BigLaw After 7 Years of Doing Nothing Forum

[Balthy]

Hello,
So, I want to go to an awesome law school, then enroll into a certain MA program that I am interested in, and after that, complete a PhD program. At that point, if I don't get a job as a professor (either teaching law or what I studied after law school), how hard would it be landing a BigLaw job as an alternative? I would be 6-7 years out of law school, and have studied things probably unrelated to the practice of law (there may be some overlap with legal theory though).

Any insight would help.

Thanks


Edit: Sorry for the misleading title.

[Posner]

...

[sullidop]

Hello,
So, I want to go to an awesome law school, then enroll into a certain MA program that I am interested in, and after that, complete a PhD program. At that point, if I don't get a job as a professor (either teaching law or what I studied after law school), how hard would it be landing a BigLaw job as an alternative? I would be 6-7 years out of law school, and have studied things probably unrelated to the practice of law (there may be some overlap with legal theory though).

Any insight would help.

Thanks


Edit: Sorry for the misleading title.

If you don't get into a t14 and/or study something to help IP law, 0%.

[Balthy]

Hello,
So, I want to go to an awesome law school, then enroll into a certain MA program that I am interested in, and after that, complete a PhD program. At that point, if I don't get a job as a professor (either teaching law or what I studied after law school), how hard would it be landing a BigLaw job as an alternative? I would be 6-7 years out of law school, and have studied things probably unrelated to the practice of law (there may be some overlap with legal theory though).

Any insight would help.

Thanks


Edit: Sorry for the misleading title.

If you don't get into a t14 and/or study something to help IP law, 0%.

'And' or 'or'? Because I think I can make it into a t14, possibly a t3.

[smov_operator]

Will your Ph.D. be in a technical field?

[Balthy]

Will your Ph.D. be in a technical field?

No, philosophy.

[KibblesAndVick]

Trolls are supposed to be funny. 0/10

[cardnal124]

Will your Ph.D. be in a technical field?

No, philosophy.

Why do you want to go into 400k of debt?

[sullidop]

Hello,
So, I want to go to an awesome law school, then enroll into a certain MA program that I am interested in, and after that, complete a PhD program. At that point, if I don't get a job as a professor (either teaching law or what I studied after law school), how hard would it be landing a BigLaw job as an alternative? I would be 6-7 years out of law school, and have studied things probably unrelated to the practice of law (there may be some overlap with legal theory though).

Any insight would help.

Thanks


Edit: Sorry for the misleading title.

If you don't get into a t14 and/or study something to help IP law, 0%.

'And' or 'or'? Because I think I can make it into a t14, possibly a t3.

That's good then. It will be extremely hard though. Most BigLaw firms only recruit first years OCI or out of clerkships. Why not get the Ph.D. and then the JD? That's a much better sequence.

[smov_operator]

Will your Ph.D. be in a technical field?

No, philosophy.

Okay, well then ditto what the other folks said. If you check the biglaw firm associate listings you will notice that the vast majority of people who have PhDs and J.D.s received the PhD first then changed fields and got their J.D. Unless its in a technical field having a j.d./m.a, let alone a j.d./phd, can be a big turnoff to Biglaw firms.

[Balthy]

Will your Ph.D. be in a technical field?

No, philosophy.

Why do you want to go into 400k of debt?

My parents will pay for law school, but their terms include me going straight from UG.

And I plan on getting funded for philosophy, which isn't very hard to do.

[Balthy]

Will your Ph.D. be in a technical field?

No, philosophy.

Okay, well then ditto what the other folks said. If you check the biglaw firm associate listings you will notice that the vast majority of people who have PhDs and J.D.s received the PhD first then changed fields and got their J.D. Unless its in a technical field having a j.d./m.a, let alone a j.d./phd, can be a big turnoff to Biglaw firms.

I totally agree with you and the previous poster that that would be a better sequence. The dilemma has to do with my parents' offer to pay for law school iff I go to law school right after UG (probably so they can brag about it).

[Anonymous User]

Unless its in a technical field having a j.d./m.a, let alone a j.d./phd, can be a big turnoff to Biglaw firms.

lots of people have jd/m.a.s and jd/phds. why do you say this is the case?

[Balthy]

So, ideally, I would prefer teaching at a philosophy department or law school after getting my Ph.D. However, as a back-up, it would be cool if BigLaw were still an option.

It seems the consensus is, probably not.

Thanks for the info.

[Anonymous User]

Will your Ph.D. be in a technical field?

No, philosophy.

Why do you want to go into 400k of debt?

You don't pay for Ph.D. programs; the school pays you a very livable wage. It is quite wonderful actually. I am finishing up my MA in a few weeks, and was paid $19k/year to do so.

[cardnal124]

Will your Ph.D. be in a technical field?

No, philosophy.

Why do you want to go into 400k of debt?

You don't pay for Ph.D. programs; the school pays you a very livable wage. It is quite wonderful actually. I am finishing up my MA in a few weeks, and was paid $19k/year to do so.

Ya, but 19k/year for 5-7 years out of a T3 law school with 200k debt gaining interest. Although, since OP's parents are footing the 70k/year for him for LS, i guess that's a moot point.

[swester]

Unless its in a technical field having a j.d./m.a, let alone a j.d./phd, can be a big turnoff to Biglaw firms.

lots of people have jd/m.a.s and jd/phds. why do you say this is the case?

They prefer fresh, undistracted minds they can work into the ground.

I can't fathom having a Ph. D. in Philosophy and even having the nerve to apply for a BigLaw job, let alone work at a BigLaw. Can you imagine what the interview would be like?

[XxSpyKEx]

Trolls are supposed to be funny. 0/10

[quickquestionthanks]

Trolls are supposed to be funny. 0/10