Hate law school but (I think) I enjoy transactional work Forum

[Anonymous User]

Hey guys, so basically I am just over law school. The students, the style of learning, reading cases...it's just not my thing. I did well at a a t6 my first year, and have a SA lined up with a top transactional firm.

I was wondering if there is anyone out there that hated law school, but ended up enjoying transactional work. I think business is very interesting, and I was just wondering how much actual transactional practice resembles law school. I have had a bit of exposure to transactional work and enjoyed it, but I don't know how representative it was.

Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated. If transactional isn't markedly different than law school (which, hopefully it is), I am strongly considering dropping out. Thanks so much for any input!

[Anonymous User]

Hey guys, so basically I am just over law school. The students, the style of learning, reading cases...it's just not my thing. I did well at a a t6 my first year, and have a SA lined up with a top transactional firm.

I was wondering if there is anyone out there that hated law school, but ended up enjoying transactional work. I think business is very interesting, and I was just wondering how much actual transactional practice resembles law school. I have had a bit of exposure to transactional work and enjoyed it, but I don't know how representative it was.

Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated. If transactional isn't markedly different than law school (which, hopefully it is), I am strongly considering dropping out. Thanks so much for any input!

Sorry, also forgot to note that I won't have debt after I graduate, so the only real consideration is not liking law school/lost opportunity costs

[Anonymous User]

Hey guys, so basically I am just over law school. The students, the style of learning, reading cases...it's just not my thing. I did well at a a t6 my first year, and have a SA lined up with a top transactional firm.

I was wondering if there is anyone out there that hated law school, but ended up enjoying transactional work. I think business is very interesting, and I was just wondering how much actual transactional practice resembles law school. I have had a bit of exposure to transactional work and enjoyed it, but I don't know how representative it was.

Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated. If transactional isn't markedly different than law school (which, hopefully it is), I am strongly considering dropping out. Thanks so much for any input!

1. Those students you hate now are going to be the future lawyers/peers/co-workers you hate in the future.

2. Being an actual attorney is nothing like law school, but even transactional work is still a form of legal work rather than "business" work. You may get to work with businesses but, for the most part, you're only helping to facilitate the implementation of their strategy rather than actually ever driving it.

[sikemenow]

For what it's worth, I've had classmates/friends that hated law school and love their law practice. Besides, if you already have an internship lined up then finish out. Worst case scenario is you end up hating law practice as well and leave the legal field for something else, particularly since you have no debt. A law degree is a fairly versatile degree. I wouldn't throw away a job and a JD from a top law school when there is no debt involved.

[starrydreamz3]

For what it's worth, I've had classmates/friends that hated law school and love their law practice. Besides, if you already have an internship lined up then finish out. Worst case scenario is you end up hating law practice as well and leave the legal field for something else, particularly since you have no debt. A law degree is a fairly versatile degree. I wouldn't throw away a job and a JD from a top law school when there is no debt involved.

I agree with the above, and would recommend that if you really don't like being a typical law student, try avoiding the very traditional law school style classes. Take more corporate-law and practice-focused classes (negotiations, deal seminars) or find a for credit internship/clinic to mix up the mundane-ness of classes. Also consider taking classes cross-listed with your resident business school to pass the time and get a better sense of what you'll actually be doing.

I'd probably just focus on those black letter courses you might think are relevant for the bar exam (that you're not willing to just learn during bar prep) and really stretch the limits of your school's non-law credit policy.

[Anonymous User]

For what it's worth, I've had classmates/friends that hated law school and love their law practice. Besides, if you already have an internship lined up then finish out. Worst case scenario is you end up hating law practice as well and leave the legal field for something else, particularly since you have no debt. A law degree is a fairly versatile degree. I wouldn't throw away a job and a JD from a top law school when there is no debt involved.

I agree with the above, and would recommend that if you really don't like being a typical law student, try avoiding the very traditional law school style classes. Take more corporate-law and practice-focused classes (negotiations, deal seminars) or find a for credit internship/clinic to mix up the mundane-ness of classes. Also consider taking classes cross-listed with your resident business school to pass the time and get a better sense of what you'll actually be doing.

I'd probably just focus on those black letter courses you might think are relevant for the bar exam (that you're not willing to just learn during bar prep) and really stretch the limits of your school's non-law credit policy.

Thanks a lot guys, I've been doing a few of those things, and those aspects of my schedule have definitely been the most enjoyable. I suppose there is only a year and a half left...no need to throw away the degree.

[sinfiery]

Just find classes with solid outlines and literally do nothing for 3 -4 months til finals.

[kalvano]

I detested law school and I thought transactional work would be terrible. Actual practice is interesting and so is transactional work.

[Anonymous User]

I detested law school and I thought transactional work would be terrible. Actual practice is interesting and so is transactional work.

Awesome, that's great to hear. Transactional really does seem interesting to me, and I don't mind doing bitch/repetitive work at all, so I'm becoming more optimistic.

[JenDarby]

I didn't enjoy doctrinal classes during law school and took as many deal, drafting, math based corporate finance, etc classes as possible.

If you want a preview of transactional work, take some deal based drafting classes. At my school we had a class called "Intro to the Deal" where we drafted NDAs, engagement letters, facility agreements, and other transactional docs. That's a lot of what I do on a daily basis now that I work full time.

You REALLY do not need to take any black letter law classes for bar purposes. If you don't enjoy those classes there is no reason to waste your time cramming outlines for finals. Bar prep will teach you everything you need to know to pass.

