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Radical/Activist Background re: Financial Services

Posted: Mon Jul 19, 2010 12:54 am
by testmachine45
I have 3 years of work experience performing different things relating to the financial crisis that are clearly anti-bank. I dont know if that label exists outside of NYC, but there is certainly a dichotomy here centered around who wants to interfere with banks business and who doesn't.

I am wondering if 1)adcoms will view this work experience in a negative light because 2)it could make it harder for me to get a job at biglaw firm since the banks are all their clients. though im not sure if one would suffer on OCI because of this past experience. it could give u a leg up since u are super educted on regulatory issues.

So does anyone think 1 and/or 2 is true?

Re: Radical/Activist Background re: Financial Services

Posted: Mon Jul 19, 2010 5:06 am
by TCScrutinizer
0L warning.

If I were a biglaw rep from a firm that represents banking interests, I would certainly wonder why you would want to work with my firm.

Re: Radical/Activist Background re: Financial Services

Posted: Mon Jul 19, 2010 5:31 am
by Fark-o-vision
testmachine45 wrote:I have 3 years of work experience performing different things relating to the financial crisis that are clearly anti-bank. I dont know if that label exists outside of NYC, but there is certainly a dichotomy here centered around who wants to interfere with banks business and who doesn't.

I am wondering if 1)adcoms will view this work experience in a negative light because 2)it could make it harder for me to get a job at biglaw firm since the banks are all their clients. though im not sure if one would suffer on OCI because of this past experience. it could give u a leg up since u are super educted on regulatory issues.

So does anyone think 1 and/or 2 is true?
No, you're good.

Re: Radical/Activist Background re: Financial Services

Posted: Mon Jul 19, 2010 10:14 am
by D.Wilde
I have many friends who switched from public interest/low-income client advocacy to big firm work. Every one of them told me that during their interviews they were asked about their apparent shift in career perspective. That being said, every one of them said that as long as they had a thoughtful and sincere answer to that question, there was no further issue.

Re: Radical/Activist Background re: Financial Services

Posted: Mon Jul 19, 2010 8:42 pm
by Renzo
First, no, it's not going to hurt your admissions. But, I would expand the scope of your inquiry: why would you want to go into an industry that depends on banks for bread and butter? WHat are you going to say in interviews when they ask you, "so, why do you want to work for Wall Street Ripoff Defenders & Associates, LLP?"

Re: Radical/Activist Background re: Financial Services

Posted: Tue Jul 20, 2010 12:15 am
by Anonymous User
70% of my summer associate assignments this summer have involved banks justifiably curbstomping worthless deadbeats. FYI.