What do do from Here? Forum

[Anonymous User]

Here's the facts:

Money's not an issue.
At a T15-18 type schools.
Ranked in the thirdish.
Like the law reasonably, enjoyed my 1L summer at a firm.
Struck out at OCI, not looking good for 3LOLCI obviously.
K-JD

After some serious introspection, I really want to pursue opportunities in Business Strategy - either in-house or at a consultancy to start. I know that being in Law a'int the way to get there, but having the grades I do and money not being a concern makes dropping out seem very foolish. I also don't hate the law, I just am 0% interested in Public Interest or "shitlaw." More concerned about striving for a type of job than striving for cash.

How can I put myself in a place to be attractive for entry level strategy positions when I graduate? Willing to get creative/hustle/grind. Also selecting classes soon.

[84651846190]

Why did you go to law school if you wanted to do business strategy stuff? I admittedly know nothing about this area, so I'm genuinely curious and not being a dick.

[Anonymous User]

Why did you go to law school if you wanted to do business strategy stuff? I admittedly know nothing about this area, so I'm genuinely curious and not being a dick.

I was interested in both equally - basically flipped a coin. Now that I really understand what lawyers do, career opportunities, etc., I wouldn't make the same choice. Prior research just isn't the same as really seeing the inside of a firm, meetings tons of lawyers, or whatever.

Now that I've missed biglaw, I'm sort of forced to pursue my other interest backwardly, if that makes sense.

[JuTMSY4]

Just so I understand. You're a little over a year in. You don't really want to be a lawyer. You have no debt. You have limited career opportunities as a lawyer.

Drop out and get an MBA (I guess). I can't speak to business strategy, but JDs are generally only good for practicing law. I'll let someone else fill in the gaps for your career goals. But with limited opportunities and limited interest in the practice, I would consider dropping out

[baal hadad]

If u don't want to be a lawyer and have a dece ug for the jobs you want then drop out

[Anonymous User]

If u don't want to be a lawyer and have a dece ug for the jobs you want then drop out

This was my instinct, and my plan for about a week or so, but I'm not so sure. I only have 1.5 years of LS left. Dropping out would have to mean that 1.5 years work experience is more valuable than the JD credential over the career. Not sure how to quantify/analyze that comparison.

[baal hadad]

If u don't want to be a lawyer and have a dece ug for the jobs you want then drop out

This was my instinct, and my plan for about a week or so, but I'm not so sure. I only have 1.5 years of LS left. Dropping out would have to mean that 1.5 years work experience is more valuable than the JD credential over the career. Not sure how to quantify/analyze that comparison.

JDs aren't very valuable if u don't want to be a lawyer

[Jchance]

What about doing a JD-MBA? I heard its easier to get in when you're already in ls.

[baal hadad]

What about doing a JD-MBA? I heard its easier to get in when you're already in ls.

Don't do MBA if you have no WE that's dumb

[Anonymous User]

What about doing a JD-MBA? I heard its easier to get in when you're already in ls.

Don't do MBA if you have no WE that's dumb

0% I'm doing the MBA. I have a good enough UG GPA that I think I could get into a top B school if I ever wanted to. Not going to burn that avenue for no reason.

Taking courses from the B-school or whatever, that's a reasonable option.

[Anonymous User]

Here's the facts:

Money's not an issue.
At a T15-18 type schools.
Ranked in the thirdish.
Like the law reasonably, enjoyed my 1L summer at a firm.
Struck out at OCI, not looking good for 3LOLCI obviously.
K-JD

After some serious introspection, I really want to pursue opportunities in Business Strategy - either in-house or at a consultancy to start. I know that being in Law a'int the way to get there, but having the grades I do and money not being a concern makes dropping out seem very foolish. I also don't hate the law, I just am 0% interested in Public Interest or "shitlaw." More concerned about striving for a type of job than striving for cash.

How can I put myself in a place to be attractive for entry level strategy positions when I graduate? Willing to get creative/hustle/grind. Also selecting classes soon.

transfer to SMU, get a JD and MBA together. No GMAT required. Tons of people here are doing this.

[baal hadad]

Here's the facts:

Money's not an issue.
At a T15-18 type schools.
Ranked in the thirdish.
Like the law reasonably, enjoyed my 1L summer at a firm.
Struck out at OCI, not looking good for 3LOLCI obviously.
K-JD

After some serious introspection, I really want to pursue opportunities in Business Strategy - either in-house or at a consultancy to start. I know that being in Law a'int the way to get there, but having the grades I do and money not being a concern makes dropping out seem very foolish. I also don't hate the law, I just am 0% interested in Public Interest or "shitlaw." More concerned about striving for a type of job than striving for cash.

How can I put myself in a place to be attractive for entry level strategy positions when I graduate? Willing to get creative/hustle/grind. Also selecting classes soon.

transfer to SMU, get a JD and MBA together. No GMAT required. Tons of people here are doing this.

