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I'm trying to decide between practicing corporate law or litigation. I'll be a summer associate at a V10 firm and have no clue which area to go into. I am interested in hearing pro's and con's of both areas. Which area has more exit opportunities? Better hours? More interesting work? Anything else you think is relevant. (If this thread exists I apologize)

I think this is really up to your personality and what area you want to go into. Do you enjoy researching cases, writing memos, cross examining witnesses, and arguing in front of a judge? If yes, do litigation. Do you enjoy talking with businessmen, looking for ways to maximize profit, negotiating lengthy contracts, and getting very closely involved with the affairs of corporations? If yes, do corporate.

http://www.top-law-schools.com/forums/v ... 3&t=147709

http://www.top-law-schools.com/forums/v ... 3&t=148258

dark wrote:I think this is really up to your personality and what area you want to go into. Do you enjoy researching cases, writing memos, cross examining witnesses, and arguing in front of a judge? If yes, do litigation. Do you enjoy talking with businessmen, looking for ways to maximize profit, negotiating lengthy contracts, and getting very closely involved with the affairs of corporations? If yes, do corporate.

You do realize that he won't do anything that you have listed here for the better part of 5 years right?

Irrespective of which one you choose, you will be a highly paid paralegal for 3 years. One route will require you to review mass volumes of discovery and write memos on very narrow issues of law. The other route will require you to do due dillegence work and review documents for transactions, etc. Both will require you to do these things for extended periods of time with no break in sight.


For a V10er such as yourself, exit options on the corp side will be in house with a client or something of the like. Nice job, good pay and better hours. On the litigaiton side you can exit to another smaller law firm and probably do more substantive work. You'll work slightly less hours than you did as a litigation associate at the large firm and you'll make about as much (maybe a bit more), as a partner at the smaller firm as a contract partner or a special counsel/senior associate at the larger firm.


Go with what you think you want to do.

You do realize that he won't do anything that you have listed here for the better part of 5 years right?

I assumed he wanted more of a career-wide look at things since he's asking upfront about exit opportunities. If he moves to a smaller firm he'll be doing some of this stuff a lot faster than 5 years.

dark wrote:

You do realize that he won't do anything that you have listed here for the better part of 5 years right?

I assumed he wanted more of a career-wide look at things since he's asking upfront about exit opportunities. If he moves to a smaller firm he'll be doing some of this stuff a lot faster than 5 years.

Got it chief.

Irrespective of which one you choose, you will be a highly paid paralegal for 3 years.

This is overstated. And it is 100% false for many niche practice areas (like tax).

3.5/165 --> V10

What's the secret?

Thanks for the input. Obviously if I like one more than the other I will go with that, but from what I understand it will be hard to tell from rotating for a month in a practice group this summer. I don't mind legal research and memos, but I don't love them either. There's something about litigating my whole life that strikes a bad cord with me. Sounds very contentious. I'm afraid of pigeon-holing (sp?) myself by going into one corporate area. Also, I have no clue whether I'll like it or not. What appeals to me about corporate is doing lots of deal, as opposed to working on long drawn out cases in litigation. ALso, if corporate will have better and more lucrative exit opportunities, that would make a difference in my decision.

More input would be helpful. Thanks!

DeSimone wrote:3.5/165 --> V10

What's the secret?

got into a good regional school and transferred to a top 6 school. did lots of research on this site for succeeding in law school.

ZXCVBNM wrote:Thanks for the input. Obviously if I like one more than the other I will go with that, but from what I understand it will be hard to tell from rotating for a month in a practice group this summer. I don't mind legal research and memos, but I don't love them either. There's something about litigating my whole life that strikes a bad cord with me. Sounds very contentious. I'm afraid of pigeon-holing (sp?) myself by going into one corporate area. Also, I have no clue whether I'll like it or not. What appeals to me about corporate is doing lots of deal, as opposed to working on long drawn out cases in litigation. ALso, if corporate will have better and more lucrative exit opportunities, that would make a difference in my decision.

More input would be helpful. Thanks!

