If you could go back, what practice area would you choose hindsight 2020 instead of what you’re in right now? Forum

[Anonymous User]

All of it sucks.

Still litigation / investigations. I have reasonable reading comprehension, can write passably and feign opinions when needed. Basic social skills. That all helps a bit. Better hours / fewer deadlines / late hours than transactional areas.

I have no organisational skills and am a bit slow, and whilst that's bad being a litigator, it's really bad in M&A or finance where all the job is is attention to detail and organisation.

I cannot stand finance at all. Funds is probably the best transactional area.

People say litigation has poor exits - but that's not true. I never see litigation funders etc. mentioned on here - I reckon most people don't know or think about them.

Any info on exits to lit funders? I'm going into a practice area that's heavy on lit funding (high tech IP, esp. on P side) and that actually sounds like an interesting exit I never thought of.

[CHEESEISLYFE]

All of it sucks.

Still litigation / investigations. I have reasonable reading comprehension, can write passably and feign opinions when needed. Basic social skills. That all helps a bit. Better hours / fewer deadlines / late hours than transactional areas.

I have no organisational skills and am a bit slow, and whilst that's bad being a litigator, it's really bad in M&A or finance where all the job is is attention to detail and organisation.

I cannot stand finance at all. Funds is probably the best transactional area.

People say litigation has poor exits - but that's not true. I never see litigation funders etc. mentioned on here - I reckon most people don't know or think about them.

Any info on exits to lit funders? I'm going into a practice area that's heavy on lit funding (high tech IP, esp. on P side) and that actually sounds like an interesting exit I never thought of.

Yes, no one thinks about it on here. I assume everyone is smart on here: you can research the names in the game - they are well known - and the profiles; I have little to add besides it is well-paid, semblance of work/life balance, no billables, gearing more and more for litigators. More developed in other markets, is getting much more potent in US. Funders usually prefer 3-5th years at least. So basically you get a well known firm on your CV, then you are set up for decent plaintiff firms, government or funders, and you become more portable after serving a 3 year sentence.

And as I said previously, what you won't read on the internet is that the money is in class actions which has been traditionally eschewed by the best and brightest because law is all about prestige. And everyone wants to work for V10s until they get there. Although to be fair, a lot of plaintiff shops can be low rate and isn't guaranteed dollar.