This advice is so dumb

[84651846190]

sounds like you should drop out

[Anonymous User]

Last year, I struck out at OCI. And like you, I have no interest in government/PI type work.
Here is some advice:
-For In House jobs, connect with a legal head hunter/placement firm in your home market. They generally have better connections to private corporations than schools do. Don't be surprised if you get told to contact them in a couple months, though.
-Meanwhile, apply to law clerk jobs EVERY where. LinkedIn, Monster, fuck even Craigslist.
-Start hustling at consultancy firms. There is often a recruitment agent that deals specifically with your school.
-I know people that got biglaw during 3L. Hustle hustle hustle. And bring your grades up.
All that being said, if money wasn't an issue, I probably would have cut my losses and dropped out.

[Anonymous User]

Last year, I struck out at OCI. And like you, I have no interest in government/PI type work.
Here is some advice:
-For In House jobs, connect with a legal head hunter/placement firm in your home market. They generally have better connections to private corporations than schools do. Don't be surprised if you get told to contact them in a couple months, though.
-Meanwhile, apply to law clerk jobs EVERY where. LinkedIn, Monster, fuck even Craigslist.
-Start hustling at consultancy firms. There is often a recruitment agent that deals specifically with your school.
-I know people that got biglaw during 3L. Hustle hustle hustle. And bring your grades up.
All that being said, if money wasn't an issue, I probably would have cut my losses and dropped out.

1) Even for entry level?
2) Law clerk, as in in-house?
3) Thats easy
4) Cool
5) Why drop out to cut losses? Confused at that logic......

[Anonymous User]

Last year, I struck out at OCI. And like you, I have no interest in government/PI type work.
Here is some advice:
-For In House jobs, connect with a legal head hunter/placement firm in your home market. They generally have better connections to private corporations than schools do. Don't be surprised if you get told to contact them in a couple months, though.
-Meanwhile, apply to law clerk jobs EVERY where. LinkedIn, Monster, fuck even Craigslist.
-Start hustling at consultancy firms. There is often a recruitment agent that deals specifically with your school.
-I know people that got biglaw during 3L. Hustle hustle hustle. And bring your grades up.
All that being said, if money wasn't an issue, I probably would have cut my losses and dropped out.

1) Even for entry level?
2) Law clerk, as in in-house?
3) Thats easy
4) Cool
5) Why drop out to cut losses? Confused at that logic......

1. Yes, even for entry level. I got interviews at placement firms all over my region, and actually got my 2L summer job in-house through a placement ad.
2. Yes--sorry law clerk = in house.
...
5. Most likely outcome is still govt/PI, if not unemployed. Typically Law Clerks are not offered after a summer. If it were still possible, I would try to pivot into a MBA program, because the life is easier and it's more in line with what I want to do (Business Development). Le Sigh.

[Anonymous User]

Will ponder. Anyone other perspectives from the evening crowd?

[BeenDidThat]

Will ponder. Anyone other perspectives from the evening crowd?

JD is just a ticket to a law license, which you apparently don't want. Don't waste another year and a half on something you don't want; it makes you look like a degree-fiending dilettante. You've already shown some useful traits--being smart enough to get into a fairly high-ranked law school--don't blow it by making silly moves.

If you can't get an entry-level consulting job, getting a JD probably isn't going to help you get it anyway. So drop out and try to get an entry-level consulting job. If that doesn't work, just start working in any field and later try to fight to management somewhere, then see if consulting is an option. But stop wasting time on law school if you don't want to practice law. You need real-world work experience to get to where you want to be, assuming you don't get in at the entry level. A JD is not real-world work experience.

[sparty99]

only your ass can decide what to do. It's your life.

[Anonymous User]

only your ass can decide what to do. It's your life.

OP here: Its a hard decision and there's not a lot out there on it - but ultimately you're right.

[Anonymous User]

Will ponder. Anyone other perspectives from the evening crowd?

JD is just a ticket to a law license, which you apparently don't want. Don't waste another year and a half on something you don't want; it makes you look like a degree-fiending dilettante. You've already shown some useful traits--being smart enough to get into a fairly high-ranked law school--don't blow it by making silly moves.

If you can't get an entry-level consulting job, getting a JD probably isn't going to help you get it anyway. So drop out and try to get an entry-level consulting job. If that doesn't work, just start working in any field and later try to fight to management somewhere, then see if consulting is an option. But stop wasting time on law school if you don't want to practice law. You need real-world work experience to get to where you want to be, assuming you don't get in at the entry level. A JD is not real-world work experience.

I probably could have gotten the entry level consulting job with my grades. Missing UG recruiting is a big hit on this front.

Any thoughts on whether applying from law school will be more succesful as applying as a dropout?

[sparty99]

Will ponder. Anyone other perspectives from the evening crowd?

