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CPA and OCI
Posted: Mon Jan 28, 2013 11:21 pm
by RG III
If you are a CPA with some Big 4 experience do you have a huge leg up versus other candidates? Assume audit experience.
With respect to transactional law. Not so much tax.
Are you guaranteed a job if you go to a T14? An improved shot at a job?
Re: CPA and OCI
Posted: Mon Jan 28, 2013 11:29 pm
by RG III
Bamp
Re: CPA and OCI
Posted: Mon Jan 28, 2013 11:29 pm
by rad lulz
RG III wrote:An improved shot at a job
Re: CPA and OCI
Posted: Mon Jan 28, 2013 11:31 pm
by bdubs
RG III wrote:If you are a CPA with some Big 4 experience do you have a huge leg up versus other candidates? Assume audit experience.
With respect to transactional law. Not so much tax.
Are you guaranteed a job if you go to a T14? An improved shot at a job?
Huge? No. Improved? Yes.
It's going to be viewed as somewhat relevant but your grades and school will probably still be the deal maker or breaker.
Re: CPA and OCI
Posted: Mon Jan 28, 2013 11:40 pm
by RG III
bdubs wrote:RG III wrote:If you are a CPA with some Big 4 experience do you have a huge leg up versus other candidates? Assume audit experience.
With respect to transactional law. Not so much tax.
Are you guaranteed a job if you go to a T14? An improved shot at a job?
Huge? No. Improved? Yes.
It's going to be viewed as somewhat relevant but your grades and school will probably still be the deal maker or breaker.
This was my hunch. I really appreciate the responses.
Re: CPA and OCI
Posted: Tue Jan 29, 2013 1:57 pm
by Anonymous User
CCN with my CPA, 3 years big4 audit prior to law school, series 7, series 66 as well
My impression at OCI was that my grades made much more difference than anything else. My grades were relatively low in the class (bottom 1/3). I was able to land a biglaw position, however I had 12 callbacks that lead to 2 offers. I have to think my low conversion rate was grades related, I did countless practice interviews prior to OCI and I was heavily involved with recruiting at my big4 so I have interviewed candidates before and seen what I liked about different responses.
Anyways, for V100 firms, I was 0/10, for NLJ250 firms, I was 2/2. This is all just my anecdotal data point, but I think had my grades been higher I would have had a lot more success. I would have traded my work experience and CPA license for higher grades going into OCI.
Re: CPA and OCI
Posted: Tue Jan 29, 2013 2:48 pm
by Anonymous User
I found having a CPA to be very helpful. It won't get you an interview if you don't have the grades. But once you meet the minimum threshold for grades, it is very helpful in the interviewing process.
Re: CPA and OCI
Posted: Tue Jan 29, 2013 2:54 pm
by bdubs
Anonymous User wrote:My grades were relatively low in the class (bottom 1/3). I was able to land a biglaw position, however I had 12 callbacks that lead to 2 offers.
It sounds like you outperformed your numbers by a significant margin, IMO. I'm guessing that you bid fairly prudently.
OP: This may actually be the more likely case. Your CPA may provide more downside protection than upside potential.
Re: CPA and OCI
Posted: Tue Jan 29, 2013 3:45 pm
by Anonymous User
CPA [no Big 4 experience] + TTT Top 5%, landed V100 SA.
Be ready to have a compelling reason for why you no longer want to be an accountant and are now pursuing a law degree. I was asked this on every interview. Also be ready to have "stories" about what types of things you worked on as an accountant that developed your "attention to detail," especially if you are not on a journal. This will give you a slight advantage compared to other candidates who are also not on a journal.
As stated above, none of this is relevant if you don't meet the requisite school/GPA combo that gets your foot in the door.