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How's investigations work in big law? What are typical exit options?

Lots of doc review... lots and lots of doc review. That's how they work

jimmythecatdied6 wrote:Lots of doc review... lots and lots of doc review. That's how they work

As a junior associate but then you start getting tasks like preparing interview questions etc right?

Where do these 3rd or 4th yea associates end up?

divorce court

Lol anyone have any non troll responses?

At my firm, investigations is generally considered a group where the work isn't very exciting but where the partners can get you to the USAO or SEC.

Lincoln wrote:At my firm, investigations is generally considered a group where the work isn't very exciting but where the partners can get you to the USAO or SEC.

Is this like best case scenario or fairly common across the industry? What kind of roles would be available at the SEC?

I like the sound of investigations but I worry because sir pirate has so many more lateral options. Scared I'll do doc review for 3 years, get shit canned, and then have to leave the profession all together

BizBro wrote:Is this like best case scenario or fairly common across the industry? What kind of roles would be available at the SEC?

I don't really know, cause it's not my group. We have a former senior SEC person and a well regarded former AUSA in our investigations group, and my understanding is having them as references helps. Can't speak to other firms.

BizBro wrote:I like the sound of investigations but I worry because sir pirate has so many more lateral options. Scared I'll do doc review for 3 years, get shit canned, and then have to leave the profession all together

hehe

I interviewed for a lateral position doing white collar work and was asked what my least favorite part of my current job was. I answered doc review. I did not receive an offer.

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Doc review, write interview outlines, participate in witness interviews (mainly take notes), write interview memos, put together presentations, take notes on phone calls and meetings with the government and write memos on them. Probably take on a couple of factual areas in the case and become the subject matter expert on them and write memos and brief other attorneys on them.

Go read the Valukas report or the Wells report and imagine that it was actually the work product of a couple dozen associates and a half dozen partners. That gives you a sense (though most investigations never occur in anything like that public a fashion or as large a scale). Maybe instead of putting together a public report on whether Tom Brady deflated footballs, you're putting together a confidential presentation to the SEC about whether Mega Corp's Russian joint venture bribed a local government minister to get products on the shelves. Same general process.

It's all doc review. If you're senior enough you get to meet with important people and take notes.

Exit options would be a federal agency like the SEC (Enforcement or OCIE) or DOJ, general counsel's office at a major corporation, and senior compliance roles at financial institutions or large corporations.

The federal agency and corporate GC options are difficult to get without connections and being at the right place at the right time, but compliance roles are pretty easy to get and have good hours and salaries. Most people I know ended up in high level compliance roles in banks and one at the SEC.