JD is just a ticket to a law license, which you apparently don't want. Don't waste another year and a half on something you don't want; it makes you look like a degree-fiending dilettante. You've already shown some useful traits--being smart enough to get into a fairly high-ranked law school--don't blow it by making silly moves.

If you can't get an entry-level consulting job, getting a JD probably isn't going to help you get it anyway. So drop out and try to get an entry-level consulting job. If that doesn't work, just start working in any field and later try to fight to management somewhere, then see if consulting is an option. But stop wasting time on law school if you don't want to practice law. You need real-world work experience to get to where you want to be, assuming you don't get in at the entry level. A JD is not real-world work experience.

I probably could have gotten the entry level consulting job with my grades. Missing UG recruiting is a big hit on this front.

Any thoughts on whether applying from law school will be more succesful as applying as a dropout?

First off, you don't get business strategy in-house straight out of under grad. You have to work at a top strategy consulting firm, i-banking, or a top fortune 500 company doing corporate finance to get into corporate business strategy. Second, and I roll my eyes when I say this, you sound like all the confused young people who think consulting is some glamarous career. How do you know you would like consulting? Why the hell did you go to law school in the first place? No one can tell you what to do. This is your life. You live with the decisions. Do what you feel is best for you.

[BeenDidThat]

Will ponder. Anyone other perspectives from the evening crowd?

JD is just a ticket to a law license, which you apparently don't want. Don't waste another year and a half on something you don't want; it makes you look like a degree-fiending dilettante. You've already shown some useful traits--being smart enough to get into a fairly high-ranked law school--don't blow it by making silly moves.

If you can't get an entry-level consulting job, getting a JD probably isn't going to help you get it anyway. So drop out and try to get an entry-level consulting job. If that doesn't work, just start working in any field and later try to fight to management somewhere, then see if consulting is an option. But stop wasting time on law school if you don't want to practice law. You need real-world work experience to get to where you want to be, assuming you don't get in at the entry level. A JD is not real-world work experience.

I probably could have gotten the entry level consulting job with my grades. Missing UG recruiting is a big hit on this front.

Any thoughts on whether applying from law school will be more succesful as applying as a dropout?

Don't know, and I doubt there's good evidence out there on that point. But sticking it out for what would likely be a marginal return in success rate of finding consulting job also means you forego a year and a half of some kind of work experience and any jobs that you would have gotten had you applied in the intervening year and a half.

[Anonymous User]

Will ponder. Anyone other perspectives from the evening crowd?

JD is just a ticket to a law license, which you apparently don't want. Don't waste another year and a half on something you don't want; it makes you look like a degree-fiending dilettante. You've already shown some useful traits--being smart enough to get into a fairly high-ranked law school--don't blow it by making silly moves.

If you can't get an entry-level consulting job, getting a JD probably isn't going to help you get it anyway. So drop out and try to get an entry-level consulting job. If that doesn't work, just start working in any field and later try to fight to management somewhere, then see if consulting is an option. But stop wasting time on law school if you don't want to practice law. You need real-world work experience to get to where you want to be, assuming you don't get in at the entry level. A JD is not real-world work experience.

I probably could have gotten the entry level consulting job with my grades. Missing UG recruiting is a big hit on this front.

Any thoughts on whether applying from law school will be more succesful as applying as a dropout?

First off, you don't get business strategy in-house straight out of under grad. You have to work at a top strategy consulting firm, i-banking, or a top fortune 500 company doing corporate finance to get into corporate business strategy. Second, and I roll my eyes when I say this, you sound like all the confused young people who think consulting is some glamorous career. How do you know you would like consulting? Why the hell did you go to law school in the first place? No one can tell you what to do. This is your life. You live with the decisions. Do what you feel is best for you.

I appreciate the attitude - actually. I sorta know what I'm getting into with consulting. Unlike law, I'm actually interested in the consulting exit options.

To back up your claim that in-house strategy needs X experience, this job posting: https://ceb.taleo.net/careersection/2/j ... c=JB-11160 confirms 100%. Looks like I have a goal.

Still hoping for someone with on point experience, but this has been great.

[sundontshine]

I probably could have gotten the entry level consulting job with my grades. Missing UG recruiting is a big hit on this front.

Any thoughts on whether applying from law school will be more succesful as applying as a dropout?

Contact your undergrad's career services. They will likely let you attend their fall career fair/on-campus recruiting process in the fall, giving you another solid shot at approaching consulting firms. That's what I did when I realized I had zero interest in becoming a lawyer, and it was a decent success. Though I did it as a 3L versus after finishing 1L or dropping out during 1L, so I can't help you in terms of your exact situation.

If you know you don't want to do law, though, I don't really see the point in wasting another 2.5 years. If I were you, I'd finish out the semester still, and then find a decent job/volunteer/do whatever until fall. Then, hit the recruiting process hard and hope for the best.