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Hi all, I have a Q for those of you with a good amount of experience with M&A and/or securities law, either as a summer, or new associate, or even seasoned associate if we have some here. I would really appreciate any input!

I know I want to do behind-the-scenes, transactional type of work. I like M&A and I like securities law both - in the classroom. I am trying to figure out if I want to reach out and try and get more work with regard to one or the other, or try to request work touching on both in equal parts. I know that when I get out into practice, I can't do both - at least, I have not met any attorney who does both, just one or the other.

What are some of everyone's favorite things about each in practice, in reality? What sorts of assignments did you get to work on when you were starting out in one or the other? What kind of skills might I need for each, or is the skill set the same for both? (I am good at working efficiently without missing a lot of details, and I kind of feel like this is a good skill that I can apply in either area of the law.) Can anyone who has experience with both speak to the differences, your perspective on each, and which you preferred (and why)?

If I get a lot of experience in one area over the summer, and decide I want to switch to the other the next year - is that okay too?

most people would prefer m&a. the biggest complaint i've heard about securities is that based on the work, there is no real way to shine or be creative. the best you can do is not screw up. in m&a you are structuring a transaction and there are different ways to do it and each deal will be at least somewhat unique. there are more opportunities to show your legal talent and be creative. with securities, there is only room to screw up, not really room to shine. with drafting/filing the registration statement/prospectus there is no way to really be creative - you do a good job by not screwing up. in m&a though, the standard is much higher than just 'not screwing up.'

of course this is what ive heard from m&a attorneys. i've met securities lawyers who enjoy their work as well, but never really got a straight answer from them as to why..

Thanks! I don't know that it is such a good thing that most people don't have a good reason for liking securities law... that's definitely something I need to consider, whether it may be too "boring" if done long-term.

This doesn't matter to me as much, but I'm curious: in the legal community, because it is more crafty, is M&A therefore considered more "prestigious"?