Trans v. Lit at OCI Forum

[Anonymous User]

For firms that have a pretty even split, I have been planning on pitching transactional/corporate. This is partially based on my interest, but may have been influenced by all the "trans is easier to get" stuff I see on TLS. However, most of my pre-LS and summer WE is lit. I also bombed contracts and did OK in LRW/Civ pro.

Below median @ lower T14. When firms do both trans/lit, should I pitch lit instead?

[thesealocust]

Basically nobody has pre-law school experience in transactional law, and grades from your coursework will mean very little to firms about what practice area to slot you in - don't worry about either. In my years as a transactional lawyer I used info from my law school contracts class exactly never.

I believe the conventional wisdom that expressing an interest in corporate can help your chances at many firms. Very few law students seriously consider that option even though firms often need to hire just as many transactional attorneys as they do litigators.

[Anonymous User]

I was a summer associate at a large NY firm this summer and did a ton of transactional work (mostly in finance). Ultimately, I decided it wasn't for me and now I want to pursue lit instead. I'm wondering, though, if signaling flexibility as to corp/lit (however disingenuous) may help my chances at top firms? Or am I in a safe enough position to be able to go lit full-tilt? Top 10-15% at CCN + law review.

[thesealocust]

I was a summer associate at a large NY firm this summer and did a ton of transactional work (mostly in finance). Ultimately, I decided it wasn't for me and now I want to pursue lit instead. I'm wondering, though, if signaling flexibility as to corp/lit (however disingenuous) may help my chances at top firms? Or am I in a safe enough position to be able to go lit full-tilt? Top 10-15% at CCN + law review.

You're fine going lit. If you have problems landing a gig with those stats, it's not going to be because of your practice area choice.

[JamMasterJ]

I was a summer associate at a large NY firm this summer and did a ton of transactional work (mostly in finance). Ultimately, I decided it wasn't for me and now I want to pursue lit instead. I'm wondering, though, if signaling flexibility as to corp/lit (however disingenuous) may help my chances at top firms? Or am I in a safe enough position to be able to go lit full-tilt? Top 10-15% at CCN + law review.

Did you have a 1L SA or are we talking about 3L recruiting? for the latter, holes will be more practice specific

[Anonymous User]

I was a summer associate at a large NY firm this summer and did a ton of transactional work (mostly in finance). Ultimately, I decided it wasn't for me and now I want to pursue lit instead. I'm wondering, though, if signaling flexibility as to corp/lit (however disingenuous) may help my chances at top firms? Or am I in a safe enough position to be able to go lit full-tilt? Top 10-15% at CCN + law review.

You're fine going lit. If you have problems landing a gig with those stats, it's not going to be because of your practice area choice.

Thanks for the advice.

I was a summer associate at a large NY firm this summer and did a ton of transactional work (mostly in finance). Ultimately, I decided it wasn't for me and now I want to pursue lit instead. I'm wondering, though, if signaling flexibility as to corp/lit (however disingenuous) may help my chances at top firms? Or am I in a safe enough position to be able to go lit full-tilt? Top 10-15% at CCN + law review.

Did you have a 1L SA or are we talking about 3L recruiting? for the latter, holes will be more practice specific

1L SA. But what are holes?

[JamMasterJ]

If we were talking about 3L hiring, they are usually looking practice group-specific, so you wouldn't be able to preference one over the other, as you'd be interviewing for one OR the other