[AreJay711]

I loved law skool and absolutely detested transactional practice (just as a summer associate, but whatever). They aren't that similar.

[84651846190]

Drop the fuck out of law school and get an MBA. Immediately.

[JenDarby]

Drop the fuck out of law school and get an MBA. Immediately.

An MBA only really helps you if you have significant or noteworthy work experience before hand.

He should take his debt free JD and SA, hope for an offer, and gain some WE and bank some money. Maybe he will love (or at least not hate) transactional work.

[Cogburn87]

I hated law school. The actual practice of law, however, is at least 1000 times worse. Just completely unbearable. Do anything else with your life.

A law degree is a fairly versatile degree.

lololollololololololol. A law degree is such a huge liability when trying to apply for non-legal positions it's not even funny.

[Anonymous User]

Drop the fuck out of law school and get an MBA. Immediately.

Is this serious advice? If so, would I practically be able to make this work, given that I am a K-JD with a useless liberal arts degree?

[Anonymous User]

I didn't enjoy doctrinal classes during law school and took as many deal, drafting, math based corporate finance, etc classes as possible.

If you want a preview of transactional work, take some deal based drafting classes. At my school we had a class called "Intro to the Deal" where we drafted NDAs, engagement letters, facility agreements, and other transactional docs. That's a lot of what I do on a daily basis now that I work full time.

You REALLY do not need to take any black letter law classes for bar purposes. If you don't enjoy those classes there is no reason to waste your time cramming outlines for finals. Bar prep will teach you everything you need to know to pass.

Thanks for the advice. Along the same lines, are there any skills that I could acquire in my free time over the next two years that you think might be beneficial? I've had a decent amount of free time and have been reading about business/finance pretty heavily. Anything else you would suggest?

[911 crisis actor]

You're gonna throw away the opportunity to make 160,000 a year, with no debt to service, for doing work that literally any high schooler in the country could be trained to do?

[dixiecupdrinking]

I hated law school. The actual practice of law, however, is at least 1000 times worse. Just completely unbearable. Do anything else with your life.

A law degree is a fairly versatile degree.

lololollololololololol. A law degree is such a huge liability when trying to apply for non-legal positions it's not even funny.

FWIW I find practicing substantially better than law school. I think it just depends what you like/dislike about school. For me it was the pointless striving and meaningless dickhead competition. Much better to have actual legitimate goals that you're applying your efforts toward.

[AreJay711]

Is this serious advice? If so, would I practically be able to make this work, given that I am a K-JD with a useless liberal arts degree?

I'm reeeal skeptical that you'll like transactional work, but if you have a SA and no debt you might as well find out.

[84651846190]

Drop the fuck out of law school and get an MBA. Immediately.

Is this serious advice? If so, would I practically be able to make this work, given that I am a K-JD with a useless liberal arts degree?

This is my advice to everyone who doesn't want to litigate. Non-litigation work is infinitely more exciting, rewarding and (potentially) lucrative when you're working on it as a non-lawyer.

[UnicornHunter]

Why don't you start applying to real jobs. If you get one, drop out. If not, try out the whole transactional thing.

[JenDarby]

Drop the fuck out of law school and get an MBA. Immediately.

Is this serious advice? If so, would I practically be able to make this work, given that I am a K-JD with a useless liberal arts degree?

This is my advice to everyone who doesn't want to litigate. Non-litigation work is infinitely more exciting, rewarding and (potentially) lucrative when you're working on it as a non-lawyer.

Suggesting a K-JD student with zero debt load and a real shot at 160k/yr drop out and enroll in an MBA program (perhaps taking on three years of student debt) for a very risky gamble at any gainful employment (considering he would now be K-UG) is terrible advice.

To be clear, there really are next to no circumstances wherein OP should drop out. A debt free JD and summer SA money is still better than 2 years wasted in law school and a liberal arts BA.

[Cogburn87]

You're gonna throw away the opportunity to make 160,000 a year, with no debt to service, for doing work that literally any high schooler in the country could be trained to do?

Yes? Believe it or not, many people do not tie their self-worth to their salary.

[JenDarby]

You're gonna throw away the opportunity to make 160,000 a year, with no debt to service, for doing work that literally any high schooler in the country could be trained to do?

Yes? Believe it or not, many people do not tie their self-worth to their salary.

A fair amount of educated people do tie their self-worth to being (gainfully) employed.

A K-UG, JD dropout with a liberal arts degree isn't exactly in high demand in the work force.

He's 1.5 years deep and may as well collect his SA money while he applies for other jobs or finds his true passion in life. He may even realize that while he doesn't love transactional work, there's no other attainable job that he would prefer.

[Cogburn87]

A fair amount of educated people do tie their self-worth to being (gainfully) employed.

My point was it's stupid to just look at the salary and the fact that OP has no debt and say "ZOMG@! 160k for doing work any dullard could do! You'd have to be stupid to give that up that opportunity!" while ignoring all the sacrifices the job will demand from you and the fact that the work itself will more than likely make you miserable.

A K-UG, JD dropout with a liberal arts degree isn't exactly in high demand in the work force.

Neither are JD holders, including junior transactional associates.

He's 1.5 years deep and may as well collect his SA money while he applies for other jobs or finds his true passion in life. He may even realize that while he doesn't love transactional work, there's no other attainable job that he would prefer.

I agree with this completely.