Option C...Real Estate

sullidop wrote:

ZXCVBNM wrote:Thanks for the input. Obviously if I like one more than the other I will go with that, but from what I understand it will be hard to tell from rotating for a month in a practice group this summer. I don't mind legal research and memos, but I don't love them either. There's something about litigating my whole life that strikes a bad cord with me. Sounds very contentious. I'm afraid of pigeon-holing (sp?) myself by going into one corporate area. Also, I have no clue whether I'll like it or not. What appeals to me about corporate is doing lots of deal, as opposed to working on long drawn out cases in litigation. ALso, if corporate will have better and more lucrative exit opportunities, that would make a difference in my decision.

More input would be helpful. Thanks!

Option C...Real Estate

please, go on...why RE?

please, go on...why RE?

It's basically Corporate work. I suppose it's nice if you are the type that likes to see tangible results from your work.

sullidop wrote: Option C...Real Estate

I hope you wrote that post in 2006.

what do you guys think about tax? does that put me in too small of a box? any other considerations?

ZXCVBNM wrote:what do you guys think about tax? does that put me in too small of a box? any other considerations?

My uncle is a tax attorney and he swears that doing an other type of law is idiotic. It's a niche but it's a mega important niche. Lots of responsibility, though.

There was a good series of posts on ATL recently talking about what life is like as a tax guy. The basic idea was that on the one hand you are a specialist and people really rely on the stuff that you do, which can be rewarding and stressful.

I imagine being a corp or lit lawyer is also very stressful. Might as well have a niche area of expertise.

ZXCVBNM wrote:what do you guys think about tax? does that put me in too small of a box? any other considerations?

I was told girls should try and go into tax because the workload/hours are traditionally more predictable/stable, and it's better for maintaining a certain work-life balance. Completely sexist and a little condescending, but good advice nonetheless.

Anonymous User wrote:

ZXCVBNM wrote:what do you guys think about tax? does that put me in too small of a box? any other considerations?

I was told girls should try and go into tax because the workload/hours are traditionally more predictable/stable, and it's better for maintaining a certain work-life balance. Completely sexist and a little condescending, but good advice nonetheless.

you been reading this?

DeSimone wrote:

Anonymous User wrote:

ZXCVBNM wrote:what do you guys think about tax? does that put me in too small of a box? any other considerations?

I was told girls should try and go into tax because the workload/hours are traditionally more predictable/stable, and it's better for maintaining a certain work-life balance. Completely sexist and a little condescending, but good advice nonetheless.

you been reading this?

I should note that I am a girl and the advice came from a former NYC biglaw associate who is now my hair stylist. So. Not. Joking.

ZXCVBNM wrote:

DeSimone wrote:3.5/165 --> V10

What's the secret?

got into a good regional school and transferred to a top 6 school. did lots of research on this site for succeeding in law school.

So credited. I think I remember you from the transfer forum last year. Congrats, dood.

As far as substantive advice, I've got nothing more to add than what RM said...pros and cons to each practice area...analyze your preferences and choose accordingly. I'm doing lit, but I didn't really have a choice (happy about it, though).

ZXCVBNM wrote:I'm trying to decide between practicing corporate law or litigation. I'll be a summer associate at a V10 firm and have no clue which area to go into. I am interested in hearing pro's and con's of both areas. Which area has more exit opportunities? Better hours? More interesting work? Anything else you think is relevant. (If this thread exists I apologize)

Do you want to go to court? The answer to that answers your question.

ZXCVBNM wrote:I imagine being a corp or lit lawyer is also very stressful. Might as well have a niche area of expertise.

You can't have a niche until you learn how to be a fricken lawyer. You did not learn that in lawschool at all, and you will not learn that as a summer associate.

NotMyRealName09 wrote:

ZXCVBNM wrote:I'm trying to decide between practicing corporate law or litigation. I'll be a summer associate at a V10 firm and have no clue which area to go into. I am interested in hearing pro's and con's of both areas. Which area has more exit opportunities? Better hours? More interesting work? Anything else you think is relevant. (If this thread exists I apologize)

Do you want to go to court? The answer to that answers your question.

lollll