell you that I prefer biglaw. Banking hours are much worse than biglaw. Your shelf life in banking is 2 years, as in your program is designed to be only 2 years. Only a small % of the class will get an offer from a respectable PE firm. You can only do banking in new york city, so you're kinda stuck there, but if you're into MFH, that's cool too.
Can you go more in depth on why you prefer law over ibanking besides the hours?
Re: Investment Banking or Law School
Posted: Mon Apr 07, 2014 3:17 pm
by rayiner
mickey0004 wrote:I've done both and here's my advice: take the investment banking offer and apply to law school in two years if you still want to be a lawyer. This way, you won't need to borrow as much $ for law school. Your resume will be stronger than your classmates and you can practically walk into any top law firm you want to even with an average GPA.
If you want to know which one I prefer, I will tell you that I prefer biglaw. Banking hours are much worse than biglaw. Your shelf life in banking is 2 years, as in your program is designed to be only 2 years. Only a small % of the class will get an offer from a respectable PE firm. You can only do banking in new york city, so you're kinda stuck there, but if you're into MFH, that's cool too.
This is the right advice. If you think you'd be happy in that world, try the business side first because you can always go from banking to law, but rarely the other way around. And if you do decide you want to switch up, your banking background will be really valuable to you, both in terms of getting a job and in practice.
Re: Investment Banking or Law School
Posted: Mon Apr 07, 2014 3:50 pm
by jbagelboy
mickey0004 wrote:I've done both and here's my advice: take the investment banking offer and apply to law school in two years if you still want to be a lawyer. This way, you won't need to borrow as much $ for law school. Your resume will be stronger than your classmates and you can practically walk into any top law firm you want to even with an average GPA.
If you want to know which one I prefer, I will tell you that I prefer biglaw. Banking hours are much worse than biglaw. Your shelf life in banking is 2 years, as in your program is designed to be only 2 years. Only a small % of the class will get an offer from a respectable PE firm. You can only do banking in new york city, so you're kinda stuck there, but if you're into MFH, that's cool too.
I mean, except for the people who work in IB/PE in SF or Chicago or Los Angeles